Filing deadline for county commissioner race approaches
An incumbent and a former county commissioner have filed their names as candidates for seats on the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners. The deadline for partisan and non-partisan candidates is May 16 at 4 p.m. District 4 incumbent commissioner Gary Wozniak from Pulawski Township, which includes constituents from the Posen area and residents of Rogers City, is seeking a fifth consecutive term. Former commissioner Wayne Vermilya of Allis Township submitted his nominating petitions April 28 and will be looking to regain a seat he lost in 2002 to District 1 commissioner Bob Schell. He has had several failed attempts to unseat Schell during the last two elections. Following the 2000 consensus, the county board was reduced from eight members to five, which pitted Vermilya against Schell on the west side of Presque Isle. They both had been serving as commissioners when the election took place.
VERMILYA HAS come up short in Democratic primaries and as a write-in candidate during the general election. Schell said Tuesday he was circulating petitions to gather the signatures needed to run for another term. The primary is August 8, while the general election is November 7. According to county clerk Sue Rhode, county board candidates running with no party affiliation need to file by July 20 at 4 p.m. Their name will appear on the November 7 ballot. All five county seats are up for election this year.
The only county-wide issues that have been submitted for the August ballot are the separate tax limitations renewal proposal and the senior citizens millage renewal. The deadline to get a local proposal on the ballot in November is May 30. In the townships, the clerk?s seat in Bearinger Township is up for election. In Metz Township there are seats available for trustee and treasurer, while there will be a race for trustees and president in Posen Township. There are several state races, but the one for Governor will receive the most attention in Michigan.