We need patriots running for office and we are here to help conservatives get elected in Tuscola County. Below are resources to help you understand the available positions and how to become a candidate and win your election. If you want to know more about being a Precinct Delegate, click here.
Running for township office is one of the most direct ways to serve your community, and the qualifications are straightforward. To run for positions such as township supervisor, clerk, treasurer, or trustee, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and a registered voter in the township. You must also be a “qualified elector,” meaning you have lived in the township for at least 30 days prior to the filing deadline. Property ownership is not required—just a commitment to your community and a willingness to serve.
The process to become a candidate involves submitting the appropriate paperwork and petitions by established deadlines. These deadlines can vary, so it’s important to review the Michigan Bureau of Elections calendar and ensure you meet all requirements on time. In some cases, individuals may still qualify by establishing residency and voter registration before certain filing deadlines.
Township elected officials serve four-year terms, beginning at 12 p.m. on November 20 following the general election. This provides an opportunity to make a meaningful, long-term impact at the local level, helping guide decisions that directly affect your community.
After being elected, officials must complete a few final steps to take office, including filing any required bond and taking an official oath. This must be done before January 1 following the election, or the position may be forfeited. Serving in township government is a practical and impactful way to be involved—helping shape the future of your local community from the ground up.
Township Supervisors are often looked to as a community leader. In many cases, the Supervisors are asked by township residents to help them with their complaints, ideas, suggestions, and problems. Supervisors are not employees. They do not clock in at 8 a.m. and clock out at 4 p.m. A Supervisor is always available to residents through email, phone and at public meetings.
The township treasurer shall receive and take charge of money belonging to the township, or that is by law required to be paid into the township treasury, and shall pay over and account for the money, according to the order of the township board, or the authorized officers of the township.
For a full list of core competencies for elected township officials, click here.
The next election is Special General for the 35th Senate District May 5, 2026
May Election – May 5, 2026
MOVE deadline March 21, 2026
AV ballots available for voters March 26, 2026
Optional early voting period up to May 4, 2026
Last day to register to vote by mail or online April 20, 2026
New voter registrations are required in person for May Election April 21 – May 5, 2026
Special general for the 35th Senate District May 5, 2026
A County Commissioner is a member of the county governing body and major policy setting center for county government. In this role the Commissioner critically evaluates proposals for change from citizens, department administrators, state government and other boards and commissions.
Commissioners develop and adopt county laws on a wide variety of topics such as public health, parks, solid waste management, roads and highways, zoning and land use. One of the central roles commissioners perform in county management is overseeing the personnel system.
According to Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL)
46.411 Candidate for office of county commissioner; qualifications; nomination; nonrefundable filing fee; eligibility.
Sec. 11. A candidate for the office of county commissioner must be a resident and registered voter of the district that he or she seeks to represent and must remain a resident and registered voter to hold his or her office, if elected. Nominations and elections for commissioners must be by partisan elections. In order for the name of a candidate for nomination for the office of county commissioner to appear on the official primary ballot, a nominating petition or a nonrefundable filing fee of $100.00 must be filed with the county clerk. The nominating petition must have been signed by a number of qualified and registered electors residing within the district as determined under section 544f of the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.544f. The deadline for filing nomination petitions or filing fees is the same as for a candidate for state representative. An individual who has been convicted of a violation of section 12a(1) of 1941 PA 370, MCL 38.412a, is not eligible to be a county commissioner for 20 years after the conviction.
Tuscola County has 5 District Commissioners. Click here for Tuscola County’s manual that explains the role of a commissioner in providing efficient county government services and improving the quality of life for county residents.
Tuscola County has ten libraries. Library Board positions will be open to run for in 2024. Following are the libraries and their info. Our libraries have been the center of much debate as sexual and racial materials are being promoted or made easily available to children. If you want to have input on these decisions, then please consider running for a board position at your library.
Bullard Sanford Memorial Library, 520 West Huron Street, Vassar, MI (989)823‐2171 www.vassarlib.org
Caro Area District Library, 840 West Frank Street Caro, MI 48723 (989)673‐4329 www.carolibrary.org
Columbia Township Library, 6643 Merry Street, Unionville, Mi 48767 (989)674‐2651 www.columbiatwplib@airadvantage.net
Fairgrove District Library 1959 Main Street Fairgrove, MI 48733 989‐693‐6050
Jacepuelin E. Opperman Library 5790 State Street Kingston High School (989)683‐2500 www.kingston.k12.mi.us
Mayville District Public Library 6090 Fulton Street Mayville, Mi 48744 (989)843‐6522 www.mayvillelibrary.org
Millington Township Library 8530 Depot Street Millington, Mi 48746 (989)871‐2003 www.millingtonlibrary.net
Rawson Memorial Library 6495 Pine Street Cass City, MI 48726 (989)872‐2856 www.rawsonlib.mi.us
Reese Unity District Library 2065 Gates Street Reese, MI 48757 (989)868‐4120 www.reeseunitylibrary.org
Waterford Township Library 9405 Foster Street Fostoria, MI 48435 (989)795‐2794
Three Republican candidates have filed for County Sheriff: Ryan Robinson, Brian Harris and Brandon Putman.
Robinson is the current 8-9 officer in Tuscola County. His website is ryanrobinsonforsheriff.com.
Harris is the current jail lieutenant in Tuscola County. (website to come)
Putman is entering the race as a Constitutional Sheriff. His website is brandonputmanforsheriff.com
There has been discussion on the role of a county sheriff in protecting the constitutional rights of their residents. This is something important for all of us to understand. A constitutional sheriff’s goal is ensuring public safety, protecting civil rights and liberties, and upholding the United States Constitution.
The City Council is the City’s legislative body. It sets policies, approves budgets, determines tax rates and adopts ordinances and resolutions to govern the City. The Council appoints and supervises the city manager. The City Council also appoints citizen volunteers to advisory boards and commissions.
The basic difference between a city and a village is that whenever and wherever an area is incorporated as a village, it stays within the township. The villagers participate in township affairs and pay township taxes in addition to having their own village government. Incorporation as a city, however, removes an area from township government. City dwellers participate in county elections and pay county taxes as do villagers but are removed from township units.
A city, being withdrawn from the township, must perform the basic, state-required duties as well as its own services. In addition to being responsible for assessing property and collecting taxes for county and school purposes, the city also becomes solely responsible for registration of voters and conduct of all elections within its boundaries.
Tuscola County has two incorporated cities: Caro and Vassar; and nine villages: Akron, Cass City, Fairgrove, Gagetown, Kingston, Mayville, Millington, Reese and Unionville. Click here for more information on the Sturcture of Local Government in Michigan.
The Michigan General law Village Act states the following officers shall be elected: a president, 6 trustees, 1 clerk, and 1 treasurer. The president and trustees constitute the council.
Michigan is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions.
The judges of the Michigan Circuit Court are chosen in nonpartisan elections and must face re-election if they wish to remain on the court. Unlike the supreme court, candidates are placed on the ballot via nonpartisan primaries or by nominating petitions. Judges on the circuit court serve six-year terms.
Tuscola County is encompassed by the 54th Circuit Court who’s current judge is Amy Grace Gierhart, who was appointed by Gov. Whitmer as Chief judge.
Qualifications
To be elected to the circuit court, a judge must:
