Vicki Kundinger

ALPENA — Michigan’s primary elections were held on Tuesday, and voters in Montmorency County may have noticed there were no democrats or republicans running for prosecuting attorney.

According to the county clerk office, only one person is currently filed to run as an independent for the position in November, and that is the incumbent Vicki Kundinger.

Kundinger has been a prosecuting attorney for 25 years, and was first elected in 1984. She had a break in her political career from 1999 to 2014, but since the 2014 election, Kundinger has continued to fill the position. The 2020 election was the first election where she ran as an independent candidate.

Kundinger was unable to be reached for comment on her current campaign.

John Perry, the public affairs director for the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, said the prosecuting attorney serves a vital role in the county.

“The prosecutor works as something like a gatekeeper,” he said. “Making sure that there are sufficient pieces of evidence in place to bring charges against someone who has been accused of a crime. The prosecutor also does a lot of work in the county in terms of education, prevention, helping victims … It’s a pretty encompassing job.”

In an instance where no one runs for prosecuting attorney and the position is vacant at the start of 2025, Perry said they are appointed by the local circuit court judge.

“Whether or not that’s the appointment for the full four years, or if it would be something settled by a special election in 2026, that’s a little vague,” he said.

While Montmorency County avoids this problem with an independent candidate running, he said Lake County is currently dealing with that issue.

With no Democratic or Republican opponents appearing on the August primary ballot, Kundinger will likely win reelection in November. If she wins, she will serve another four years in office.

The general election will be held on Nov. 5.

This story was produced by the Michigan News Group Internship Program, a collaboration between WCMU Public Media and local newspapers in central and northern Michigan. The program’s mission is to train the next generation of journalists and combat the rise of rural news deserts.