Politics & Government

Primary Election Guide: Here's a Look at the Races

Start your engines because the primary election race is off on Aug. 7. Here's a look at what races you'll see on the ballot and who is running.

Shelby Township and Utica voters will take to the polls Aug. 7 to determine who will advance to the Nov. 6 general election to take a seat at the local, state and federal level.

Races for local positions such as supervisor, clerk, treasurer and trustees are expected to generate interest from voters in Shelby Township.

The Macomb County Department of Elections has posted a sample ballot for voters to review before heading to the polls. The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. .

Find out what's happening in Shelby-Uticawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here's a look at the races on the ballot.

National

Presidential Race: The national presidential campaign will heat up between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney, who campaigned heavily in Michigan this spring. 

Find out what's happening in Shelby-Uticawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Local Races

Shelby Township Supervisor's Race: Incumbent will square off against former Police Chief, whose contract was not renewed in 2011, after serving as the police chief of Shelby Township for ten years. Only one candidate will advance and face David Erickson, who is running as an independent on the Nov. 6 general elections.

Shelby Township Clerk: Stanley Grot, who was voted in over the winter to fill former Clerk, Terri Kowal's, position until the November Elections, will be running against former Sidewalk Committee Chairman and Shelby Township paramedic, Richard Batchelder.

Shelby Township Treasurer: Two current Board of Trustees, and Michael Flynn are running against each other for the Treasurer position.

Shelby Township Trustees Race: All four Board of Trustees seats are up for grabs, and 14 people are vying for the positions. Incumbents to the seats are and Paula Filar.  Paul Viar, the current Shelby Township Treasurer, is also running as a Trustee. Newcomers to the political arena are Vincent A. Bernardi; ; Anne Byrd Brown; ; Brent Freeman; ; ; Raquel R. Moore; Nick Nightingale and Clarence Cook.

Note: Utica does not have any local races on the the August or November ballot.

State Races

United States Senate: Incumbent Democrat Debbie Stabenow, will be up against four Republican challengers on the ballot: Clark Durant, Gary Glenn, Randy Hekman and Pete Hoekstra.

U.S. Congress:  10th congressional district Rep. Candice Miller, a Republican, will also seek to keep her seat. She will face off against either Jerome Quinn or Chuck Stadler, who are running as Democrats in the November elections.

Representatives in State Legislature: At the state House level, District 36 voters will be asked to choose between incumbent Pete Lund and Tadd Siglow, both Republicans, or Democrats Robert Murphy and Brian Senia. Voters in District 30 will be asked to choose between Republicans and M. Shallal, or Democrats and Nick Najjar.

County Races

Sheriff: Incumbent Sheriff Anthony Wickersham faces challenger Greg Stone, both Democrats. Republicans Kristi Dean, Bryan Ede, Roland Fraschetti, Steve Thomas and Todd Woodcox round out the Republican candidates.

Clerk: Democrat Darcy Jakubowski will try to unseat longtime Clerk Carmella Sabaugh, also a Democrat, in the primary election to eventually face Republican Debera Guenther in November.

Prosecutor: Incumbent Eric Smith, a Democrat, and Republican Michael Wrathell are running for the position. There are no same-party challengers for the primary election.

Treasurer: Republicans Larry Rocca and Erin Stahl will square off in the primaries to face incumbent Ted Wahby, a Democrat in the November election.

Public Works Commissioner: The all-Democrat race will be deciphered in the primaries with incumbent Anthony Marrocco and challengers John Becker and Douglas Martz vying for the seat.

Probate Court Judge: The non-incumbent position sees the most recognizable name in former county prosecutor Carl Marlinga. Marlinga, Roxanne Canestrelli, Sandra Harrison, Gregory Mlynarek and Armand Velardo are seeking office.

County Commissioner District 6: Incument James Louis Carabelli and Noel Nightingale are running on the Republican ticket against Democrate Ken Reid.

Republican Delegate to County Convention: Voters will be asked to choose for no more than three candidates: Kristi Dean, Dean C. Hanna, John A. Holeton, Pauline J. Holeton, Dave Kurinsky, Michelle D. Leake and Matthew Mangold.

Millages

This millage was first approved by 68 percent of Macomb County voters in 2008 and is now up for renewal for another six years (2013-2018). If approved, this proposal would levy .04 mills on Macomb County taxpayers to fund financial aid and services for county veterans and provide support for the Macomb County Veterans’ Services Department and Veterans’ Affairs Commission.

Cost: At .04 mills, a taxpayer owning a $100,000 home would be expected to pay approximately $2 a year. This millage is expected to raise approximately $984,560 in its first year of renewal (2013).

If you vote:

Yes – The millage will pass and you will be taxed $2-$4 a year for six years.

No – The millage will not pass and the Macomb County Veterans’ Services Department and Veterans’ Affairs Commission will lose what they describe as a key funding source.

Although you won’t see any reference to the “Detroit Institute of Arts” or even the word “museum” in the language of this proposal, this millage is intended to benefit the DIA.

The Macomb County board of commissioners voted to create an Art Institute Authority in April that would be responsible for submitting the millage question for the August ballot and monitoring the use of funds if it passes.

If approved, this proposal would levy .2 mills on Macomb County taxpayers for a period of 10 years. The revenue from this millage would in turn provide financial support for the DIA.

Cost: At 0.2 mills, a taxpayer owning a $100,000 home would be expected to pay approximately $10 a year. This tax would begin with December 2012 property tax bills and end in 2021.

This millage is expected to raise approximately $4.9 million in its first year (2012). In exchange for supporting the millage, residents and school groups from Macomb County would be allowed to visit the DIA anytime without a general admission fee.

Members of the art authority, who are appointed by Macomb’s commissioners and county executive, are tasked with ensuring the DIA uses the millage revenue only for museum operations. The DIA is required to submit an annual audit for this body’s review.

If you vote:

Yes – The millage will pass and you will be taxed $10-$20 a year for 10 years. You will receive free admission to the DIA during this time.

No – The millage will not pass and the DIA says it may have to reduce museum services and programs, including the end of school tours and opening selected galleries only on weekends.

For all your election questions, visit the Macomb County Election Department online.


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