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By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — The Mason County Election Commission will meet May 21 to review recall petition language targeting two Hamlin Township officials.
According to a notice posted Tuesday by Mason County Clerk Cheryl Kelly, the commission will meet at 8:30 a.m. to review a recall petition against Hamlin Township Treasurer Susan Ptaszenski and at 9 a.m. to review a petition against Hamlin Township Trustee Johnanie Gurzynski.
The meeting will take place in the commissioners room at the Mason County Courthouse, 304 E. Ludington Ave.
The proposed recall language against Ptaszenski states that “in November 2025, an audit conducted by Lake Michigan CPA reported that the Hamlin Township treasurer Ptaszenski’s bank register for the general fund MMA account for the month of February 2025 showed a bank balance of $184,514.21 while the bank reconciliation showed a balance of $245,498.13, a difference of $60,983.92.”
The proposed recall language against Gurzynski alleges that during a Jan. 15, 2026 Hamlin Township Board of Trustees meeting, Gurzynski disclosed deliberations from a closed session involving township attorney Jacob Witte “regarding a consent judgment for Six and Stones, LLC.”
In April, the Mason County Election Commission rejected earlier recall applications against Ptaszenski and Gurzynski, determining the language did not meet clarity requirements under Michigan election law.
The Mason County Election Commission consists of Probate Judge Judge Nellis, County Treasurer Cheryl Kmetz and County Clerk Cheryl Kelly.
Though the State of Michigan uses the term “recall,” the process is calling for a special election and allows for the accused official to seek election during the special election. Before the special election takes place, however, a petition must be filed meeting the minimum required amount of signatures by registered voters in that jurisdiction. The matter is then brought before the county election commission which will determine if the petition language meets the criteria for a recall.
All elective officers in Michigan, except judicial officers, are subject to recall by the voters of their districts. An officer who is being recalled may continue to perform the duties of his or her office until the result of the recall election is certified, according to the Michigan Election Officials’ Manual, published in July 2021.
The county election commission consists of the chief judge, county clerk, and county treasurer.
The function of the county election commission, during the review, is to determine whether each reason for the recall stated in the petition is factual and of sufficient clarity to enable the officer whose recall is sought and the electors to identify the course of conduct that is the basis for the recall. The officer whose recall is sought and the sponsors of the petition may appear at the meeting and present arguments on the clarity and factual nature of the petition language. The Michigan Election Law states that each reason for the recall shall be based upon the officer’s conduct during his or her current term in office. The commission does not have a the authority to rule on whether the petition includes good reasons for recall, as only the clarity and the factual nature of the recall language is subject to the commission’s review. If any reason the recall is not factual or of sufficient clarity, the entire recall petition shall be rejected.
The commission’s ruling may be appealed, either by the officer whose recall is sought or by the sponsors of the recall petition. This would take place in 51st Circuit Court. An appeal must be filed within 10 days of the commission’s determination.
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