Added on October 5, 2026  Sara Swanson

2026 General Election Voters Guide for the Manchester Area

by Sara Swanson

On Tuesday, November 3, Manchester Area residents will be able to vote at their usual polling place from 7am to 8pm. We reached out to local and area candidates running in contested races and gave them the opportunity to get their message out to the Manchester area. Candidates for positions higher than state house and state senate are widely profiled in other publications. See vote411.org for information on races not covered here.

All voters may choose to vote early either through the mail by requesting an absentee ballot or in person during the nine days of early voting starting October 24 and running through November 1. Bridgewater Township residents can vote early at Bridgewater Hall from noon to 8pm on Saturday, October, 24, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and 9am to 5pm on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, October 31 during the early voting week. All other Manchester area voters can vote early at Sylvan Township Hall from 9am to 5pm on the early voting days. See www.washtenaw.org/3970/Early-Voting for more information.

Note: Candidates who responded are presented ahead of candidates who didn’t respond, and in alphabetical order by last name within those two groups. Statements were required to be 500 words or less and were cut off at 500 words if longer statements were submitted.

School board

Manchester Community Schools

The school board positions have been split into two races, one race for three 4-year-term seats with incumbent Sandra Wiitala, incumbent Christine Deacons, Christopher M. Caron, Michelle Champagne, James Tobias, and Joseph Walsh running; and one race for one 2-year-term seat with Heather Ramsey, Celia Creger, Chelsea Kapuniai, and Logan Caszatt running. Voters will be able to select three candidates for the 4-year term seat and one for the 2-year term seat. School board seats are nonpartisan positions so candidates do not declare a political party.

Reminder: Manchester Community School Foundation is hosting a school board candidate forum split into two separate nights on October 7, from 6pm to 7:30pm, and October 14, from 6pm to 7:30pm, in the media center at the Manchester Jr/Sr High School located at 20500 Dutch Dr. It will also be live-streamed on the district’s YouTube channel.

4-year term seat – vote for 3

Christopher Caron (Nonpartisan)

A data-informed, disciplined approach focused on fiscal solvency, enrollment stability, and support for academic quality.

My wife and I made Manchester our family’s home in 2022. Professionally, I am a competitive benchmarking engineer at Ford Motor Company, where I have spent the majority of my 16-year career. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University and a Master of Science in Product Development from the University of Detroit Mercy. In my role at Ford, I specialize in analyzing complex systems, identifying root causes, evaluating operational efficiencies, and leading cross-functional teams toward evidence-based solutions.

Outside of work, I am deeply committed to our community’s youth. I serve as a volunteer youth sports coach with both the Chelsea Hockey Association and the Manchester Soccer Association, where I focus on building teamwork, skills, and positive environments for kids to learn and grow.

My objective on the Board of Education is to bring analytical rigor, objective governance, and careful oversight to district stewardship. The fundamental role of a school board trustee is not to manage daily school operations, but to establish clear policy, provide rigorous fiscal supervision, evaluate district leadership, and ensure administrative accountability to our community.

Key areas where the next board must focus its governance and oversight include:

Stabilizing Enrollment & Retaining Manchester Families: We must foster an environment where local families feel confident keeping their children in Manchester Community Schools. The board can support this by encouraging district leadership to explore innovative academic offerings, evaluate what drives family enrollment decisions, and actively build a welcoming culture where kids have the space to be kids and grow in a happy, supportive environment.

Fiscal Solvency & Resourcefulness: Analyzing district budgets with a critical, data-driven eye to keep funding centered on classroom impact and long-term financial sustainability. As part of fiscal stewardship, the board should expect and encourage administration to aggressively pursue grant opportunities that expand student programs beyond the traditional operating budget.

Supporting Administrative & Teaching Talent: Fostering a professional culture that helps recruit, retain, and support dedicated educators and staff, ensuring they have the institutional support necessary to deliver high-quality instruction.

Governance & Accountability: Ensuring transparent decision-making processes and maintaining clear checks and balances to protect district resources and serve the best interests of our students and taxpayers.

There is real work ahead of us. Our board’s ultimate duty is to ensure Manchester Community Schools grows into a strong, stable, and trusted school district that truly serves all our families.

