Commissioner races, smoke ban on Michigan ballot

9/1/2006
BY JIM SIELICKI
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Board of commissioner candidates in Monroe and Hillsdale counties who survived tie-breakers in last month s primary were approved yesterday for the Nov. 7 election ballot.

Among the showdowns will be the Monroe County District 4 commissioner s race between incumbent Democrat Floreine M. Mentel and Republican Nicholas Turner.

Ms. Mentel persevered in the run-off against Pat Kosanovich in the Democrat primary by picking the tie-breaker slip of paper. Both had tied at 396.

The same situation occurred in Hillsdale County.

Two Republican candidates for District 3 commissioner tied, with Gearldine Spieth, 62, of Litchfield, breaking the 404-404 tie.

She will face Fred Overcashier, 59, of Reading, who has no party affiliation.

In Lenawee County, voters will have the opportunity to decide whether to enact a ban on smoking in all public buildings and workplaces, with the exception of bars, restaurants, and specialty tobacco shops.

The Greater Lenawee Tobacco Reduction Coalition was formed to push for the smoking ban.

Other issues include tax requests and, in the city of Hillsdale, proposed amendments to the city charter.

Monroe County s issues that will appear on the ballot were not available yesterday afternoon.

Here is a list of the candidates for contested races and the counties respective issues:

MONROE COUNTY

County Commissioner

District 1

J. Henry Lievens (R.), Petersburg, and Judy M. Heath (D.), Milan.

District 2

Dale W. Zorn (R.), Ida, and Mike Sperling (D.), Monroe.

District 4

Nicholas Turner (R.), Monroe, and Floreine M. Mentel (D.), Monroe.

District 5

Marty Selvidge (R.), Monroe, and William Sisk, (D.), Monroe.

District 6

Jeffery S. Osment (R.), Monroe, and Jerry Oley (D.), Monroe.

District 7

Randy Ansel (R.), LaSalle, and John S. Fowler, (D.), Albain.

Erie Township

Treasurer

Amanda Jacobs (R.), Erie, and Cindy Baum (D.) Erie.

Dundee Village

President

Vaughn Massingill and Ted Norris.

Trustee

Jeffrey Corie, Michael Niemann, Charles Drexler, Gregory J. Lazette, Judith Nicole Howes, Tim Surovchak, and Thomas A. Rohrbach.

State Rep. 55th District

Matthew Milosch (R.), Lambertville, and Kathy Angerer (D.), Dundee

State Rep. 56th District

(partial term)

John Manor (R.), Monroe, and Kate Ebli (D.).

(full term)

John Manor (R.) and Kate Ebli (D.).

LENAWEE COUNTY

State Rep. District 57

Jim Koehn (R.), Adrian, and Dudley Spade (D.), Tipton.

County Commissioner

District 2

H. Edwin Branch (R.), Onsted, and John R. Clark (D.), Manitou Beach.

District 3

Robert D. Hall (R.), Hudson, and Randy W. Burrow (D.) Morenci.

District 4

Larry Gould (R.), Morenci, and Jason J. Bolton (D.), Adrian.

District 8

Ralph Tillotson (R), Adrian, and Larry Haall (D), Britton.

District 9

James VanDoren (R.), Tipton, and Allison MacArthur-Ruesink, (D.), of Adrian.

Road Commission

Donald V. Isley (R.), Deerfield, and Stan Wilson (D.), Britton.

Tecumseh

City Council (3 to be elected)

Jackson L. Baker, Matthew Hammond, Lolly Luegge, Gary Naugle, J.A. Samelak, and Ronald Wimple.

Blissfied Village

President

Isabelle E. DeLaCruz, Patrick Hinde, and Vicky S. Lombard.

Trustees (3 to be elected)

Mark Burgermeister, Michael Robert Charlefour, Edward Knisel, Jan K. Luce, Arthur G. Weeber.

ISSUES

Shall the county commissioners consider smoke-free worksite regulations?

Riga Township

Shall a 2-mill tax increase in the 15-mill tax limit be renewed through 2007 for roads and bridges?

HILLSDALE COUNTY

County Commissioner

District 3

Gearldine Spieth (R.), Litchfield, and Fred Overcashier (I.), Reading.

Woodbridge Township

Trustee

Douglas Lee HuKill, (R.), Camden, and Robert Rapa, (D.) Reading.

Hillsdale

City charter amendments:

• Should city council maintain four full-time firefighters, and staff the fire state 24 hours a day?

• Shall the term of city manager be limited to 9 years, and apply to the incumbent?

• Should unexpired vacant offices of mayor, councilman, clerk, or treasurer be filled by election?

Pittsford Township

Library proposal: 0.93 mill tax increase for support and maintenance.

Jonesville Village

Approval of an ordinance to allow the village council president to appoint and council to approve candidates for clerk and treasurer.

Camden Village

Whether the village should repeal a 1984 that prohibits the sale of beer and wine on Sunday.

Contact: Jim Sielicki at: jsielicki@theblade.com or 419-724-6078