WHO’S RUNNING IN LOCAL ELECTION RACES

It’s November and that means it’s election time in Southwest Michigan. Although it’s an off year for most township, city, county and statewide elections, there are a number of local municipalities that have candidates and proposals on the ballot.
In Berrien County, there are local races in the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph as well as proposals in Benton Harbor, Chikaming Township and the Lakeshore school district.
Five seats including a partial two-year term on the Benton Harbor City Commission are on the November ballot. Third and Fourth Ward candidates Juanita Henry and Ruthie McCoy Haralson face no opposition in their races, while there is competition for two four-year at large seats and one partial term two-year seat.
Those vying for the two four-year at large terms are Duane Seats II, Ron Singleton and James Jackson. Vying for the partial two-year at large term are Edward Isom and Jerry Price.
In St. Joseph, six people are vying for three four-year terms on the St. Joseph City Commission. Incumbents Fran Chickering, Mike Garey and Mary Goff will face off with challengers Al DiBrito, Peggy Getty and Laura Goos in the November election.
Meanwhile, the city of Benton Harbor is asking residents to approve a city income tax that would impose an annual one percent income tax on city residents and a half of one percent income tax on non-residents. If it passes, the tax will go into effect Jan. 1.
In Harbor Country’s Chikaming Township, residents are being asked to impose an increase of up to one mill for six years, 2017 through 2022, to pay for road improvements. The mill would raise an estimated $614,524 in the first year if approved.
The Lakeshore school district is asking voters to approve both a renewal of the non-homestead millage and a bond issue to pay for facility and technology improvements.
With the renewal, voters are being asked to approve a 20-year renewal of the millage on all non-homestead properties. The millage request is for 23,0012 mills with only 18 mills to be levied in any given year. The extra millage is in place to offset any Headlee tax rollback in any of the years.
The levy renews the existing millage that expired this year. The 18 mills is expected to raise over $3.6 million in 2018. The non-homestead millage has to be in place in order for the district to get its full share of state aid revenue.
With the bond issue, the district is asking voters to approve a $21 million bond issue to pay for the remodeling and re-equipping of school buildings, acquiring new technology equipment for school buildings, purchasing school buses, improving playgrounds and athletic facilities and making site improvements.
If approved, the bond issue is expected to be paid off in 25 years and require an annual millage levy of 1.45 mills to pay off.
In Cass County, the only municipality with an election is Dowagiac. City residents 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 is running for a four-year term.
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. Only Hunt faces competition as she is being challenged by newcomer Patrick Bakeman for a new four-year term on the council.
2018 will be a much busier election year in Southwest Michigan and around the state. There are open seats in the 21st state senate and 78th state house districts as State Sen. John Proos and State Rep. Dave Pagel are term-limited and cannot run for re-election.
In addition, there will be city and village elections in area communities as well as statewide races for United States senator, governor and other state offices.