November Election Guide for Shelby Township and Utica

Residents will take to the polls Nov. 6 to cast ballots for the next president of the United States. And, while their exercising their voting rights, they will also decipher what statewide and county ballot proposals and candidates should move ahead.

Shelby Township Races

Supervisor: Incumbent Rick Stathakis will square off against Dave Erickson, former president of the Shelby Township Police and Fire Civil Service Commission. Since Erickson is running as an Independent, his name did not appear on the Aug. 7 primary ballot.

Clerk: Republican and current Clerk, Stanley Grot, will run unopposed. 

Treasurer: Republican and current Trustee Michael Flynn is running unopposed for Treasurer.

Trustees: All four trustee seats on the board are up for election. The candidates hoping to secure seats are: incumbent Republicans Paula Filar and Douglas Wozniak; current Treasurer and Republican Paul Viar; and newcomers Republican Nick Nightingale and Democrat Clarence Cook. Voters must choose four of the five candidates on the ballot.

State Senate 

Two-term incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow is being challenged by Republican Pete Hoekstra, former Representative for MI 2nd District. Also in the race is Libertarian Scotty Bowman, Richard Matkin with the U.S. Taxpayers Party, Harley Mikkelson with the Green party and Joe Litle with the Natural Law Party. Voters are asked to choose just one.

Congressional Rep., 10th District

Republican incumbent Candice Miller, Democrat Chuck Stadler and Libertarian Bhagwan Dashairya are running for the seat.

District 36 State Representative 

Voters will be asked to choose between Republican incumbent Pete Lund or newcomer and Democrat Robert Murphy.

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

Macomb County Races

Several of the county candidates debated recently in Chesterfield Township.

• Prosecutor: Incumbent Eric Smith, a Democrat, and challenger Michael Wrathell, a Republican.
• Sheriff: Incumbent Anthony Wickersham, a Democrat; Republican Steve Thomas and Libertarian Scott W. Allen.
• Clerk and Register of Deeds: Incumbent Carmella Sabaugh, a Democrat, and Republican Debera Guenther.
• Treasurer: Incumbent Ted Wahby, a Democrat, and Republican Larry Rocca.
• County Commissioner, 8th District: Incumbent Kathy Vosburg, a Republican, and Jeff DiPascale, a Democrat.

Macomb Community College

MCC Facilities and Technology Bond Proposal

"Shall the Community College District of the County of Macomb, State of Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Fifty-Six Million ($56,000,000) Dollars and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefore, in one or more series for the purpose of paying for the cost of the following:   ·          

• Acquiring, installing, equipping and re-equipping college buildings, sites and facilities with new technology equipment and systems; Remodeling, re-equipping and re-furbishing college buildings, sites and infrastructure? 

The estimated millage that will be levied to pay the proposed bonds in the first year is .15 mills ($.15 per $1,000 of taxable value). The maximum number of years of each series of the proposed series of bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of refunding, is not more than ten (10) years; and the estimated simple average annual millage that will be required to retire each of the proposed series of bonds is .19 mills annually ($.19 per $1,000 of taxable value). (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for administrator or employee salaries, repair or maintenance costs or other operating expenses.)

State Proposals

• Proposal 12-1: The Emergency Manager Law would expand the powers of emergency managers in municipalities and school districts and allow the governor to appoint emergency managers.
• Proposal 12-2: Right to Collective Bargaining is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would make collective bargaining a right for public and private workers.
• Proposal 12-3: Renewable Energy Standard is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would require 25 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable energy sources.
• Proposal 12-4: Quality Home Care is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would give home health care workers limited collective bargaining rights.
• Proposal 12-5: Limit Enactment of New State Taxes is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would require a two-thirds majority of the state legislature or a statewide vote to raise state taxes.
• Proposal 12-6: Require Vote on International Bridges is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would require a statewide vote to build international bridges or tunnels. This would affect the New International Trade Crossing (or new bridge to Canada).

For more information on the state ballot proposals, go to Vote411.org and to Ballotpedia.

See the complete ballot for Shelby Township and Utica voters attached to this article. And, for more information about the general election, visit Macomb County Election Department website.