Contact Information: ccsrf93@gmail.com

Michelle Champagne (Nonpartisan)

My name is Michelle Champagne. I am a Manchester Township resident, a parent, and a certified special education teacher. I am running for the Manchester Community Schools Board of Education because I care about our schools, the people who make them what they are, and the direction we take moving forward. I want to bring my experience, perspective, and willingness to listen to the table and be part of that work.

I spent eight years working for Manchester Community Schools, first as a paraeducator and later as a certified special education teacher. I built relationships with students, families, and staff that I will always value. Working in the district gave me a firsthand understanding of the dedication that exists within our schools, as well as the challenges that can come with serving students and families with different needs.

Currently, I am a certified special education teacher at Tecumseh Public Schools, working with students with emotional impairments in grades K-3. I also work part-time as a pediatric psychiatric technician at Mott Children’s Hospital. These experiences have continued to shape how I view education and the importance of supporting the whole child, providing meaningful opportunities for students with disabilities, and making sure the staff who serve our children feel valued and equipped to do their jobs well.

If elected, I intend to help create a district where communication is open, decisions are transparent, and families and staff feel their voices matter. I want the board to ask questions, work collaboratively with administration and staff, and make decisions based on what is best for students. I also hope to support greater consistency across buildings in curriculum, content, expectations, instructional practices, and policies, so students and families have a strong and consistent experience throughout the district.

That same focus should extend to the people working in our schools. Creating a culture where staff feel respected, heard, and valued is essential to building strong schools. Our teachers and staff are the people who show up for our students every day, and when they have the support and resources they need, our students have a stronger foundation to learn, grow, and succeed.

Most of all, I want Manchester Community Schools to be a district where families and staff want to stay and students feel supported, challenged, and proud to be part of their schools. That takes more than one person or one idea. It takes people willing to listen, work together, ask hard questions, and keep moving forward in the best interest of our students.

I’m not running because I have every answer. I’m running because I care enough to listen, ask questions, and be part of the work. Manchester is my community, and I want to help make sure our schools continue to be a place our community can be proud of.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleChampagneForSchoolBoard

Email: mchampagne028@gmail.com

Christine Deacons (Nonpartisan)

I’m Christine Deacons, and I’m asking for your vote for the Manchester Community Schools Board of Education.

I currently serve as Secretary of the Board. I hold a PhD in Educational Leadership, and have spent the bulk of my career in education K-12, college and education technology—much of it focused on students whose transitions through school are the most fragile, the ones who slip between grades, buildings, and systems and don’t get caught. That work taught me to look for the seams in an institution, because the seams are where students are lost.

Manchester has two challenges that are really one challenge.

The first is a K–12 curriculum that is not fully aligned. Our youngest grades are steady — families choose Manchester for kindergarten at close to the same rate they always have. What we have not done well is hold those students as they move up, through the intermediate grades and into the junior/senior high. That is not a marketing problem or a reputation problem. It is a curriculum and continuity problem. When what a student learns in one grade doesn’t land them cleanly in the next, and when the high school course catalog can’t offer what a family believes their child needs, that family starts looking at the districts around us. They aren’t leaving because they stopped loving Manchester. They’re leaving because the path stopped being clear.

The second challenge is solvency. Michigan funds schools per pupil, so every student who leaves takes their funding out the door with them—while the buildings, buses, utilities, and staffing that serve them cost very nearly the same. Enrollment decline and budget pressure are one problem measured two ways. A district our size cannot cut its way to stability. We have to keep students.

If elected, my goals are straightforward. Commission a real K–12 curriculum alignment review — grade by grade, building by building — and then act on what it finds. Protect and rebuild high school programming, the courses and pathways that make staying here the obvious choice rather than the sentimental one. Insist on stability in leadership and teaching, because nothing we align survives constant turnover. And govern in the open: publish what we know, including the parts that are uncomfortable to read.

I’ll also say plainly that I ask hard questions, and I have cast votes in the minority. I believe that’s what a board seat is for. A board that always agrees with itself isn’t governing.

I’ve written a book about how artificial intelligence is changing what schools owe their students. It’s called Taught for a World That No Longer Exists. I don’t want that title to describe Manchester.

Manchester is small by design and large by opportunity. That isn’t a slogan to me. A district this size can know every student by name and build a path for each one. That’s worth protecting, and it’s worth the work.

I write about school governance and education policy at educate360.edublogs.org.

James Tobias (Nonpartisan)

Manchester is part of my past, present, and future. I was born and raised here, graduated from Manchester High School in 2005, and returned home with my wife, who is also a Manchester graduate, because this is where we want to raise our son. He is now beginning his own education through Manchester Community Schools, giving me a personal investment in the district’s long-term success.

I believe Manchester’s greatest challenges are declining enrollment, limited financial resources, recruiting and retaining excellent employees, meeting a wide range of student needs, and maintaining the community’s trust during a period of leadership transition. These challenges are connected. Families are more likely to choose and remain in Manchester when they trust the district, feel welcomed, and believe their children will receive a strong education with meaningful opportunities.

My career has centered on education. I began by substitute teaching and tutoring students in Manchester. I later helped develop first-year programs, taught, and supported student success at colleges in Michigan and Virginia. Working in higher education also taught me that college is a valuable path for many students, but it is not the right path for everyone. Our schools should prepare students for many forms of success, including college, skilled trades, apprenticeships, military service, entrepreneurship, and direct entry into the workforce.

For the past five years, I have worked as a product manager building educational products and experiences. My work requires me to listen to learners and educators, use evidence to understand problems, bring people together, and turn complex challenges into practical improvements. It also requires me to work within limited budgets, understand opportunity costs, and use resources carefully.

I have applied many of those same skills as head coach of Manchester Youth Wrestling. I helped grow the program from approximately 12 wrestlers to more than 65 while expanding scholarships, community service, and opportunities for children. That experience has taught me how to build trust, manage limited resources, and create an organization that serves the larger community.

If elected, my goals are to expand meaningful opportunities for students, support and retain excellent teachers and staff, and be a responsible steward of community resources. The board must also establish clear goals for the superintendent, provide appropriate support, evaluate progress, and maintain accountability without interfering in daily operations.

I will listen before reaching conclusions, ask thoughtful questions, examine both evidence and lived experience, and explain the tradeoffs behind difficult decisions. Manchester is a close-knit community. Our schools will be strongest when the board, superintendent, employees, families, and community work together toward shared goals.

Website: tobiasformanchester.com

Email: tobiasformanchester@gmail.com

Joe Walsh (Nonpartisan)

I am running for the Manchester Community Schools Board because I believe strongly in the future of our students and in the responsibility we have as a community to prepare them for that future. My experience as a STEM teacher, Career and Technical Education educator and coordinator, and program developer has given me a perspective that I believe would be valuable to the Board. I have seen firsthand how powerful education can be when students are given meaningful opportunities to connect what they learn in the classroom to real-world careers, skilled trades, technology, and their own interests.

One of the biggest challenges facing Manchester Community Schools is balancing limited resources with the need to provide students with increasingly diverse opportunities. The district is also dealing with enrollment and financial pressures while working to expand Career and Technical Education opportunities. These challenges require thoughtful, long-term planning rather than short-term reactions. I believe the district should continue looking for ways to strengthen enrollment by clearly demonstrating the value Manchester provides families, while carefully evaluating programs and expenditures based on their impact on students. Partnerships with local businesses, Washtenaw Intermediate School District, community colleges, and industry can also help expand opportunities without placing the entire burden on the district.

CTE should be an important part of that strategy. Students need multiple pathways to success. College is an excellent option for many students, but it is not the only path. Skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, health care, technology, entrepreneurship, public service, and other career pathways can provide students with meaningful and successful futures. My experience developing CTE programs, working with employers, pursuing apprenticeship opportunities, and building hands-on STEM programming has shown me the value of giving students opportunities to explore careers before they graduate.

If elected, my goals would be to support strong academics while expanding career exploration, CTE, skilled-trades exposure, work-based learning, apprenticeships, and STEM opportunities. I would also advocate for responsible budgeting, transparent communication with the community, strong support for teachers and staff, and decisions that keep student success at the center. I believe the Board should establish clear goals, monitor results, listen to the community, and allow educators and administrators to do their jobs.

My qualifications are rooted in both education and practical experience. I have worked directly with students and families, developed and managed educational programs, coordinated Career and Technical Education initiatives, built a STEM program, worked to establish apprenticeship opportunities, and managed resources and partnerships to create hands-on learning experiences. These experiences have taught me how to work within constraints, solve problems, communicate with different stakeholders, and turn ideas into programs that benefit students.

Most importantly, I understand Manchester Community Schools from the perspective of someone who has invested significant time and effort into its students and programs. I am running because I care about this community and believe I can contribute a practical, career-focused perspective to the Board. My goal would be simple: help Manchester provide students with the knowledge, skills, opportunities, and confidence they need to succeed.

