Local, state, federal offices are at stake

By Jennifer Champagne
Managing Editor

Alger County voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 4, to nominate candidates for federal, state and local offices and decide several countywide, township and school millage proposals.

Michigan has an open primary, meaning voters do not register by political party and may participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary, regardless of how they have voted in the past. However, voters may cast partisan votes in only one party’s section of the ballot. Voting for partisan candidates in more than one party’s section means those partisan votes will not be counted.

Ballot proposals appear in a separate section of the ballot and may be voted on regardless of which party’s primary a voter chooses. Voters also are not required to vote in every race and may leave contests blank if they wish.

The candidates who receive the most votes in each party’s primary will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

State and federal races

All Alger County voters will see the same statewide and federal partisan races.

Governor

Democratic voters will choose between Jocelyn Benson and Christopher Robert Swanson.

Republican voters will choose among Mike Cox (who recently suspended his campaign), John James, Perry Johnson and Aric Nesbitt.

U.S. Senate

Democratic voters will choose among Abdul El-Sayed, Mallory McMorrow (who recently suspended her campaign) and Haley Stevens.

Mike Rogers is the only Republican candidate.

U.S. House of Representatives: 1st Congressional District

Democratic voters will choose among Callie Barr, Kyle Blomquist and Wayne Stiles.

Republican voters will choose among incumbent Jack Bergman, Matthew DenOtter and Justin Michal.

Michigan Senate: 38th District

Kelli J. Van Ginhoven is the only Democratic candidate.

Republican voters will choose between Beau Matthew LaFave and David Prestin.

Michigan House: 109th District

Anna Aho Rink is the only Democratic candidate.

Incumbent Karl Bohnak is the only Republican candidate.

County and township races

Alger County voters also will decide several local races.

Republican Cori-Ann Cearley is the only candidate for a six-year term on the Alger County Road Commission.

Republican Dan Nedeau is the only candidate for an Alger County Road Commission partial term ending Dec. 31, 2028.

In the Alger County Commission District 1 special election, Republican Robert J. Hughes is the only candidate for the partial term ending Dec. 31, 2028.

In the Alger County Commission District 4 special election, Democrat Andy Sommer is the only candidate for the partial term ending Dec. 31, 2028.

Several ballots also include township-specific races.

Onota Township: Republican Pamela Ann Simmons is running for township clerk for a partial term ending Nov. 20, 2028.

Rock River Township: Republican Jenny LeJeune is running for township treasurer for a partial term ending Nov. 20, 2028.

Burt Township: Republican Devin Lawrence is running for delegate to the Alger County Republican Convention.

No additional township candidate races appear on the ballots reviewed for Au Train Township, Grand Island Township, Limestone Township, Mathias Township, Munising Township or the City of Munising.

Understanding millages

Many proposals on the ballot are expressed in mills.

One mill equals $1 in property tax for every $1,000 of taxable value. For example, a property with a taxable value of $50,000 would pay $50 per year for a 1-mill levy. Taxable value is listed on a property’s tax bill and is not necessarily the same as its market value.

A renewal continues a millage previously approved by voters. A restoration replaces part of a millage rate that has been reduced through Headlee Amendment rollbacks.

Countywide proposals

Every Alger County voter will decide four countywide proposals.

911 emergency telephone dispatch

Voters will decide whether to renew 0.9867 mill and restore 0.0133 mill, allowing a total levy of up to 1 mill for five years, from 2027 through 2031, to operate the county’s 911 emergency dispatch system.

If approved and levied in full, the county estimates the proposal would generate approximately $557,984 in its first year.

Senior services

The proposal would renew 0.4874 mill and restore 0.0126 mill, allowing a total levy of up to 0.50 mill for five years, from 2027 through 2031, to fund services for Alger County residents age 60 and older.

The county estimates the proposal would generate about $261,618 in its first year.

MSU Extension

Voters will decide whether to renew 0.2496 mill and restore 0.0004 mill, allowing a total levy of up to 0.25 mill for five years, from 2027 through 2031, to support Michigan State University Extension programs in Alger County.

The proposal is estimated to generate about $130,809.10 in its first year.

Altran

The Alger Transit Authority proposal would authorize a levy of up to 1 mill for five years, from 2027 through 2031, to support operation of Alger County’s public transportation system.

If approved and levied in full, the proposal is estimated to generate about $557,984 in its first year.

Au Train-Onota Public Schools

Voters in the Au Train-Onota Public Schools district will decide on a non-homestead operating millage renewal proposal.

The proposal would increase the district’s existing operating millage limitation by 15.2723 mills for nine years, from 2026 through 2034, allowing the district to continue levying the statutory operating rate of up to 18 mills on property not exempt as a principal residence.

The proposal generally applies to businesses, rental properties, vacation homes and other property that is not an owner’s principal residence. It generally does not apply to a homeowner’s primary residence.

The ballot estimates the district would collect about $11,248.53 in 2026 if 0.18 mill of the authorization is levied that year.

Au Train Township proposals

Au Train Township voters will decide two additional millage proposals.

The Garbage Collection and Supporting Services Proposal would authorize the township to levy up to 3 mills for five years, from 2027 through 2031, to fund curbside garbage collection, supporting services and ongoing costs related to the closure of the Munising Landfill.

If approved and levied in 2027, the proposal is estimated to generate about $282,488.

The Road Maintenance and Improvement Proposal would authorize the township to levy up to 2 mills for five years, from 2027 through 2031, for road maintenance and improvements within the township.

If approved and levied in 2027, the proposal is estimated to generate about $188,325.

Munising Township proposal

Munising Township voters will decide whether to renew and restore a millage used to purchase and maintain fire equipment.

The proposal would renew 1.4832 mills and restore 0.0168 mill, allowing a total levy of up to 1.5 mills for five years, from 2026 through 2030.

If approved and levied in full, the proposal is estimated to generate about $167,330 in its first year.

Burt Township proposals

Burt Township voters will decide three additional proposals.

A general operating proposal would restore 0.4574 mill reduced through Headlee Amendment rollbacks, returning the township’s authorized general operating rate to 1 mill for four years, from 2026 through 2029. The restored portion is estimated to generate about $31,607 in its first year.

A road maintenance and improvements proposal would renew up to 1.5 mills for four years, from 2026 through 2029, and is estimated to generate about $103,654 in its first year.

A combined ambulance, law enforcement and fire protection proposal would renew 2.25 mills for four years, from 2026 through 2029, to support ambulance operations, the emergency services building, fire protection and law enforcement services. The proposal is estimated to generate about $155,481 in its first year.

Before heading to the polls

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4. Voters who are in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballots.

Before submitting a ballot, remember:

• Vote for partisan candidates in only one party’s section.
• Ballot proposals may be voted on regardless of which party’s primary you choose.
• Some local races and proposals appear only in certain townships or school districts.
• Review your entire ballot before submitting it.

Additional election information, including polling locations, sample ballots and voter registration information, is available through the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote.