Skarbek returns, picking up the most votes
By Barb Pert Templeton
The Nov. 5 general election had eight people on the ballot in Algonac seeking to fill four seats on the city council. When the votes were tallied two incumbents, a past council member and one new comer landed spots at the table. All four will serve four-year terms that will conclude in 2028.
The four open seats were those of incumbent council members Michael Bembas, Cathy Harris and Raymond Martin plus a seat vacated by Councilman Corey Blair last spring to which the council appointed Dale Williams to fill the remainder of the term, which expires this month.
The top voter getter in yesterday’s race was former councilman Jacob Skarbek who got 1,267 votes which was 20.31% of the votes cast.
Jacob Skarbek will return to the Algonac City Council table after picking up the most votes in the Nov. 5 election.
Incumbent Councilman Michael Bembas took second place honors picking up 824 votes which was 13.21% of the vote.
“I am humbled, thank you Algonac for voting for me, I will keep doing my best,” Bembas posted on his Facebook page the morning after the election.
The third highest vote getter was newcomer Wendy Meldrum who picked up 815 votes which was 13.06 % of the vote.
The fourth seat went to incumbent councilwoman Cathy Harris who got 789 votes which was 12.65 % of the vote.
“Thank you, city of Algonac, for supporting me for another four years,” Cathy Harris, wrote on her Facebook page after the election.
The other four candidates were Terry Stoneburner with 674 votes, Annie Ponessa with 605 votes, incumbent Raymond Martin with 588 and Christina Halkias-Robb with 575.
Incumbent Councilman Michael Bembas will return to his seat the Algonac City Council table after picking up 824 votes in Tuesday’s election
City Clerk Lisa Borgacz said Algonac has 3,593 registered voters and the city issued 899 absentee ballots.
Algonac City Council members are elected to four-year terms on a rotating basis in even-numbered years. Each new councils’ first meeting is an organizational one where they elect the mayor and mayor pro tem. They also adopt their organizational rules and the ethics policies for the term.
The meeting this year is set for Monday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. in the council chambers.
As for the remaining members of the current city council, Mayor Rocky Gillis and council members Ed Carter and Dawn Davey have terms that expire in November 2026.
The Algonac City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m. Council members earn $40 per meeting and an additional $10 for any special meetings.
