Thursday, September 19, 2024
INGALLSTON TOWNSHIP, MICH – Voters in Ingallston Township, Mich., will see several new candidates for local offices on their Nov. 5 ballots – and two blank spots with room for write-in candidates for Clerk and Treasurer, Clerk Kay Keefer said.
After serving for years and trying to find replacements, Keefer said she and Treasurer Patricia Cheski decided not to run this fall, so their names aren’t on the ballot. If no one steps up as a write-in, Keefer said she and Cheski will continue to serve. Cheski wasn’t available for comment.
Former Township Supervisor Paul Anderson also won’t be on the ballot. He stepped down this summer, and Michael Kass, a trustee since 2016, has been filling in as supervisor since July.
“Our supervisor resigned in June because his wife was quite ill. She passed away in July. We have a temporary supervisor,” Keefer said.
Kass, who works for the Menominee County Sheriff’s office and has lived in Ingallston Township since October 2008, said he is moving out of the township at the end of the year.
Resident Dan Bartell is running for supervisor, and John Lampart is running for Kass’ former role of trustee. Incumbent Trustee/Zone Administrator Carl Johnson is unopposed on the ballot.
Kass said the elected officials should be willing to put in 25 to 30 hours per week on township work, except for the trustee role, which involves less time.
The time commitment is what’s preventing people from running, Kass said. “I think a lot of people don’t want to deal with the stress and how our current politics are in this country. A lot of people don’t want to deal with that,” he said.
The supervisor runs the township meetings and takes minutes at Board of Review meetings, Kass said. If the township were to be sued, the supervisor would be a legal agent for the township, along with the township attorney, Kass said.
The clerk and treasurer roles pay $12,800, Keefer said, but they carry a lot of responsibility. Keefer expects to receive the ballots for absentee voters on Sept. 21. She plans to start sending absentee ballots overseas and out of state this month, she said. She’ll also be the one working when the results come in on Election Day.
The treasurer handles property tax collections twice a year and manages the township budget, Keefer said.
Kass said he first ran for trustee in 2016 because he wanted to make a difference in the community and help out. “I have enjoyed the time I have been on this board, and I think we have accomplished a lot since I’ve been on the board,” he said.
“The current board works real good with each other. I will miss being on the board,” he said.
Lampart, who was appointed about three months ago to fill the trustee position Kass formerly held, is a 15-year resident of Ingallston.
“I’ll be on it for a while,” he said. “A few things happened. Someone resigned, so I was asked if I want to be a part of it,” he said. “I don’t know the whole story.”
Kass suggested write-in candidates contact the current clerk or treasurer to learn more about what’s involved.
Those interested in filing as write-in candidates should contact Keefer at (906) 863-2885.
