With the filing deadline for major parties passed, Allegan County has a variety of candidates vying for Republican nominations in state and local government.
While each incumbent member of the Gun Plain Township board is running unopposed for their party’s nominations for their seats, there is a contest in Otsego Township.
Longtime clerk Cindy Hunt did not file for reelection, so current treasurer Joan Squibbs will run for office that instead of her own.
Two have stepped into the race to succeed Squibbs as treasurer: Carrie Lunarde-Alexander and Cheryl Knapp.
The rest of the board incumbents are running unopposed for trustee nominations: Karen Burns, Matt McPherson, Rick Moll and Lori Morrell Bumgart.
Each township seat is a four-year term.
At the county level, longtime Allegan County Commissioner Jon Campbell of Otsego is in a contested race for the GOP nomination to replace incumbent Joyce Watts, who is retiring after 40 years with the county.
Campbell will face former state Rep. Bob Genetski, of Saugatuck.
Two have filed to succeed Commissioner Jon Campbell on the county board for District 6.
Former Otsego Township Gale Dugan and former county commissioner Bill Sage will run against each other for the nomination.
District 6 includes Otsego city, Hopkins village and the townships of Hopkins, Otsego, Trowbridge and Watson.
That race is one of two contested races for county board nominations; the other five are running unopposed.
Similarly unopposed are many running for countywide elected offices; more than half will have new faces in the positions come November.
Undersheriff Frank Baker is running unopposed for sheriff, as the incumbent Blaine Koops announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection.
Chief assistant prosecutor Roberts Kengis is likewise running unopposed for county prosecutor, as incumbent Fred Anderson has announced he too was retiring.
Kevin Miedema is running unopposed for county surveyor; longtime incumbent Kirk Van Order did not file for reelection.
Treasurer Sally Brooks and drain commissioner Denise Medemar are both running unopposed to retain their positions.
Allegan County Circuit Court Chief Judge Margaret Bakker is running unopposed in an election to retain her seat, a nonpartisan office (the primary will determine her election, not the November election).
At the state level, Rep. Mary Whiteford won the special election in March to replace ousted state Rep. Cindy Gamrat. Because Gamrat’s term expires this year, Whiteford’s seat is again up for election.
Dorr resident Abigail Nobel will run against her for the GOP nod.
Democrat John Andrysiak of Martin also filed for the position, but is running unopposed for his party’s nomination.
Independent candidates have until 4 p.m. July 21 to file for the November general election.
Ballot questions for the primary are not yet set. The county and local governments must decide ballot proposal wording by 4 p.m. May 10. Local clerks then have two days to forward the wording to the county clerk.
Gun Plain Township is not alone in its fully uncontested slate; there is no competition for nominations in 12 other of Allegan County’s 24 townships, leaving mostly incumbents an easy road in the primary.
Contact Ryan Lewis at rmlewis@allegannews.com or (269) 673-5534.
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