LOCAL ELECTION NEWS

ST. JOSEPH – 2017 isn’t a big election year in Southwest Michigan, but there are a few elections going on this summer and fall in advance of what should be a busy 2018.
The recent August election featured a primary election in the city of St. Joseph and three millage renewal proposals-one in Berrien Springs and two in Three Oaks.
In St. Joseph, incumbents Fran Chickering, Mike Garey and Mary Goff were the top votegetters in a crowded primary field of seven candidates. They will run unopposed in November for new four-year terms on the St. Joseph City Commission.
In Berrien Springs, voters approved a renewal of the millage for the Berrien Springs Community Library, while Three Oaks Township residents renewed the roads and bridges millage as well as the Three Oaks Township Public Library operating millage.
The Nov. 7 election will feature elections in two municipalities, St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. The St. Joseph city commission election will feature Chickering, Garey and Goff running unopposed for new terms on the city commission.
In Benton Harbor, there is a contested race for just one of the five seats up for election. Edward Isom and Jerry Price are vying for a partial at large two-year term that ends Dec. 31, 2019. Running unopposed for four year terms are Juanita Henry in Ward 1, Ruthie McCoy Haralson in Ward 4 and Duane Seats II and Ron Singleton for two at large seats.
In nearby Cass County, residents in the city of Dowagiac will go to the polls Nov. 7 to vote for the mayor, city treasurer as well as three council seats. Latoi Wilson was appointed city treasurer in April and plans to run for election.
Council seats up for election are those currently held by Lori Hunt, Bob Schuur and Leon Laylin and the mayor post held by Donald Lyons is also up for election.
Although the 2018 primary and general elections are a year or more away, one local resident has already thrown his hat in the ring for the 78th State House District seat currently held by Dave Pagel of Berrien Springs. Pagel is finishing his third term in Lansing and cannot run for re-election.
Niles resident David Mann, 26, is making his second run for the 78th state house seat. He ran previously in 2012, losing to Pagel in a three-way race in the Republican primary that year. He has held elected office before, serving five years on the Niles City Council from 2011-16.
Mann announced his candidacy earlier this month online and on an area radio show. He said he plans to attend community events in the area over the next several months, campaign door to door and have a strong presence on social media.
He said he knows others will likely join the race for the Republican nomination over the next few months but wanted to get his name out there now. He said running for state representative has always been one of his goals and he wanted to wait until Pagel finished his three terms.
“I ran in 2012 when it was an open seat and got my feet wet,” he said.
Mann currently works at Andrews University in the religion and history department. He received his bachelor’s degree in religion from Andrews in 2013 and his masters degree in divinity from Andrews in 2016.
He said his campaign will focus on less government and more opportunity. He plans to stress economic liberty, economic prosperity and personal liberty. “I want Michigan to be a power player,” he said. “We have to stop picking winners and losers and promote opportunity for everyone.”
On specific issues, he said he’s opposed to the state taxing online sales, is a supporter of the Second Amendment and the right to carry guns, reducing the state income tax and would fund more infrastructure spending by cutting other parts of the budget and not by raising taxes.
In addition to the 78th state house seat, other area state legislature seats will be up for election including the 21st district state senate seat currently held by John Proos who cannot run for re-election due to term limits.
State residents will also vote next year for a new governor, a U.S. senator and congressional representatives and could decide ballot initiatives on gerrymandering and recreational marijuana.