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Few contested races in August primary in region

ALPENA — It appears many area incumbents will hold onto their seats this year, with few contested races in the August primary in Northeast Michigan, according to candidate filings available on Tuesday.

A federal judge this week extended until May 8 the filing deadlines for candidates who must collect signatures to appear on the ballot. That gave many would-be judicial and congressional candidates more time to collect signatures, a challenging task under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-home order meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

But most candidates for local office can pay a $100 fee to appear on the ballot without signatures, so Tuesday remained the deadline for them.

Below is a roundup of Northeast Michigan candidates for county seats in the August primary. Many lists of area township races were not immediately available.

If more than one candidate from the same party is running for any seat, the winner of the most votes will advance to the November general election to face off against the winner in the opposing party’s primary.

If only one candidate from a party is running, that candidate automatically advances to November, as long as he or she earns at least one vote in August.

If only one candidate has filed for a particular race, he or she will automatically win the seat in November, provided he or she earns at least one vote in both August and November, unless they are challenged by an independent. Independents have until this summer to file for a spot on the November ballot.

ALPENA COUNTY

Alpena County Board of Commissioners

District 1

Don Gilmet, Republican

District 2

Bob Adrian, Democrat (incumbent)

District 3

Dave Karschnick, Republican (incumbent)

Kathy Thomas, Democrat

District 4

Bill Peterson, Republican (incumbent)

District 5

Brenda Fournier, Republican (incumbent)

Mike Sobek, Republican

District 6

Ron McDonald, Republican (incumbent)

District 7

Cam Habermehl, Republican

Marty Thomson, Republican (incumbent)

District 8

John Kozlowski, Republican (incumbent)

Sheriff

Steve Kieliszewski, Republican (incumbent)

Terry King, Republican

Prosecutor

Cynthia Muszynski, Republican (incumbent)

Denise Burke, Democrat

Clerk

Bonnie Friedrichs, Republican (incumbent)

Treasurer

Kim Ludlow, Democrat (incumbent)

Register of deeds

Cathy Murphy, Republican (incumbent)

Drain commissioner

Gerald Fournier, Republican (incumbent)

ALPENA TOWNSHIP

Supervisor

Nathan Skibbe, Republican (incumbent)

Bruce Honeycutt, Democrat

Clerk

Michele Palevich, Republican (incumbent)

Treasurer

Laura Ellery-Somers, Republican (incumbent)

Trustee (four open seats)

Cash Kroll, Republican (incumbent)

Steve Lappan, Republican (incumbent)

Norm Poli, Republican (incumbent)

Russ Rhynard, Republican

PRESQUE ISLE

COUNTY

Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners

District 1

Nancy Shutes, Republican (incumbent)

Wayne Vermilya, Democrat

District 2

Lee Gapczynski, Republican

District 3

Michael Darga, Democrat

District 4

Carl Altman, Republican

District 5

John Chappa, Democrat

Clerk

Ann Marie Main, Democrat (incumbent)

Treasurer

Bridget LaLonde, Republican (incumbent)

Register of deeds

Vicky Kowalewsky, Republican (incumbent)

Prosecutor

Kenneth Radzibon, Republican (incumbent)

Sheriff

Joe Brewbaker, Republican (incumbent)

Drain commissioner

Robert Macomber, Republican (incumbent)

Surveyor

Norman Quaine, Republican

ALCONA COUNTY

Board of Commissioners

District 1

Dan Gauthier, Republican (incumbent)

District 2

Craig Johnston, Republican (incumbent)

William Thompson, Republican

District 3

Carolyn Brummund, Republican (incumbent)

District 4

Adam Brege, Republican (incumbent)

District 5

Kevin Boyat, Democrat

John Terry Small, Republican

Gary Wnuk, who currently holds the county’s District 5 seat, previously ran as an independent.

He has until July 16 to file for the November general election, County Clerk Stephany Eller said.

Prosecutor

Thomas Weichel, Republican (incumbent)

Sheriff

Scott Stephenson, Republican (incumbent)

Clerk

Stephany Eller, Republican (incumbent)

Treasurer

Cheryl Franks, Republican (incumbent)

Register of deeds

Melissa Cordes, Republican (incumbent)

Road Commission

John Oliver, Republican

Harry Harvey, Republican (incumbent)

MONTMORENCY COUNTY

Board of Commissioners

District 1

No candidate filed

District 2

Don Edwards, Republican (incumbent)

District 3

John Burr, Republican

District 4

No candidate filed

District 5

Gary Girardin, Republican (incumbent)

Prosecutor

No candidate filed

Sheriff

Chad Brown, Republican (incumbent)

Treasurer

No candidate filed

Clerk

Cheryl Neilsen, Republican (incumbent)

Register of deeds

Teresa Walker, Republican (incumbent)

Michelle Sanders, Republican

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that Michelle Sanders is a Republican candidate for Montmorency County register of deeds. Her name was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.

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