Voters will cast ballots Tuesday, November 4, for national, state, and local races. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

This issue of The St. Ignace News includes voter information about national and state candidates from the League of Women Voters, and interviews with candidates for the 107th District House of Representatives seat, the judgeship of 92nd District

Court, and of 11th Circuit Court. Detailed profiles and interviews with Bart Stupak and Tom Casperson, both seeking the seat for the First District in U.S. Congress, were published in The St. Ignace News September 11 and August 21, respectively, and can be read online free of charge on the newspaper's Web site, www.stignacenews.com. All candidates for local office who chose to participate were profiled in the newspaper before the August primary election. Those reports were published July 24 and can also be read at no charge on the Web site or in those newspaper issues filed at public libraries.

Write-in candidates have until Friday, October 24, at 4 p.m. to file a declaration of intent to run for office.

Since the August 5 primary, several highly contested races have taken shape within the county and townships.

Vying for the county treasurer post are appointed incumbent Democrat Nora Massey and Republican challenger Rob Winkelman, both from St. Ignace.

The 92nd District Court judge, Beth Gibson of Newberry is opposed by former Probate Judge Tom North of St. Ignace.

Fourth District County Commissioner Republican Mike Patrick of Cedarville is being challenged for his seat by Democrat James Farero, a former commissioner also of Cedarville. Other county commissioners remain unopposed.

Seeking one Road Commission seat are newcomers Democrat Richard Oliver of Germfask and Republican Tom Doty of Cedarville.

Incumbent County Surveyor Republican Jeffrey Davis of Hessel is being challenged by Neil Hill Sr., a Democrat from St. Ignace and a former county surveyor.

Diane Frankovich, the Republican incumbent Register of Deeds from St. Ignace, is facing challenger Bambi Robinson, a Democrat, also from St. Ignace.

Running unopposed is 11th Circuit Court Judge William Carmody of Munising.

Running unopposed for county offices are incumbents Republican County Clerk Mary Kay Tamlyn, Republican Sheriff Scott Strait, and Republican Prosecuting Attorney Fred Feleppa. County Commissioners include District One Democrat Carl Frazier, District Two Democrat Lawrence Leveille, District Three Democrat Dawn Nelson, and District Five Democrat Calvin McPhee.

Township Races

In Bois Blanc Township, running unopposed are Independent incumbents Supervisor Loren Gibbons and Clerk Joan Schroka. Democrat incumbent Treasurer Cheryl Gahn is being challenged by Independent Barbara Kremski. Seeking two trustee seats are incumbent Democrat Shelby Newhouse and incumbent Anne Kennedy. Seeking three seats on the school board are Paul Germaine, Louise Sullivan, and Cynthia Riker.

Also on the ballot are two school operating millage renewals, both for five years on non-homestead property. Both millages have been decreased over time by the Headlee Amendment. The ballot proposals ask voters to renew the current millage and then increase it so the resulting level is restored to what was originally approved in the last election.

The first proposal seeks to renew 3.5377 mills and increase it 0.5 mill for a total of 4.0377 mills, which is expected to generate $93,523 in the first of five years.

The second asks to renew 0.8629 mill and increase it by 0.1371 mill for a total of 1 mill, which will riase $23,162 in the first of five years.

Candidates are running unopposed in Brevort Township and include Republican Supervisor Edward Serwach, Republican Clerk Susan Stelzer, Republican Treasurer Daniel Litzner, and newcomer trustees Republicans David Craig and Vern Erskine.

Seeking the clerk position in

Clark Township are Republican candidate Mike Miller and Democrat Kiley Thompson. Running for supervisor is Republican Gerald Hill and incumbent write-in candidate Linda Hudson, for treasurer is Republican incumbent Katie Carpenter, and for two open trustee seats are Republican incumbent Michael Lofdahl and newcomer Democrat Gary Wellnitz.

Unchallenged incumbents are on the Garfield Township ballot and include Republican Supervisor Cleo Smith Republican Clerk Linda Bennett, Republican Treasurer Debra Bennett, and trustees Republican Duncan Mac- Arthur and Democrat Donald Butkovich.

In Hendricks Township, running unopposed are newcomers Republican Russell Nelson for supervisor and Republican Barbara Price for clerk. Incumbents running unopposed are Democrat Treasurer Bernice Hood and Republican Constable Jerry Eifler. Running for two trustee seats are newcomers Republican Jack Rutledge, Democrat Howard Hood, Republican Pearl Caswell, and Independent Ronald Frazier.

In Hudson Township, running unopposed are incumbents and Democrats Supervisor Al Garavaglia and Clerk Barbara Kerridge. Newcomer Jacqueline Prout, a Democrat, is running unopposed for treasurer. Incumbent Democrat David Livermore is running with newcomer Democrat Gary Derusha for two trustee seats.

Incumbents are running unopposed in Marquette Township, including Republican Supervisor John Kronemeyer, Republican Clerk Lori Reich, and Democrat Treasurer Jan Fehner. Seeking two trustee seats are incumbents Republican William Beacom and Republican David Lamb.

Moran Township candidates are running unopposed. Incumbents include Democrat Supervisor Patrick "Jim" Durm, Democrat Clerk Kristine Vallier, and Democrat Treasurer Susan Dionne. Running for two trustee seats are incumbent Republican Mark Spencer and newcomer Democrat Lonnie Heuer.

Only incumbent Republican Treasurer Marilyn Strickland is running unopposed in Newton

Township. Incumbent Democrat Supervisor Bob Brotherton is facing Republican Rick Frisch and incumbent Democrat Clerk Alice Zdebski is challenged by Republican Jolynn Brawley. Seeking two open trustee seats are newcomers Republican Rachel McNeil, Democrat Nikki Tremblay, Republican George Tremblay, and Democrat Kirk Grinnell.

In Portage Township, incumbent Republican Clerk Marcia McDonald is unchallenged. Incumbent Republican Supervisor Donald Ferris faces Democrat Donna O'Grady. Incumbent Democrat Treasurer Nancy Kister is challenged by Republican Nancy Seegert. Three candidates vie for two trustee seats, including incumbents and Republicans Patrick Abram and Mark Devereaux, who are challenged by newcomer Democrat Mike Soder.

The township also is seeking 1 mill for three years for capital improvement, running from 2008 until 2010. About $72,477 will be collected the first year.

The St. Ignace Township board is running unopposed and includes Republican Supervisor Dale Nelson, Republican Clerk Donna Harju, Republican Treasurer Sheryl Schairer, Democrat Constable Ronald Wartella, and trustees Democrat Steven Campbell and Republican Donald Schairer.

City Elections

St. Ignace and the City of Mackinac Island do not have races in the general election.