Midland Daily News Voter Guide
FAQ
Are you doing endorsements?
We endorsing you, and here's why.
What is your letter to the editor policy?
The Midland Daily News welcomes letters to the editor from people who live within our readership area. Letters provide a forum for the public to express their views. Letters should be short and to the point, and should not exceed 350 words. The paper will edit letters for length, conciseness and clarity. Letters should include the writer’s first and last name and hometown address and a way for the newspaper to contact the letter writer, preferably an email address or daytime telephone number, to verify the author and should there be a question about the submission. If a topic has been thoroughly debated in the letters column, subsequent letters will not be published if they do not add new information or ideas to the debate. Letters that are libelous, malicious, inaccurate, in bad taste, demonstrably false, contain conspiracy theories or those that make personal attacks on private or public people, will not be published. All submissions will be posted with a first and last name along with the city of residence of the author. Under most circumstances, authors will be limited to one published letter every three weeks. Letters that exceed the 350-word count and/or whose authorship cannot be determined will not be published. The deadline to submit Nov. 3 election letters will be 4 p.m. Oct. 19. Oct. 30 will be the last day election letters will be published. Letters can be submitted online at ourmidland.com or by email to midlanddailynews@gmail.com
What's the cutoff date for submitting election letters to the editor?
The deadline to submit Nov. 3 election letters is 4 p.m. Oct. 19.
When's the last day you will publish election letters?
Oct. 30 will be the last day election letters will be published.
How do I submit a letter to the editor?
Letters can be submitted online at ourmidland.com or by email to midlanddailynews@gmail.com
Where can I get more information about absentee voting?
Here's everything you need to know about voting absentee in Midland County.
Where can I get information about county, state and national candidates?
The League of Women Voters provided an online guide with more details.
Where can I get a general overview of our locally contested elections?
Find our overview of contested city, school and township races here.
Key Dates
October 20, 2020
98th District candidates Virtual town hall
October 20 through 8 p.m. November 3
In-person registration with local clerk with proof of residency.
By 4 p.m. on October 23
Write-in candidates file Declaration of Intent forms for the November general election.
Up to 4 p.m. on November 2
Voters may submit written request in person to spoil their absent voter ballot and receive new ballot in the clerk’s office.
Up to 8 p.m. on November 3
Election Day registrants may obtain and vote an absent voter ballot in person in the clerk’s office or vote in person in the proper precinct.
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 3
Election Day polls open
By 9 a.m. on November 5
Boards of county canvassers meet to canvass November general election.
By November 17
Boards of county canvassers complete canvass of November general election; county clerks forward results to Secretary of State within 24 hours.
By November 23
Board of State Canvassers meet to canvass November general election.
President
A race between President Donald J. Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.
Donald J. Trump
Joe Biden
Don Blankenship
Joe Jorgensen
Howie Hawkins
Rocky De La Guente
U.S. Senator
Incumbent Sen. Gary Peters faces Republican John James.
Gary Peters
John James
Valerie L. Willis
Marcia Squier
Doug Dern
U.S. Representative
Incumbent John Moolenaar is being challenged by Democrat Jerry Hilliard.
Jerry Hilliard
John Moolenaar
David Canny
Amy Slepr
98th District State Representative
Incumbent Annette Glenn is competing with Sarah Schulz.
Sarah Schulz
Annette Glenn
99th District State Representative
Incumbent Roger Hauck is competing with John Zang and Melissa Noelle Lambert.
John Zang
Roger Hauck
Melissa Noelle Lambert
Midland County Drain Commissioner
Joe Sova and Calvin Wentworth are comepting to serve as drain commissioner.
Calvin Wentworth
Joe Sova
Midland County Board District 6
Incumbent Eric A. Dorrien is competing with Brandon L. Sims for the District 6 seat.
Brandon L. Sims
Eric A. Dorrien
Midland City Council Ward 1
Pam Hall and Jeremy Rodgers will be contesting for the Ward #1 Midland City Council seat.
Pam Hall
Pam Hall is the incumbent in the Ward 1 race.
Jeremy Rodgers
Jeremy Rodgers seeks Ward 1 seat.
Midland City Council Ward 3
Steve Arnosky and Matt Rapanos are competing for the Ward #3 seat.
Steve Arnosky
Steve Arnosky is the incumbent in the Ward 3 race.
Matt Rapanos
Matt Rapanos seeks the Ward #3 seat.
Midland School Board (4 years)
Candidates for two open seats for a four-year term on the Midland Board of Education include incumbent Lynn Baker, John Hatfield, Kurt Yockey and Betsy Diegel.
Lynn Baker
Lynn Baker is the incumbent in the race for a four-year position on the Midland Public Schools Board of Education.
John Hatfield
John Hatfield seeks a four-year position on the Midland Public Schools Board of Education.
Kurt Yockey
Kurt Yockey seeks a four-year position on the Midland Public Schools Board of Education.
Betsy Diegel
Betsy Diegel seeks a four-year position on the Midland Public Schools Board of Education.
Midland School Board (6 years)
Candidates for two open seats for a six-year term on the Midland Board of Education include Tiffany Torain, along with incumbents Brad Blasy and Scott McFarland.
Tiffany Torain
Tiffany Torain seeks a six-year position on the Midland Public Schools Board of Education.
Brad Blasy
Brad Blasy is an incumbent Midland Public Schools Board of Education member, and is running for a six-year term.
Scott McFarland
Scott McFarland is an incumbent Midland Public Schools Board of Education member, and is running for a six-year term.
Edenville Township Supervisor
Terrance Hall Jr. and Jennifer Page are running for Edenville Township Supervisor.
Terrance Hall Jr.
Terrance Hall Jr. is a Sanford Republican.
Jennifer Page
Jennifer Page is a Hope Democrat.
Geneva Township Treasurer
Joseph Grabowski and Nancy Robison are running for Geneva Township Treasurer.
Joseph Grabowski
Joseph Grabowski is a Coleman Democrat.
Nancy Robison
Nancy Robison is a Coleman Republican.
Jerome Township Trustee
The race for the four trustee positions in Jerome Township will be contested between Gil Bernier, Mark Green, Kevin Nilles, Lee Fellows, Steve Rice and Sarah Jo Rowley, with no party affiliation.
Gil Bernier
Gil Bernier is a Sanford Republican.
Mark Green
Mark Green is a Sanford Democrat.
Lee Fellows
Lee Fellows is a Sanford Democrat.
Steve Rice
Steve Rice is a Sanford Republican.
Sarah Jo Rowley
Sarah Jo Rowley is running with no party affiliation.
Kevin Nilles
Kevin Nilles is a Democrat from Jerome Township.
Lee Township Treasurer
The race for Lee Township treasurer is contested between Jessica Barber, R-Midland, and William Stewart, D-Sanford.
Jessica Barber
Jessica Barber is a Midland Republican.
William Stewart
William Stewart is a Sanford Democrat.
Lee Township Trustee
The race for two trustee positions is contested between Lawrence Henry, R-Midland; Darla Rippee, R-Midland; and George Whittington, D-Midland.
Darla Rippee
Darla Rippee is a Midland Republican.
Lawrence Henry
Lawrence Henry is a Midland Republican.
George Whittington
George Whittington is a Midland Democrat.
State proposals
There are two statewide proposals on the ballot this election.
Proposal 1
A proposed constitutional amendment to allow money from oil and gas mining on state-owned lands to continue to be collected in state funds for land protection and creation and maintenance of parks, nature areas, and public recreation facilities; and to describe how money in those state funds can be spent. This proposed constitutional amendment would:
• Allow the State Parks Endowment Fund to continue receiving money from sales of oil and gas from state-owned lands to improve, maintain and purchase land for State parks, and for Fund administration, until its balance reaches $800,000,000.
• Require subsequent oil and gas revenue from state-owned lands to go into the Natural Resources Trust Fund.
• Require at least 20% of Endowment Fund annual spending go toward State park improvement.
• Require at least 25% of Trust Fund annual spending go toward parks and public recreation areas and at least 25% toward land conservation.
Should this proposal be adopted?
• Allow the State Parks Endowment Fund to continue receiving money from sales of oil and gas from state-owned lands to improve, maintain and purchase land for State parks, and for Fund administration, until its balance reaches $800,000,000.
• Require subsequent oil and gas revenue from state-owned lands to go into the Natural Resources Trust Fund.
• Require at least 20% of Endowment Fund annual spending go toward State park improvement.
• Require at least 25% of Trust Fund annual spending go toward parks and public recreation areas and at least 25% toward land conservation.
Should this proposal be adopted?
Proposal 2
A proposed constitutional amendment to require a search warrant in order to access a person’s electronic data or electronic communications. This proposed constitutional amendment would:
• Prohibit unreasonable searches or seizures of a person’s electronic data and electronic communications.
• Require a search warrant to access a person’s electronic data or electronic communications, under the same conditions currently required for the government to obtain a search warrant to search a person’s house or seize a person’s things.
Should this proposal be adopted?
• Prohibit unreasonable searches or seizures of a person’s electronic data and electronic communications.
• Require a search warrant to access a person’s electronic data or electronic communications, under the same conditions currently required for the government to obtain a search warrant to search a person’s house or seize a person’s things.
Should this proposal be adopted?
County proposal
There is one county ballot proposal.
Delta College
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be levied on taxable property in the Delta College district (comprised of the counties of Bay, Midland and Saginaw), be increased by 0.50 mill ($0.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) for eight (8) years, from 2024 to 2031 inclusive, as a partial renewal of the 0.4864 mill previously authorized by the electors which expires with the 2023 levy plus new additional millage in the amount of 0.0136 mill, to provide funds for community college purposes? If approved, 0.50 mill would generate an estimated $5,705,218 for the College when first levied in 2024.