Clare County Voters Facing Multiple Choices

HARRISON – Clare County voters and voters across the country will be going to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3 to put a period at the end of what has at times been an excruciatingly contentious campaign season.

With the vast majority of Clare County-level candidates having run on the Republican ticket, the August primary yielded a virtually unchallenged lineup for the upcoming general election ballot. That ballot will include incumbents Sheriff John S. Wilson [R], Clerk/Register of Deeds Lori Martin [R], Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Ambrozaitis [R], and Treasurer Jenny Beemer-Fritzinger [R]. The unchallenged Clare County Commissioner contenders are District 1-Dale Majewski [D]; District 2-Samantha Pitchford [R]; District 3-Rickie Fancon [R]; District 4-Stephanie J. Brown [R]; District 5-Sandra Bristol [D]; District 6-Bronwyn Asplund [R]; and District 7-Jeff Haskell [R].

The Clare County Road Commission contest saw its three new commissioner ballot spots filled by more Republicans who will be running unopposed: Max Schunk [R] for the 2-year term; Bill Simpson [R] for the 4-year term; and David Coker [R] for the 6-year term. Again, no Democrats ran for these positions.

Another Republicans-only ballot competition was secured by incumbent Clare County Drain Commissioner Carl J. Parks [R]. Also running unopposed for Clare County Surveyor is Tim Lapham.

Races at the township level actually have seen some vying on the part of candidates. The contested township races will include:

Freeman trustee: Lori J. Lightfoot [D], Carol Barnett [R], Sandra Sable [R], and Robert Eckardt [NPA].

Garfield trustee: Martha Rottiers [D], James Lard [R], and Lisa Roland [R].

Greenwood clerk: Linda Bailow [D], and Rachel Mackson [R].

Greenwood trustee: Barbara Ferrett [D], Gail Garrity [R], and Laura List [R].

Hayes supervisor: Mike Haley [D], and Rick C. Jones [R].

Hayes trustee: Frank Gadberry [D], Robert Buckley [R], and Thomas Willett [R].

Sheridan trustee: Chris Kinberg [D], James Eberhart [R], and Brian J. Tomaski [R].

Clare County voters also will be casting ballots at the state level. Those races/contenders include:

U.S. Senate: Gary Peters [D], John James [R], Valerie Willis [UST], Marcia Squier [Gm], and Doug Dern [NLP].

U.S. House District 4: Jerry Hilliard [D], John Moolenaar [R], David Canny [Lib], and Amy Stepr [Gm].

State House District 97: Celia Young-Wenkel [D] and Jason Wentworth [R].

Additionally, there will be two state proposals. The first is Proposal 20-1, a proposed constitutional amendment allowing money from gas and oil drilling on state-owned land to continue to be collected in state funds or land protection, creation of parks, and more. The second is Proposal 20-2, a proposed constitutional amendment to require a search warrant in order to access a person’s electronic data or electronic communications.

The third proposal is likely to have the greatest impact locally. It is the County of Clare Gypsy Moth Special Millage Question seeking a 1 mill levy ($1 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of five years (2020-2024). In its first year, this millage is estimated to raise $1,131,201.33 to operate the Clare County Gypsy Moth Suppression Program.

The devastation caused by gypsy moth in 2020 has been striking, and apparent for anyone who cared to look up into the tree canopy. The ravaged trees are not just an eye-sore, they are a precursor to a likely decimation of the natural beauty that draws the tourist trade – upon which this county so much depends. If the trees go, so will the visitors.

Melissa Townsend, Clare Conservation District director, has been struggling with gypsy moth suppression for years, and this one has been exceptionally difficult. Townsend has explained the difficulty of spraying enough acreage with the funds available. She said the cost to spray is three times what it had been, in part due to the entire state experiencing the gypsy moth onslaught, and competition for the organic spray driving up the price.

Townsend explained the egg mass survey is required to obtain a spraying permit. This year’s egg mass counters worked in 316 sections in 11 townships and brought back some stark data. A small example of eye-opening numbers includes three sections with 100,000 and more egg masses per acre (Hamilton 1, Hatton 2). In part, Frost had two, 10 section surveys, one each of 20,000-29,999 and 30,000-30,999 plus egg masses per acre. Countywide, the counts are up threefold from 2019 and they tell a dismal story. Townsend said that while deciduous trees can withstand about three years of defoliation before they die, if oaks aren’t available the moth caterpillars will eat whatever is available, including conifers. Conifers, however, will not survive even one defoliation.

Townsend said she expects residents will see the need for a gypsy moth millage is real and urgent.

“Look at the numbers,” Townsend said. “The numbers speak for themselves. We’re in the path of watching a disaster before it unfolds.”

She also said this is the first year that people have reported breaking out in rashes from contact with the caterpillars. Townsend said it is not associated with the suppression spray, which is organically certified.

“People put worse things on their pets,” she said