Voters will have several candidates to choose from for township board races in Atlas and Brandon this August, while in Groveland Township, the supervisor, clerk, and treasurer are running unopposed.
As the deadline passed on Tuesday for candidates to turn in their petitions to be placed on the August ballot, every position in Atlas and Brandon had competition.
In Atlas Township, Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones is seeking re-election as a Republican and will be challenged for her spot by Republican Rick Misek. Current Clerk Tere Onica will be challenged by Brenda Sanford, also a Republican. Also running for clerk, but without opposition as a Democrat on the primary ballot, is Mary Koppinger. Ann Marie Slagle, the current treasurer, will face competition for the Republican nomination from Beth Forys.
Seeking two 4-year trustee terms are Republican candidates Barry June (incumbent), Pat Major, Robert Meganck, Gary Schafer, and Keith Walworth. Donna Hart is the sole Democrat running for an Atlas trustee seat.
In Brandon Township, current Supervisor Kathy Thurman is running again and her Republican primary opponents will be Michael Hamlett and Andrew Potter. Clerk Jeannie McCreery announced previously she would not run for clerk again, and four women have stepped up to seek the Republican nomination? Candee Allen, Debra Brady, Linda Cotton, and Susan Nassar. Treasurer Terry Beltramo had also announced he would not return as treasurer, but the woman he defeated in the primary four years ago, Republican Linda Owen, is seeking to take the treasurer seat back. She will be challenged by Republican Terri Darnall, current deputy treasurer.
Also in Brandon, four 4-year trustee terms will be up for grabs. Republican candidates are Dana DePalma (incumbent), William DeWitt, Nikolaus Kovasity, Ron Lapp (former township supervisor), Courtney Wright McClerren, Jayson Rumball, and John Sherman. Maria Lauinger will be the sole Democratic candidate for trustee.
The Brandon Township Library Board has essentially been decided, with just six names turned in by the deadline. The candidates (who will appear on the November ballot) for the six 4-year terms available are Peter Burkett, Verna Cole, Karen Harrison, Royann Hassinger, Patricia Salter and Ann Schmid.
In Groveland Township, there are no challengers for Supervisor Bob DePalma, Clerk Pam Mazich, and Treasurer David Ax, but three Republican candidates, Dale Cason, Hal Coxon and Diane Howell, will vie for the two 4-year trustee terms available.