Voter Guide: Michigan’s Local Elections on August 6, 2024

Voters across the state of Michigan will cast their ballots on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. A variety of offices up and down the ballot are up for election. 

August 6 is Michigan’s primary election for many of its seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, as well as in the Michigan House of Representatives. Many judicial and local seats are also on the ballot, along with a variety of millage proposals.

In this guide, we’ll focus on Michigan’s non-partisan elections for local and municipal positions like town commissioner and city council. We’ll also highlight some of the independent candidates offering voters alternatives in partisan elections.

Local Elections in Grand Rapids

As the Great Lakes State’s second-largest city after Detroit, Grand Rapids is home to around 200,000 people. On August 6, 2024, voters in Grand Rapids will vote for their next mayor and city commissioners. Both of these races are non-partisan.

Following the August primary, the top two vote-getters in the mayoral race will advance to a run-off election on November 5, 2024.

Currently, the candidates on the ballot for the mayor’s office include:

• David LaGrand

• Senita Lenear

• Hailey Lynch-Bastion

• Steve Owens

Two wards, Ward 1 and Ward 3, are set to elect new city commissioners in Grand Rapids on August 6. 

The candidates on the ballot for city commissioner in Ward 1 include:

• Alicia Marie Belchak

• Melanie Droski

• Mike Fassbender

• Dean Pacific

Of these candidates, only Melanie Droski is a GoodParty.org Certified candidate. This means she has committed to running a truly independent, people-powered, and anti-corruption campaign. She has pledged to serve the people of Grand Rapids, not special interests.

The candidates on the ballot for city commissioner in Ward 3 include:

• Joyce Priscilla Gipson

• Bing Goei

• Reggie Howard

• Marshall Kilgore

• John Krajewski

• Al Willis

Of the candidates from Ward 3, only Al Willis is a GoodParty.org Certified candidate.

Non-Partisan City Council Elections in Michigan

Not all city council elections are held on a non-partisan basis in Michigan. However, there are many cities doing just that on August 6, 2024. Here, we’ll highlight some of the most noteworthy non-partisan elections for city council happening next month.

Troy City Council

Located north of Detroit, Troy is the largest city in Oakland County. There are two candidates on the ballot for one non-partisan city council seat in Troy:

• Hirak Chanda

• Ed Ross

Flint City Council

City council members are up for election in two wards in Flint, Michigan. In Ward 1, six candidates will compete in a primary election:

• Liberty C. Bell

• Carol McIntosh

• Rosemary Morrow

• John Billings

• Leon El-Alamin

• Cynthia Haynes

In Ward 7, two candidates are facing off in a general election:

• JanMarie Arbor

• Candice Mushatt

Wyoming City Council

Located in Kent County, Wyoming is the second-largest city in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. There, three candidates are competing for an at-large city council seat:

• Sheldon DeKryger

• Robert Kilgo 

• Rick Pilieci 

Marquette City Council

In Marquette, two at-large positions on the city council are up for election. The following candidates are currently on the ballot:

• Cary Gottlieb

• Matthew Luttenberger

• Jermey Ottaway

• Jim Rankin

• Bill Vajda

Niles City Council

Known as the City of Four Flags, Niles is home to historic Fort St. Joseph. Three candidates are running to represent Ward 1 on the Niles City Council:

• Jamie Lee Bennett

• Georgia N. Boggs

• Theresa Christine Briand

Ecorse City Council

Situated in Wayne County, Ecorse is part of the Downriver community in the Detroit metropolitan area. Ten candidates are on the ballot for city council in Ecorse:

• Donald Agee, Jr.

• Lionel Anthony

• Kimberly Alexander

• Jared K. Berry

• Mary A. Garland

• LaTonya Lamb

• Montel Love

• Roger D. Parker, Sr.

• Felipe Soria

• Kayvonna Stigall

Of these city council candidates, only Kimberly Alexander is a GoodParty.org Certified candidate.

Mason City Council

Mason is a small city located southeast of Lansing, and is the county capital of Ingham County. In Mason, seven candidates are on the ballot for city council:

• Leon R. Clark

• Elaine J. Ferris

• Daniel Giganti

• Thomas C. Husby

• Shawn Sodman

• Rita Leolani Vogel

• Russell W. Whippie

Algonac City Council

Algonac is a small city close to the Canadian border, in St. Clair County. Four city council seats are up for election in August. The following candidates are on the ballot:

• Michael Bembas

• Glen Carter

• Cathy Harris

• Bernie Ferris

• Christina Halkias-Robb

• Raymond J. Martin

• Annie Ponessa

• Jake Skarbek

• Terry Isaacs Stoneburner

• Wendy Meldrum

Independent Candidates in Partisan Races

While the elections listed above are all run on a non-partisan basis, there are also independent and No Party Affiliation (NPA) candidates running for office in partisan elections. Here, we’ll spotlight a few NPA candidates offering voters alternatives in Genesee County.

Montrose Township

Montrose Township is electing township trustees on August 6, 2024. Two Republican candidates and three Democratic candidates are currently on the ballot, along with NPA candidate Steven Shaski II. 

Voters can vote for up to four candidates for this office.

Richfield Township

Richfield Township is also electing its next township trustees. On the ballot are two Democratic candidates, three Republican candidates, and two NPA candidates. The two NPA candidates are Brandon S. Davis and Justin J. Layman. 

Voters can vote for up to two candidates for this office.

Thetford Township

Thetford Township will elect its next township supervisor this August. Four Republican candidates are on the ballot, along with one Democratic candidate and one NPA candidate, Richard L. Russell. 

Voters can only vote for one candidate for township supervisor.

Learn More and Get Involved

While the above information does not constitute a comprehensive list of the local elections and candidates running for office in Michigan next month, it sheds light on the number of non-partisan and NPA candidates running for local offices across the state. For the most up-to-date information about local elections in your area, refer to your local government’s website.

Want to get involved in Michigan elections and politics? Here are a few tips for success:

• Make your plan to vote on election day. With the primary election coming up on August 6, 2024 and the general election to follow on November 5, 2024, there are multiple chances for Michigan voters to make their voices heard this fall.

• Encourage friends and family to join you at the polls. One of the best ways to amplify your impact on election day is to bring friends and family members along with you to your polling location. Remember, democracy works better when more people get involved!

• Find ways to volunteer. Whether you volunteer with a local campaign or a national organization like GoodParty.org, there are plenty of ways for you to make a difference. Learn more about volunteer opportunities with GoodParty.org here.

Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash