By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH, MI – Last week’s election featured races at the local, county, state and federal levels as well as state and local proposals. While many incumbents including State Rep. Brad Paquette, State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey and U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg were re-elected, others lost including U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga who represents the north end of the county.
In Berrien County, voters elected Jennifer Fields to an open judge position with over 65 percent of the vote.
In the Baroda races and proposals, people recalled Township Clerk Christina Price and elected Chelsie Nitz to the remainder of Price’s term that ends in December, 2028. The proposal to disincorporate the village of Baroda was soundly defeated. Unofficial results had 1,107 people or 80 percent voting no to 265 people voting yes.
In addition, Baroda village residents elected a new village president as well as three new council members. Four new people will be on the Baroda Village Council after last week’s election.
Besides Milt Sluder defeating incumbent Michael Price for village president with 260 votes to Price’s 164 votes, Brad Mattner, Jodi Mattner, and Lisa Radde have been elected to serve on the village council. All are new to the council.
Radde also led the recall effort against Christina Price and said it was significant as the village council and disincorporation votes. She said that the recall effort began with residents calling for greater transparency and accountability. “Seeing that effort succeed is a powerful reminder that local government belongs to the people it serves,” she said.
“Ultimately, this election wasn’t just about changing who holds office. It was about changing the direction of our community,” Radde said. “Now it’s time to turn that momentum into meaningful progress for Baroda.”
The unofficial final numbers on the Christina Price recall had Nitz receiving 781 votes to Price’s 592 votes for a 57 to 43 percentage margin.
Nitz said she was grateful for the support and trust people have placed in her. “I ran on working to unite Baroda, and that commitment will guide how I serve if these results hold,” she said. “I want every resident to feel heard, respected, and confident in their clerk’s office, regardless of how they voted. I’m ready to put in the work, earn that confidence, and help our community move forward together.”
In the Niles area, Niles city voters approved a measure limiting the number of retail marijuana businesses in the city, while Niles Township voters again rejected allowing any marijuana businesses in the township.
In the city of Niles, voters approved a marijuana business limit with 61 percent voting for the limit. Unofficial results showed 2,177 voting yes and 1,394 voting no.
In Niles Township, a proposal to allow four retail marijuana businesses was defeated with 2,696 voting no to 2,490 voting yes. That represented 52 percent voting no to 48 percent voting yes.
This was the fourth time since 2022 that Niles Township residents voted to decide the fate of recreational marijuana in the township. Voters defeated a proposal to allow retail marijuana businesses in 2022, they approved a similar proposal in 2024 before last year defeating a referendum on retail marijuana rules and approving a total ban on marijuana businesses.
It was the first time that Niles city voters have the chance to weigh in on the topic since voters statewide legalized marijuana several years ago and Niles elected officials votes allow recreational marijuana in 2019. The proposal asked voters to amend the city’s marijuana ordinance to limit the number of marijuana retail establishments to five.