Barry County
Local Ballot Guide
Local candidate profiles, current-office status, public biography information and documented issue statements for races appearing in Barry County's September 2, 2026 unofficial candidate listing.
Not every Barry County voter sees every race below.
This page collects local contests that appear somewhere on Barry County ballots and adds public-source research for each candidate. Your city or township, school district and community-college district determine which races appear on your ballot. Candidate research is not an endorsement; where no reliable public campaign information was found, we say so.
What we could verify
Based on a current government, college or school-district source.
Only statements that could be tied to the candidate are summarized. Board-wide policies are not presented as a candidate's personal position.
This means we did not locate a reliable candidate-specific 2026 issue page in this review — not that the candidate has no views.
Barry County Township Races
The September 2 county listing shows four township partial-term contests.
Township Clerk
Kathy Lynn Medenblik
Current Thornapple Township Clerk. Barry County’s September 2 candidate list places her on the ballot for the partial term ending December 1, 2028.
No separate 2026 candidate issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Township Clerk
Thomas D. Hopkins
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Thomas D. Hopkins as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Township Trustee
Joshua J. Miller
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Joshua J. Miller as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Township Trustee
Bob Main
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Bob Main as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
City of Hastings
Council races are ward-specific. The county listing also shows two offices with no candidate on the ballot.
City Council
Mike Bergeron
Current Hastings City Council member for Ward 1. City records show he was appointed and sworn in during 2025 to fill the Ward 1 vacancy.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. Current council service is documented by the City of Hastings.
City Council
City Council
William Mattson
Serves on the Hastings Planning Commission and Board of Review. He is seeking the four-year Ward 3 City Council term.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
City Council
Jordan Brehm
Current Hastings City Council member for Ward 4. City records document his appointment to the vacant Ward 4 seat in 2023.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. Current council service is documented by the City of Hastings.
City Council — Partial Term
Ann Devroy
Current Hastings City Council member for Ward 3 and candidate for the partial term ending December 1, 2028.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. Current council service is documented by the City of Hastings.
Board of Review
Village Presidents & Trustees
Village President
Bill Andrews
Current Village of Freeport President; 2026 village meeting records identify him as president.
No separate 2026 campaign issue page was located in the public sources reviewed.
Village Trustee
Amanda Faunce
Current Village of Freeport trustee; 2026 village meeting records identify her as a trustee.
No separate 2026 candidate issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Alex Hobday
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Alex Hobday as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Village Trustee — Partial Term
Michael Underwood
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Michael Underwood as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Village President
Kevin R. Smith
Current Village of Middleville President. Village materials identify Kevin Smith as village president in 2026.
His current public role includes service connected with Middleville’s downtown development work; no separate 2026 personal campaign platform was located.
Village Trustee
Sandra Wake
Appointed to the Middleville Village Council in March 2026 to fill one of three vacancies. She is now seeking election to a full four-year trustee term.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. Her current council service can be reviewed through village agendas, minutes and meeting video.
Village Trustee — Partial Term
Susan Shannon
Appointed to the Middleville Village Council in March 2026 to fill one of three vacancies. She is seeking the partial term ending December 1, 2028.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. Her current council service can be reviewed through village agendas, minutes and meeting video.
Village Trustee
Rick E. Argo Sr.
Current member of the Nashville Village Council and candidate for a four-year trustee term.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Village Trustee — Partial Term
Mary Coll
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Mary Coll as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Lori Courtney
Current member of the Nashville Village Council and candidate for a partial-term trustee seat.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Johnny Hartwell
Current Nashville Village Council member. The village website lists a council member with this name (the site has used a minor spelling variation); the county candidate list is used here for ballot spelling.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Village President
Lyle Sandbrook Jr.
Current Village of Woodland President; recent village records identify Lyle Sandbrook as president.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Village Trustee
Michael R. Beach
Current Village of Woodland trustee; recent village records list Mike Beach among the trustees.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Betty Carpenter
Current Village of Woodland trustee; recent village records list Betty Carpenter among the trustees.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Community College Trustee Races
These races appear only for voters who live within the corresponding community-college district.
Grand Rapids Community College
Jamie Gordon
Appointed to the GRCC Board of Trustees in May 2026. Gordon is executive director of human resources for Kentwood Public Schools and previously spent 23 years with Grand Rapids Public Schools in teaching, administration and human-resources roles.
Her official GRCC biography emphasizes educational excellence, administrative experience and expanding opportunity for students. No separate 2026 campaign platform was located.
Brandy Lovelady Mitchell
Elected to the GRCC Board of Trustees in 2020 and a former board chair. Her official biography identifies her as a longtime educator and administrator whose work has included school counseling, teaching, consulting, principal leadership and district administration.
Her public biography emphasizes student advocacy and creating conditions in which students and educational staff can succeed. Her campaign maintains a public Facebook page.
Tim Russ
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Tim Russ as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Grand Rapids Community College
Adriana Almanza
A human-resources and organizational-culture professional who publicly describes approximately 15 years of experience in people-centered workplace and community initiatives. She announced her candidacy for the GRCC partial-term seat in 2026.
Her candidacy announcement identifies the GRCC Board of Trustees partial term as the office sought. A detailed issue platform was not located in the sources reviewed.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Paul Foust
A two-time Kalamazoo Valley Community College graduate and previous candidate for the KVCC board. Public election records show he ran for a full term in 2022 and a partial term in 2024. Earlier public service includes Richland Township trustee and Richland Village Planning Commission.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. His previous candidacies and public-service history are documented in county election records and local voter-guide coverage.
