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ALPENA - Only incumbents submitted the required paperwork before the July 21 filing deadline for the two Alpena City Council seats that will appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, giving voters the chance to select councilmembers who will serve four-year terms running from 2027 through 2030.
City Clerk/Treasurer/Finance Director Anna Soik confirmed the limited scope of the municipal races this cycle.
"The seats that will appear on the November ballot are only for two councilmember seats," Soik said. Those positions are the ones currently held by Mayor Pro Tem Karol Walchak, whose term ends Dec. 31, and Councilmember Kevin Currier, who was appointed in January 2025 to complete a partial term that also expires at the end of this year.
The November election will mark the latest chapter in Alpena's transition to even-year local elections. The most recent time city council seats appeared on the ballot was the Nov. 5, 2024, general election. The contest drew 5,503 voters citywide, according to Soik. The 2024 races filled seats now occupied by Mayor Cindy Johnson, Councilmember Danny Mitchell and Councilmember Bridget Hollinshead, all of whom won four-year terms that run through the end of 2028.
Prospective candidates who missed the July 21 nominating-petition deadline still have a path to the ballot through the write-in process. Under Michigan election law, anyone seeking a city office as a write-in must file a Declaration of Intent with the city clerk by 4 p.m. on the second Friday before the election - Oct. 23 this year.
"The only form required to file as a write in is the Declaration of Intent," Soik said. 'We have printed copies in our office. I will also put them on our website." Forms are available at the City Clerk's Office in City Hall, 208 N. First Ave.
Write-in candidates face the same eligibility standards as those who appear on the printed ballot. "Yes, they still need to follow the same eligibility," Soik said. Under Section 3.2 of the City of Alpena Charter, candidates must be registered electors of the city, have resided in the city of Alpena for at least one year, be taxpayers of the city, and not be in default to the city or any other school district, county or municipal corporation in the state.
Soik urged anyone considering a write-in bid to act quickly rather than wait until the final deadline.
"I would advise write-in candidates to file early and once the filing is official, then the candidate can inform voters," Soik explained. "Also, absentee voting starts 40 days prior to Election Day so that write-in candidates would want voters aware of their candidacy before early voting starts."
"If they wait until the October 23rd deadline, then there wouldn't be any votes for that candidate on absentee ballots that had already been voted before that date," Soik added.
Absentee ballots for the November general election are expected to become available in late September. Michigan law allows no-excuse absentee voting, and many city residents have taken advantage of the option in recent cycles. Early in-person voting will also be offered in the days leading up to Nov. 3.
Once the polls close on Election Day, election inspectors will carefully review any write-in votes.
"After the close of polls on Election Day, inspectors will tally the votes for each name variation or misspellings," Soik said. "The votes will then be certified by the County Board of Canvassers. If a voter spells a name incorrectly, as long as it can be determined who the vote is for, then most likely it will be counted but it is still up to the discretion of the Board of Canvassers."
The two open seats represent a significant portion of the five-member Municipal Council, which also includes the mayor. Council members set policy, adopt the annual budget, appoint key officials and oversee major city projects ranging from infrastructure improvements to economic development initiatives along the Thunder Bay shoreline.
With the general election still more than three months away, Soik emphasized that early preparation benefits both candidates and voters. Filing the simple one-page Declaration of Intent well ahead of the Oct. 23 cutoff gives write-in hopefuls time to campaign and ensures their supporters can cast ballots for them whether they vote early, by mail or in person on Election Day.