LONGTIME BERRIEN COUNTY CLERK SHARON TYLER WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – Longtime Berrien County Clerk Sharon Tyler announced last week that she doesn’t plan to run for re-election. Tyler is nearing the end of her third term as county clerk and has overseen a number of projects including the changes brought about by the 2022 election ballot proposal.
“With a lot of great thought and prayer, I will not be seeking re-election for county clerk,” Tyler told commissioners. ”It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Berrien County as your County Clerk these last twelve years.”
“I would like to leave by thanking all those who have helped, and supported, me over the years,” she said. ““I want to thank you and my staff to make the department a success. It takes a team working together.”
“I especially want to recognize the staff at the Berrien County Clerk’s Office who are dedicated individuals carrying out their responsibilities with excellence and compassion,” she added. “I don’t think anyone truly understands what takes place in the Clerk’s Office on a daily basis.”
She noted that her office is one of the most diversified in county government, governed by approximately 596 statutes, which fall into six major divisions.
The county clerk serves as the Clerk of the Board of Commissioners, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Registrar of Vital Statistics, Clerk of the Jury Board, Clerk of the Plat Board and the Chief Election Official for the County. The county clerk presides over every election held in the County from a local bond issue to electing the President of the United States.

Tyler didn’t talk much about her own future plans. “I plan to relax, travel a little, and enjoy my grandchildren, but don’t be surprised if you see my name on the ballot again,” she said.
She did say that she plans to endorse someone for county clerk in the near future. “The clerk’s office has six major divisions, this is not a position for a novice to fill,” she said. “I will be endorsing a person in the near future after that person announces. I want to see a county clerk who can begin on day one.”
Tyler is currently nearing the end of her third four-year term as county clerk, having first been elected in 2012. Previously she served two two-year terms as a state representative from 2009-2012 and spent 30 years as an economic developer in Berrien County.
She served as the executive director of the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance and the Berrien County Manufacturers Council before running for state representative. She was the Economic Developer of the Year for the state of Michigan in 2004.
Her public service career also included serving as a Lincoln Charter Township Trustee, on the Lincoln Township Planning Commission and as the Interim City Manager for the city of Niles in the 1990s.
Tyler noted last week that one project she started in 2013 in nearing completion, that of digitizing court records so that they can be viewed online. It is expected to be fully implemented later this spring. She also talked about another newer project she’s worked on, that of early voting.
Tyler said early voting has been a great success since it began last Saturday. A statewide ballot proposal approved in 2022 instituted early voting and other measures and next week’s Feb. 27 presidential primary election is the first time it will be implemented.
She reported that the county has two early voting sites: the south county courthouse in the south county and Lake Michigan College in the north county. Two townships, Bainbridge and Benton, are doing their own early voting.
As of mid-week last week, she said a total of 315 people have taken advantage of early voting which ran through Sunday. While that number may seem low, she expects it to grow in coming elections with more races and proposals on the ballot. She noted that early voting is another voting option besides absentee voting and election day voting.
County Board Vice-Chairman Teri Freehling thanked Tyler for her service. “I thank you for your leadership and the work you have done,” she said. “Whoever comes into that role has big shoes to fill.”
In other election news, people should expect 2024 to be another busy year. The Feb. 27 presidential primary election is now in the books, but three more elections will be held this year: May 7, Aug. 6 and Nov. 5.
At the county level, several positions will be on the ballot this year including the County Clerk, County Treasurer, County Prosecutor, County Sheriff, Drain Commissioner, Register of Deeds and all 12 County Commissioner seats.
In addition, city, township, village and school board positions will on the ballot. In state races, all state house seats will be on the ballot as will one U.S. Senate seat.
The filing deadline is April 23 at 4 p.m. for partisan and non-partisan city and township offices as well as the state level offices. The filing deadline for school boards and villages is July 23 at 4 p.m. People running unaffiliated for a partisan position or for a local district library board must file by July 18 at 4 p.m.
Deadlines for county and local ballot proposals are May 14 for the Aug. 6 election and Aug. 13 for the Nov. 5 general election.