Who’s Running for What in the First District?

August ballot takes shape as candidate deadline expires

The filing deadline for the Aug. 5 primary deadline was 4 p.m. Tuesday and the contested races for the ballot have taken shape for a variety of county, state, and federal offices.

First Congressional District

Running against Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, in the First Congressional District are Republicans Linda Goldthorpe, Don Hooper and Rep. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba.

105th District

In the once heated 105th District race, only incumbent Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer, R-Kewadin, and Democrat Connie Saltonstall remain. Mike Webster did not officially withdraw his name from the ballot, but he issued an announcement earlier this month he would not be running in the Democratic primary and is instead running for a county commissioner seat.

107th District

Rep. Gary McDowell, D-Rudyard, has some last minute competition in the 107th District from Alex Strobehn, the chairman of the Lake Superior State University College Republicans.

Emmet County

In Emmet County, there are only a pair of contested races. County Clerk Gail Martin will be challenged by Jill Brown, and district four County Commissioner Alan Behan will face off against Daniel Plasencia.

Charlevoix County

In Charlevoix County there is more competition. Both Cheryl Potter Browe, the chief deputy clerk, and James Eisley are vying for Jane Brannon’s county clerk seat.

There are four separate races for county commissioner seats. Ronald Reinhardt will be challenged by Webster in the 3rd District.

In the 4th District, Joel Evans’ reelection bid is being contested by Victor Patrick.

It is a three way race in the 5th District between incumbent Robert Drebenstedt, Dennis Jason and Jerry Meggison.

The 6th District is the most heated race, with incumbent Shirley Roloff facing opposition from Thomas Meggison, Richard Gillespie and former 105th District candidate Tim Boyko.

Township positions have an extra three days to file. [source]