Local commissioners, supervisors, and school board members in Michigan have resigned their seats after reelection, allowing the local government bodies to fill the vacancies by appointment with people that they prefer instead of scheduling a special election to allow voters to make the choice.

The appointments have included an appointee who voted for themself on a small board and an incumbent who lost reelection. By law, localities in Michigan may call special elections for these vacancies rather than fill them by appointment.

Jean Zott, a former GOP candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives, wrote in a commentary for the Michigan Fair Elections Institute on Tuesday that not holding elections negatively impacts local residents.

“Instead of allowing voters to choose a replacement through a special election, the administration appoints a successor who shares its views and priorities, effectively circumventing the democratic process,” Zott wrote.

“Although the governor has established a guideline allowing special elections in May or November to address such vacancies, many communities are avoiding these elections altogether, claiming that elections are too expensive,” she continued.

“Instead, they delay filling the seat through the ballot box until the next regularly scheduled election for state or federal offices, which may be years away. In the meantime, the appointee serves without voter approval, often making critical decisions on local policies, budgets, and development projects.”

Below are a few examples of municipal vacancies filled by appointment shortly after the recent elections:

West Bloomfield Township Supervisor

In December, two days after being sworn in for a third term, West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Steve Kaplan (D) resigned to become an assistant prosecutor in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. The township had 45 days to fill the supervisor position but quickly scheduled a meeting for four days after Kaplan’s resignation took effect to choose a new supervisor.

Township Treasurer Teri Weingarden (D) made a motion to appoint Trustee Jonathan Warshay (D) as the new supervisor. Township Trustee Jim Manna (D) tried to make a motion to appoint another trustee, Vincent Kirkwood (D), to the supervisor position, but the motion was ruled “out of order” because Weingarden’s motion was still pending.

Warshay was appointed supervisor in a 5-1 vote, with Manna being the sole opposing vote and Warshay being among the five who voted for him. Manna said he believed Warshay, who has been on the board since 2016, lacked the experience necessary for the supervisor position.

“I just don’t think you’re qualified to lead a township of 68,000 residents. It’s nothing personal,” Manna said. “Your specialty happens to be IT, not running a large corporation with 68,000 people. … I’m troubled by the fact that the minute Steve announced his resignation, the board has chosen my friend Jonathan to be the supervisor.”

Township Clerk Debbie Binder (D) said that a special election would have been called if the board was unable to appoint a new supervisor. “So this is a much more prudent way to handle it,” Binder said. “We need to get leadership in place. This has been very uncertain, and in every capacity it makes sense to have leadership, and it makes sense to not spend the money on an unnecessary special election.”

Manna responded, saying, “I think the 68,000 residents would think otherwise, but thanks for your opinion.” He also objected to the board’s meeting being scheduled during the workday, preventing many of the township’s residents from attending.

“To my peers and to the residents of West Bloomfield, scheduling this meeting at the last minute at 2 p.m. shows total disrespect to the residents of West Bloomfield,” Manna said.

“[It] has a look of dishonesty since most people are still at work and therefore cannot show up to voice their opinion about a very, very important issue. … I think our meeting should be at 6 p.m. to allow people the opportunity to watch, the opportunity to show up and voice their opinions, voice their concerns. We’re here working for the residents of West Bloomfield Township, not ourselves.”

Macomb County Board of Commissioners

Former state Rep. Ken Goike (R) was appointed District 1 commissioner by the Macomb County Board of Commissioners in January after Don Brown (R), the former board chairman, resigned from the Commission in December.

Brown resigned in order to take a position as the deputy public works commissioner/government relations in Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller’s office. Goike, the new District commissioner, worked in Miller’s public works office after serving in the state House. His term as commissioner will last until someone is elected in 2026.

The Board of Commissioners passed a resolution in January scheduling an August 4, 2026, primary election for the seat, and a general election for November 3, 2026, in which Goike could run.

Starting this year, county commissioners serve four-year terms but had previously served two-year terms. Whoever wins the special election will serve the remaining two years of the four-year term. Initially, 15 people applied for the commissioner position, but then two removed themselves from consideration. 

“Many of the applicants were disappointed there would not be a May special election,” Zott said.

In March 2023, former school board member Greg Need was appointed to the Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education after former Board Trustee Andrea Catalina stepped down. Need lost reelection in November 2022, coming in third place, with the two candidates who placed above him winning the two school board seats. Need was appointed to the same seat he had lost after a total of 12 people interviewed for the open seat on the school board.

In July 2023, following the resignation of the board’s president, Need was appointed by his fellow board members to be the new president. He ran unopposed for reelection last year and retained his seat.

“A means of gaining control”

Zott noted the implications of not immediately holding special elections to fill vacancies.

“Appointments are meant to be a temporary solution to an unexpected vacancy, not a tool for political manipulation,” she wrote. “Yet by delaying special elections, local officials are effectively using appointments as a means to maintain control. This practice appears to be used to tilt the balance of power on critical issues such as zoning laws, tax policies, and local economic development, all without direct voter input.”

Natalia Mittelstadt graduated from Regent University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication Studies and Government.

Reprinted with Permission from Just The News – By Natalia Mittelstadt

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.