Mayor retains seat in Marine City 

All five charter proposals pass

By Barb Pert Templeton

A mayoral race, three incumbent commissioners running unopposed and six proposals crowded the ballot in Marine City on Nov. 5. City Clerk Jason Bell said absentee ballots, early voting and a steady stream of voters at the polls offered plenty of opportunities for the 3,150 registered voters in the city to be heard.

The mayoral race had incumbent first term Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche looking to return to the city’s top spot and she faced a challenge from former Commissioner Michael Hilferink. 

When the votes were all counted yesterday Vandenbossche picked up 72% of the vote with 1,374 votes versus Hilferink’s 26% with 506 votes. 

Vandenbossche, who was first elected when she ran unopposed for mayor in 2022, will serve a new two-year term. 

Then, despite the fact that three seats carrying four-year terms were up on the city commission only the three incumbents filed petitions to fill them. Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick and Commissioners Brian Ross and William Klaassen all ran unopposed.  

Hendrick was the top vote getter with 1,149 votes or 39% of the tally; Ross was next with 864 or 29% and Klaassen picked up 824 or 28% of the votes.

Beyond the commission, the ballot included six proposals. Five related to the city’s charter and one school millage proposal, a sinking fund, for East China School District.

The fact that the city charter dates to 1954 means it’s been a while since most sections of it have been updated and officials felt it was time to address some things.

Here’s a quick synopsis of the charter proposals and the votes they got on Nov. 5. 

Charter Proposal 1 – An amendment to Section 3.3 relating to Compensation for the City Commission Members and the mayor.   Yes 1,138   No 758

Charter Proposal 2 – An amendment to Section 3.11, relating to the relationship between the City Commission and City Manager and related City staff.  Yes 1,231   No 590

Charter Proposal 3 – An amendment to Marine City Charter Section 3.20, adding a new section to the Charter relating to the development, implementation and maintaining of certain city policies and procedures.  Yes 1,362 No 506

Charter Proposal 4 – An amendment to Marine City Charter Section 5.4, relating to the removal of an elected official.  Yes 1,278   No 567

Charter Proposal 5 – An amendment to Marine City Charter Chapter 13, relating to City Purchases and sale of property, contracts and restrictions on powers to lease property.

Yes 1,124   No 682

Sinking fund bond fails

East China School District was seeking approval for a sinking fund. Voters turned that down with 10,712 voting no and 6,178 voting yes. 

The millage would have increased to $2.75 mils per $1,000 taxable value of property valued at $100,000 (market value ~$200,000) and property owners would have paid $275.00 a year for this levy.  If the millage had passed the district would collect $6 million a year for 10 years.

East China School District Superintendent Suzanne Cybulla addressed the Marine City Commission at a Sept. 5 meeting to explain the need for the sinking fund and said the money would be used for the maintenance and repairs at the school, purchases for safety, security and technology upgrades and for purchasing school buses.