Special Hamlin Township trustee election set

HAMLIN TOWNSHIP — Mason County Clerk Cheryl Kelly has officially called a special election for Tuesday, May 4, 2027, to fill the Hamlin Township trustee seat left vacant following the death of Johnaine Gurzynski in September.

Kelly issued the official call for election Thursday, Nov. 12, after the Hamlin Township Board of Trustees failed to appoint a replacement within the 45 days allowed under Michigan election law.

Gurzynski, 68, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Sept. 23, while facing a recall election that had been scheduled for Nov. 3. Her death resulted in the cancellation of that election and created a vacancy on the township board.

Under Michigan law, the township board had 45 days to appoint a qualified elector to fill the vacancy. Kelly previously announced that the deadline for the appointment was Monday, Nov. 9. Because the board did not fill the position by that deadline, state law requires the county clerk to call a special election.

The person elected in May will serve the remainder of Gurzynski’s unexpired term, which ends Dec. 1, 2028.

The Mason County Democratic and Republican party committees have until 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, to submit nominees for the vacant position. The deadline was extended to Monday because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Mason County Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Kannon and Mason County Republican Party Chair Sheila Genter have been notified of the deadline.

Candidates seeking to run without party affiliation must submit qualifying petitions by 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, 2027.

Petition packets and filing forms for no-party-affiliation candidates are available at the Mason County Clerk’s Office, 304 E. Ludington Ave., Ludington.

Background on the vacancy

Gurzynski had been the subject of a recall effort initiated earlier this year by Hamlin Township resident Greg Collins.

Revised recall language filed in May alleged that Gurzynski disclosed deliberations from a closed session during the Jan. 15 township board meeting involving township attorney Jacob Witte and a consent judgment involving Six and Stones LLC.

The revised petition received sufficient valid signatures to place the trustee position on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Kelly issued the official call for that election in August.

Gurzynski had been scheduled to face two challengers, Pat Barcelli and Cynthia Tanner, both running without party affiliation.

However, following Gurzynski’s death on Sept. 23, Kelly announced that the recall election would be canceled because the trustee position had become vacant. The vacancy then became subject to the township appointment process established under state law.

At the time, Kelly explained that if the township board did not appoint a replacement within the required 45-day period, a special election would be held May 4, 2027.

That election has now been officially scheduled.

Under Michigan election law, a person seeking to serve as township trustee must be a registered and qualified elector of the township. A qualified elector must meet the constitutional qualifications to vote and have resided in the township for at least 30 days.

The special election will be held at the Hamlin Township polling location. According to Kelly’s official notice, Hamlin Township will be responsible for all costs associated with the election.

For more information about candidate filing requirements, contact the Mason County Clerk’s Office at 231-843-8202, ext. 3, or email cakelly@masoncountymi.gov.

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