The deadline for candidates to file to run in the August primary election was 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23rd, and there will be very few races in Sanilac County. With outgoing incumbent Brenda Sanford retiring at the end of her term, two Republicans will be vying for Prosecutor–current Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Davidson, and Lexington attorney Robert Heyboer.
Meanwhile, Sanilac County Sheriff Paul Rich, Clerk Leslie Hilgendorf, Treasurer Trudie Bowers, Register of Deeds Michele VanNorman, Drain Commissioner Doug Sweet and Road Commissioner Donald Rickett are all running unopposed for re-election.
All seven county commissioners have filed for re-election and are unopposed in the upcoming August primary. However, in the November general election, incumbent Republican District 6 Commissioner Evans Ehardt will see a challenger in Democrat Geoff Angus.
There will also be a race for Sanilac County Surveyor, as longtime surveyor and incumbent John Millitics is being challenged by Ben Tank.
In other primary election news, there will not be a contest in this August’s primary for Michigan’s 98th Representative District, which encompasses all of Huron County, most of Sanilac County and parts of Lapeer and Tuscola counties. Republican incumbent Greg Alexander of Carsonville and Democrat April Osentoski of Bad Axe are running unopposed, and will face each other in the November general election.
With the recent withdrawal of incumbent Andrew Beeler from the 64th District Representative race, the August primary will be very active. On the Democratic side, Port Huron residents John Anter, Matthew Castillo and Ken Heuvelman are running for the nomination, while four Republicans are in contention for that party’s nomination. The Republicans running are Jorgi Baldwin of Port Huron, Gary Eisen of St. Clair Township, Ryan Maxon of Smiths Creek and Joseph Pavlov of Kimball Township.
The 64th District covers most of St. Clair County, as well as Worth Township in Sanilac County.