Voters may use my email:josephowalsh@aol.com

Sandra Wiitala (Nonpartisan)

I’m Sandra Wiitala. It is my honor to seek to serve the community that raised me and helped raise my family by seeking support for a second term on the Manchester Community Schools Board of Education.

Having served my first year in office as Secretary, my second as Vice President, and last two years as President, I am well versed in many of the aspects of a school board’s responsibilities and processes. Learning the sheer volume of work to be done and training to acquire to really understand and work toward the effective function and intended relationship of a school board to it’s community, at school and at large, has been both daunting and inspiring. I’m eager to continue my professional growth, with my community’s support, to better support our children before, during and after their grade school years.

With public school enrollment on the decline across Michigan, Manchester’s continuing enrollment challenges mean we can’t afford to continue to flip leadership. Our new Superintendent and the board need to grow, train and work intensely together to seek new ways to offer more academic and extracurricular opportunities for ALL of our students. To support continued growth in our successful early childhood support programs. To continue to strengthen curriculum options and rigor from there up through 12^th grade. To offer more support to our students in more intensive and sometimes nontraditional academic opportunities. And to scaffold up our Special Education teams to provide more of the care and guidance our students and families need.

None of that work can happen in a space where board members aren’t investing in the training, putting in the time, doing the work of special meetings and multiple personal sacrifices of time and energy to focus on the big picture.  The board needs to set the big goals and work toward those goals with our Superintendent as a committed, educated group.  We are not trained state qualified school Administrators. The board is meant to train and learn and stay aware of the ever-changing educational environment to effectively evaluate our needs, set administrative goals, find opportunities for district support toward those goals, and evaluate our administration’s success in reaching those goals. Adjusting as necessary the details along the way to ensure ALL of our children receive the support, love and opportunities they all deserve.

My many years serving on my Union’s Board of Trustees, helping to manage multi million dollar health and welfare and pension funds, and extensive team management helped build my base for this work. My lifelong continued investment in this community as a volunteer and coach helped build my local network. My voluntary investment of over 100 hours of personal time toward Michigan Association of School Boards professional training during my first term has prepared me for this next step.  This is serious work and I am ready to pursue it. Please email me at Sandraformanchesterschools@gmail.com with any questions or if you would like to meet and chat. Thank you for your support.

2-year term seat – vote for 1

Logan Caszatt (Nonpartisan)

Hi, I’m Logan Caszatt, a current public school educator in a neighboring district and a proud graduate of Manchester Community Schools. As a school board candidate, I’m honored to have received the endorsement of the Manchester Education Association. I have two wonderful children that are growing and thriving while attending public schools. As an elementary school teacher, I am passionate about providing the best educational opportunities for public school students, involving families as active contributors to their child’s education, and supporting the teachers who work tirelessly for their school communities.

After graduating from Manchester High School in 2010, I attended Central Michigan University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, with a focus in English Language Arts and Mathematics. I also earned a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction. In the years since graduating, I have actively coached in local community sports: assistant coach for 8th grade volleyball, head coach for Saline FC, and T-Ball head coach with Manchester Area Youth Sports. Helping children learn and grow, while supporting their families, has been my priority since starting my teaching career in Texas. I have taught students in grades ranging from preschool to fourth grade. I seek out and attend educational leadership conferences, have been trained in Orton-Gillingham, and am currently enrolled in LETRS to stay updated on the latest educational research.

My career experience paired with both of my degrees would be an asset to the Manchester Community Schools Board of Education. With Michigan’s new educational laws taking effect next year, MCS may face the difficult task of selecting new curriculum backed by the Science of Reading. As a teacher in a neighboring district, with a master’s degree in this area, I have the unique opportunity to bring current educational knowledge to the board table while supporting our growing learners. Manchester is fortunate to have so many wonderful teachers dedicated to providing the best learning opportunities for their students. If elected to this school board, I would work with fellow board members to make sure that funds are being spent appropriately on curriculum that is in compliance with state education laws, as well as providing professional development opportunities for staff to ensure board-approved curriculum would be implemented into each classroom with fidelity.

Many local families have reached out with questions and concerns about the progression this district has taken over the last few years. Although I may no longer work for this district, as a dedicated community member, I am determined to put in the work for Manchester Community Schools. Our district can only benefit when we have a public school educator’s input and perspective advocating for students and families at the board table. I will support the students, teachers, and families that are here and deserve a thriving district with a plethora of opportunities. It’s time to invest in our students, support our teachers, and truly listen to our local families. Go Dutch!

Celia Creger (Nonpartisan)

The characteristics and qualifications that I have that will help me excel in this position include:

Financial:  I have a BBA with a major in accounting.  I am also a former small business owner.  This background provides me the basis to understand financial complexities of a complex organization and evaluate options to identify the best path forward.

Education:  Earned a MA in Career and Technical Education, minor Marketing.  I taught for 14 years Business and Marketing courses.   I understand the classroom experience and curriculum development.

Support:  My Dad was a former Superintendent and was an example of leadership.  As a former business owner, I recognized the value of all my staff, vendors and customers for business success.

Service:  Combining my education and experience with a servant’s heart, I have the desire to give my best to all the stakeholders involved at Manchester Public Schools.  My aspiration is to understand the school and community needs and work toward solutions to create student success.

Chelsea Kapuniai (Nonpartisan)

My family moved across the country to Manchester in 2022, and today both of my daughters attend Manchester schools. I’m running for the Board of Education because I believe I can bring a useful combination of professional experience, prior board leadership, community involvement, and a willingness to ask hard questions before making decisions.

For nearly 15 years, I have worked in recruiting and human resources, including high-level recruiting for Fortune 500 companies globally. My career has centered around staffing, hiring, retention, evaluating qualifications, identifying bias, and helping leaders make high-stakes personnel decisions. I have worked with people from very different backgrounds, viewpoints, personalities, and priorities, and learning how to hear those perspectives while still making fair, objective decisions has been a core part of my profession.

That experience directly shapes how I look at some of Manchester’s biggest challenges. Staff and student retention are major priorities for me. I want to understand why good employees leave, why families choose other educational options, where we are successfully retaining people, and what the data tells us about both. I also believe hiring decisions should consistently focus on qualifications, fairness, and what best serves our students.

This would not be my first time serving on a board. I previously served for several years on the board of a large youth football and cheer organization in California, where I was involved in budgets, staffing, policies, contracts, discipline, major purchases, fundraising, complaints, travel, and other operational decisions. I was also heavily involved in fundraising efforts that generated tens of thousands of dollars each season.

I decided at a young that volunteering with kids was going to be a big part of my life. I began volunteering as a teenager, have spent more than 17 years coaching youth, and since moving here, have been a large part of rebuilding Manchester’s youth cheer program over the past four years, serving 60+ athletes annually.

If elected, I would focus on retention, accountability, fair hiring, strong communication, and data-driven decision-making. To me, accountability means setting clear expectations, asking whether decisions produced the results we intended, and being willing to acknowledge when something isn’t working and adjust course. Data is not just about identifying problems; it should also tell us what Manchester is doing well so we can protect it, support it, and build on it.

I also want families, staff, and community members to feel that their voices matter, especially those who may have felt unheard in the past or hesitant to speak up. Representation means listening even when the feedback is uncomfortable, inconvenient, or not what we hoped to hear. I want people to know they can raise concerns, share ideas, or disagree respectfully without feeling like it will be held against them. My responsibility would be to represent the entire community, not just the voices that are easiest to hear, and to keep bringing decisions back to what best serves Manchester’s students.

Heather Ramsey (Nonpartisan)

Heather Ramsey was contacted but didn’t respond.

Other school districts

Some residents in the Manchester Area live in other school districts. Some voters in Sharon Township will be voting in Chelsea, Napoleon & Grass Lake’s school board elections. Some Freedom township residents will be voting in Chelsea & Saline’s school board elections. Some voters in Bridgewater will be voting in Clinton & Saline’s school board elections. And some Manchester Township voters will be voting in Clinton & Columbia’s school board elections. See vote411.org for information on non-Manchester Community Schools, school board races.

State Representatives

The Manchester area is split between two state house seats. Bridgewater Township is in the 33rd State House District. Manchester, Sharon, and Freedom townships, as well as the City of Manchester, are within the 47th State House District.

District 33

Voters in Bridgewater Township will choose between 2 candidates: incumbent Democrat Morgan Foreman and Republican Catherine Rogers.

Morgan Foreman (Democrat)

The biggest challenge facing our district is ensuring that our infrastructure keeps pace with the growth and changing needs of our communities. Whether I am talking with residents in Pittsfield Township, Ann Arbor, or our more rural communities, infrastructure is consistently one of the issues I hear about most. Roads and construction are the most visible part of that challenge. Residents are frustrated by deteriorating roads, congestion, seemingly constant construction, and the difficulty of simply getting from one place to another. Washtenaw County has significant road improvement work underway, but we also have to address the long-term way Michigan funds and maintains local roads. (Washtenaw County Road Commission)

Infrastructure also means housing. Our region continues to grow, but the supply and variety of housing have not kept pace with demand. A recent Washtenaw County housing study recommended approximately 16,000 additional housing units countywide. (Ann Arbor City Calendar) We need more housing that working families, seniors, young professionals, and people with disabilities can actually afford. That requires partnership between state and local governments to increase housing supply, support affordable and workforce housing, remove unnecessary barriers to development, and ensure new development is accompanied by adequate roads, transit, water, sewer, and other essential infrastructure.

If reelected, my goal is to continue delivering practical results for the people I represent. I want to strengthen our infrastructure, expand access to affordable housing, protect our Great Lakes and drinking water, support public education, improve access to health care, and continue fighting for consumers and working families. I also want state government to be more responsive and accountable to the people it serves.

I bring both professional experience and lived experience to this position. Before being elected, I worked in constituent services in the Michigan Legislature, which taught me how state government affects people at the most personal level and how important it is for elected officials to listen and respond. I have also worked in education and community engagement, experiences that shaped my belief that good public policy begins with understanding the people it impacts.

During my first term, I have served on the House Health Policy and Natural Resources and Tourism committees and have worked on issues ranging from consumer protection and public health to water quality and environmental stewardship. I also serve in regional leadership focused on protecting the Great Lakes. I approach this work as both a policymaker and a constituent: I live here, I experience the same roads and construction, and I want our communities to remain places where people can afford to live, work, raise families, and age with dignity.

My goal is simple: keep moving our district and Michigan forward.

Catherine Rogers (Republican)

Catherine Rogers  was contacted but didn’t respond.

District 46

Manchester, Freedom and Sharon Townships, and the City of Manchester will choose between 2 candidates for State House representative: incumbent Democrat, Carrie A. Rheingans and Republican Justin Griffis.

Carrie A. Rheingans (Democrat)

State Representative Carrie Rheingans is a health policy expert, educator, and community organizer with decades of experience bringing people and organizations together to tackle complex systems issues that improve health and reduce disparities. Running on a platform to Lower Costs, Increase Care, and Fight Corruption, Carrie believes that we can create conditions for each and every one of us to thrive to the top of our potential.

In her time in office, Rep. Rheingans introduced bills to uplift issues important to Indigenous Michiganders, ensure state protections of fundamental American freedoms, establish universal, publicly-funded health care coverage for all Michiganders, and address multiple aspects of the healthcare system including workforce, the use of artificial intelligence, and addiction services. She is bringing attention to multiple facets of the opioid crisis, including ensuring that policies are driven by those most affected by the crisis. Carrie is a fierce advocate to protect necessary health care, such as abortion and gender-affirming care.

Coming from a small town in Michigan and living in Ann Arbor for over 20 years, Carrie understands the issues that reach every corner of her district. As a Millennial parent, she knows the challenges of making ends meet with high housing costs, student loans, and high childcare costs. Carrie served as a board member of the national organization Communities Joined in Action, which supports community leaders and organizations to improve health equity and reduce disparities in their own backyard.

Before being elected in 2022, Carrie was a lecturer in the University of Michigan School of Social Work, teaching courses on health policy, community organizing, and policy advocacy. Carrie also served as a contractor for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, working on projects related to Michigan’s behavioral health services systems and healthcare transformation. Before that, she was a health policy advocate and organizer working to ensure access for low-income community members. Carrie seeks the voices and experiences of those affected by policy to guide her when she makes policy decisions.

Carrie was previously active in her union, the U-M Lecturers’ Employee Organization, American Federation of Teachers Local 6244, served as Chair of the Washtenaw County Emergency Medical Services Commission, and was a member of the Washtenaw County Board of Health.

Justin Griffis (Republican)

Justin Griffis  was contacted but didn’t respond.

State Senators

The Manchester area is split between two state senate seats. Sharon and Freedom townships are in the 14th state senate district, and Manchester and Bridgewater townships are in the 15th state senate district.

District 14

Freedom and Sharon Townships will choose between 2 candidates for State senate: incumbent Democrat, Sue Shink and Republican Tawn Shawnelle Beliger.

Tawn Shawnelle Beliger (Republican)

Tawn Shawnelle Beliger, Republican candidate for the Michigan Senate district 14

Tawn is a lifelong Michigander, proud Republican, and community leader from Northfield Township. She and her husband Gerry have been married 37 years and have made Northfield Township their home since 2015.

She previously served as Northfield Township Trustee from 2016 to 2020. Tawn currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Washtenaw County Republican Committee (elected by precinct delegates), sits on the Executive Committee of the 6th Congressional District Republican Committee, and was a delegate to the 2024 Republican National Convention.

My main objective as a senator will be to reduce the cost of living for you and your loved ones – frankly for ALL of Michiganders by focusing on the following.

Eliminating burdensome regulations –  In 2023 laws were passed by the democrat-controlled leadership in Lansing mandating changes to Michigan’s energy policies resulting in rate hikes passed on to customers.  (AKA the clean energy mandates).

Restoring Due process – Currently a gunowner may have their lawfully owned firearms confiscated from them though no conviction of a crime has occurred.  I support repealing the “red flag laws” implemented in 2023.

Restoring Respect for Life – At this time the extinguishing of life in the womb is legal throughout pregnancy. I would like to lead in the efforts to restore the VALUE of life, beginning with protecting the unborn from unnecessary (non- medical reasons) late-term abortions.

Education – Michigan public schools have moved so far away from what we know as “education”, creating a dire need to return to a “classical education” where basics are not compromised, and intellectual growth and development are stimulated.  The state of Mississippi has seen a tremendous improvement in literacy rates – perhaps Michigan can take a page from their model. Also, parental access to curricula, teacher aids, and texts as well as full transparency of what happens in their child’s classroom must be available to all parents simply and without restrictions.  I will be there to support and protect girls and women’s sports and spaces… no men allowed!

Support Local Control –  Regarding Data Centers and other significant developments, the local government closest to the people, ought to have the say as to what major changes are introduced into their community. Having served as a township trustee, the importance of local control must be respected.

Thank you for your interest. Please visit,  VoteTawn.com.

Susan Shink (Democrat)

You elected me to serve Senate District 14 for the past four years. In that time, we’ve been able to strengthen workers’ rights, protect and expand Michiganders’ civil rights, make voting easier for our citizens, increase funding for education, from pre-k through community college and vocational education so that Michigan students have a pathway to good paying jobs, protect food access and medical care access for our residents in the face of federal cuts, support family farms, fund public safety and reduce recidivism, increase investments in housing and conservation and outdoor recreation and enact the largest tax cut for working families and seniors in a generation.

There is still so much to do. In our district I spend a lot of time listening to residents. I hear from many people that healthcare and prescription medication are too expensive so I am working to rein in healthcare and drug costs while protecting access. I’m trying to stop utilities from raising rates all the time while providing poor service and stop price gouging as well as junk fees and other unfair ways giant corporations increase profits. People are worried about large industrial uses like data centers and aggregate mines negatively impacting their neighborhoods and their way of life so I am working to regulate data centers and other large industrial users at the state level and make sure communities have the tools they need to deal with these large users. People are worried about PFAS and plastics in their water so I am working to pass legislation and appropriations to get poisons out of our water, land and air. And I will continue to work for strong schools for all of our kids. In short, I’m working to improve our quality of life, increase transparency and accountability of government, and make it easier and less expensive to have a good life here in Michigan, whoever you are.

My husband Tom and I raised our three daughters on our farm. I served as a Northfield Township Trustee and Chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. As a lawyer, public servant, and member of the community, have been working with our neighbors to solve problems and make things better here for all of our families for a long time. I’d appreciate your vote!

There’s so much more I’ve been working to achieve for our community. For more information please visit www.votesueshink.com

District 15

Manchester and Bridgewater Townships, and the City of Manchester will choose between 2 candidates for State senate: Democrat, Felicia Brabec and Republican, Jason Rogers.

Felicia Brabec (Democrat)

My name is Dr. Felicia Brabec, and I’d be honored to represent you in Michigan’s 15 State Senate district. I believe my longstanding background in service, in state and local government, and in mental health work prepare me well to serve as your next State Senator.

I served two terms in the Michigan State House, and four terms as a Washtenaw County Commissioner. As a clinical psychologist with a Masters in Clinical Social Work, I was the only mental health clinical practitioner in the House during my tenure. While in Lansing, I leveraged my background as a psychologist, small business owner, Commissioner, and mom to pass significant legislation. I was instrumental in protecting abortion access, putting an end to Right to Work (thereby protecting labor rights), enacting common sense gun legislation, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to help working families, and increasing access to mental healthcare.

I sponsored and passed bills expanding organ donation, allowing HIV positive individuals to donate their organs to other HIV positive individuals, including the organ donor question on Michigan income tax forms, and offering a one-time tax credit for organ donors. Importantly, I improved mental health care access, allowing psychologists to practice across state lines and requiring telehealth visits to be reimbursed at the same rate as office visits. I also secured significant budget wins for the state and Washtenaw County, including $20 million for statewide permanent supportive housing, $5 million for Saline’s water treatment facility, $1.2 million for Ann Arbor’s Forestbrooke Pool, $1 million for Ypsilanti schools, and more.

As a County Commissioner, I proudly championed the state’s first ever Equity Officer and office, helping create a blueprint for this position for counties across the state and to address inequities across Washtenaw County. Supporting working families and stabilizing the County’s work force, I proudly voted for ten year labor contracts, and wrote the original resolution that laid the groundwork to secure 10-12 weeks of paid paternal leave for employees.

I currently sit on a variety of boards in the community, including Creative Washtenaw, Our Community Reads, the Washtenaw Community Mental Health Board (Chair), and Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels (Vice Chair).

My goal as your next State Senator is to address the needs and concerns I’ve heard across Manchester and the state as a whole, from lowering cost of living to furthering investments in mental healthcare and public education. We need to expand broadband so folks can reliably access telehealth, remote work, and online schoolwork. We need to expand mental healthcare access and ensure reimbursement rates are the same for telehealth and in-person services, and we need to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. We need to enforce a tax structure that holds corporations accountable and ensures they pay their fair share in order to fund these priorities and others. Our government should be for the people, not special interests or just those with deep pockets.

I would be honored to earn your vote on November 3rd to fight for you in Lansing.

Jason Rogers (Republican)

Manchester families, seniors, and especially our rural farms with larger land footprints are being squeezed by high property taxes in Washtenaw County. Local taxpayers are already funding needed street paving, sanitary sewer repairs, and township road maintenance on many dirt and gravel roads. They need fiscal discipline and true local control – not more mandates or higher taxes from Lansing that make home and farm ownership feel like renting from the government.

I will fight to eliminate personal property taxes, reduce the income-tax burden, expand school choice so parents direct their children’s education, and protect our God-given rights at every level.

Contrary to career politicians, I believe Michigan needs a part-time citizen legislature. As a professional software engineer, I will bring an engineer’s mindset – tenacity, logical thinking, and a drive to hunt down and squash problems – to address Lansing’s bloat, overreach, and inefficiency. I will not use the office to enrich myself, my colleagues, or the bureaucratic machine.

If elected, I will be a tireless advocate for the people of District 15, including Manchester, and will lead with honesty, integrity, faith, reason, and grace, rooted in my devotion to Jesus Christ.

My goal is to make Michigan a place people want to stay in and move to. Help me take it back.

Proposals

In addition, a number of local and county proposals will be appearing on the ballot. Voters will vote on two state proposals, one to convene a constitutional convention for the purpose of drafting a general revision of the state constitution, and one to prohibit campaign contributions from certain regulated utilities and government contractors. Manchester Township residents will be voting on renewing a fire protection services millage. Bridgewater and Manchester Township residents living in the Clinton School district will be voting on renewing an operating millage. See vote411.org for information on proposals not included here.

Manchester Township

Fire Protection Services Millage Renewal

Shall the previous voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution in Manchester Township, of 0.6500 mills ($0.65 per $1,000 of taxable value) reduced to .6444 mills by required millage rollbacks be renewed at .6444 mills ($0.6444 per $1,000.00 of taxable value) and levied for five additional years, 2028 through 2032 inclusive, for fire protection services within Manchester Township, raising an estimated $131,000.00 in 2028 of which a portion may be disbursed under a fire services agreement to another local unit(s) for fire protection services to the Township?