Yesterday, I was joking with a fellow politico about the “excitement” of the day. See, 4PM was the deadline for potential candidates to file their petitions and/or filing fees with Kalamazoo County Clerk/Register-of-Deed Tim Snow in order to place their names on the August Primary Election ballot. For a moment, it felt like Selection Sunday for the NCAA Division I Basketball tournament. All throughout the state of Michigan, at local clerks offices and at the Bureau of Elections in Lansing, were there going to be any surprise filings? Would there be anyone who said they were going to file who decided not to at the last minute?
It can be a very exciting moment.
Here in Kalamazoo County, thanks to the great work of our County Treasurer and KGOP Candidate Recruitment co-chair Mary Balkema, we have a great slate of candidates this year. As 4PM rolled by and I observed the list of names, I realized that it is going to be a good election year in Kalamazoo County! THANK YOU SO MUCH MARY!!!
Here’s the list of candidates that you will see on the ballot in August.
GOVERNOR: Rick Snyder
US SENATE: Terri Lynn Land
US HOUSE: Fred Upton, Jim Bussler
STATE SENATE (20th District): Margaret O’Brien, Lorence Wenke, Ron Zuiderveen Jr
STATE REP (60th District): Mike Perrin
STATE REP (61st District): Brandt Iden, Phil Stinchcomb
STATE REP (63rd District): David C. Maturen, Vic Potter
STATE REP (66th District): Aric Nesbitt
KZOO COUNTY COMMISSION #2: David Lee
KZOO COUNTY COMMISSION #3: SonJalita Hulbert
KZOO COUNTY COMMISSION #5: Charles Ybema
KZOO COUNTY COMMISSION #6: Jeff Heppler, Neal Turluck, Linda Sue Winters
KZOO COUNTY COMMISSION #7: Roger Tunier
KZOO COUNTY COMMISSION #8: John Gisler
KZOO COUNTY COMMISSION #9: Brian Kovacik, Dale Shugars
KZOO COUNTY COMMISSION #10: Stan Runyon
KZOO COUNTY COMMISSION #11: Scott McGraw
OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE (partial term): Dave Bushouse, James Lefler
PAVILION TOWNSHIP TREASURER (partial term): Robyn Froberg
The list of names will be finalized at 4PM on Friday, which is the deadline to withdraw from the ballot. If you’re a precinct delegate, if you’re someone who is interested in helping your neighbor win an election, if you’re someone interested in the future of Kalamazoo County … please contact these folks and lend a hand.
It is a very exciting time to live in Kalamazoo County … we’re at the forefront of Michigan’s comeback and it’s because of folks like these wonderful candidates!