Mary T Gustas
Current Kalamazoo Valley Community College trustee and board treasurer. Public professional information identifies her as executive director of the Comstock Community Center, and KVCC lists her on career-and-community-training advisory work.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. Her public service includes current board leadership and workforce/community-training advisory involvement.
Lucinda M Stinson
Current Kalamazoo Valley Community College trustee and board chair. KVCC has described Stinson as a longtime Kalamazoo administrator, community leader and educator.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. Her public record includes leadership of the college’s governing board.
Kellogg Community College
Patrick A. O'Donnell
Current Kellogg Community College trustee and board secretary. A lifelong Battle Creek resident, O’Donnell graduated from Lakeview High School, earned an associate degree from KCC and a bachelor’s degree in electronics from Siena Heights University, and works as a network operations specialist.
His official profile emphasizes support for the learning environment, student development and community involvement. No separate 2026 campaign platform was located.
Carla Reynolds
Current Kellogg Community College trustee and board treasurer. Reynolds operated a Battle Creek insurance agency for 28 years, earned a business-administration degree from Western Michigan University and serves as vice mayor of Battle Creek.
Her official biography documents extensive civic involvement, including work with local schools, nonprofit organizations and community groups. No separate 2026 campaign platform was located.
Darin Aldrich
Current Kellogg Community College trustee. KCC identifies Aldrich as a Battle Creek native, KCC alumnus and human-resources/total-rewards professional.
Public biography highlights employee well-being, education and community service; no separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located.
School Board Candidates
Barry County contains portions of several school districts. The county's September 2 listing includes the following school-board contests.
Bellevue Community Schools
Michael DeRyder
Longtime Bellevue Community Schools board service is documented in district and local records, including a prior board profile describing him as a Bellevue alumnus and community resident.
Older public board material emphasizes advocacy for students. A separate 2026 candidate issue page was not located.
Stephanie Sandin
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Stephanie Sandin as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Caledonia Community Schools
Josh Carrasquillo
A lifelong Caledonia resident, father of three and youth baseball coach. His campaign describes itself as grassroots and self-funded.
Campaign priorities include fiscal responsibility and transparent budgeting, parent and family voice, academic and extracurricular achievement, and clearer communication between the board and families.
Delton-Kellogg Schools
Mark A. Doster
Delton-Kellogg public materials identify Doster as a former police chief with roughly four decades of law-enforcement experience who joined the district as a school resource officer.
Public district material directly connects his background to school safety; no separate 2026 school-board campaign platform was located.
Kathleen G. Forsyth
Current Delton Kellogg Schools Board of Education member. District records document her board service and committee work, including finance-related review of bills, budgets and state-aid borrowing.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. District records provide the clearest public record of her board participation.
Gull Lake Community Schools
Melissa Gensic
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Melissa Gensic as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Carole McFee Mendez
Current Gull Lake Community Schools board member; district materials identify Mendez as board president in 2026.
No separate 2026 candidate issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Hastings Area School System
Luke Haywood
Current Hastings Area School System Board of Education president. A district profile identifies him as a dairy farmer who operates a 1,200-cow farm and grows feed on approximately 2,000 acres, in addition to community volunteer service.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. His board leadership and agricultural/community background are documented by the district.
Nick Marlatt
Current Hastings Area School System trustee. District updates in 2026 identify Marlatt as a newly appointed board member.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Kevin Dickinson
Current Hastings Area School System trustee. District updates in 2026 identify Dickinson as a newly appointed board member.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Darrell Slaughter
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Darrell Slaughter as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Hastings Area School System
Bradley Tolles
Current Hastings Area School System trustee and candidate for the partial term ending December 31, 2028. District records list him as Brad Tolles.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. His current board service can be reviewed through district agendas and minutes.
Lakewood Public Schools
Alisha DeWalt
Current Lakewood Board of Education vice president. District material says she has three children in the district and has emphasized inclusive, high-quality educational experiences.
Public board introduction emphasizes inclusion, quality educational experiences and helping every student thrive.
Matthew Bulling
Candidate for Lakewood Public Schools Board of Education. A reliable 2026 campaign biography was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific issue statements were located in this review.
David Burd
Current Lakewood Board of Education president. District material says he has lived in the community for more than a decade and has children in the district.
Public board introduction emphasizes a safe environment, strong core curriculum and student development.
Maple Valley Schools
Paul J. Berkimer
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Paul J. Berkimer as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Robert Franks
Current Maple Valley Schools Board of Education trustee; the district roster lists his term ending in 2026.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Jeff Seavolt
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Jeff Seavolt as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Kimberlee Kenyon
Current Maple Valley Schools Board of Education treasurer; the district roster lists her term ending in 2026.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Kelly Dunham
Current Maple Valley Schools Board of Education president; the district roster lists her term ending in 2026.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Kimberly Wilkes
Earlier Maple Valley district records list Wilkes as a trustee; she is not listed on the district’s current board roster reviewed for this update.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Martin Public Schools
Vincent L. Tuinstra
Current Martin Public Schools Board of Education member with a term expiring in 2026.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Jeff Brinkhuis
Current Martin Public Schools Board of Education member with a term expiring in 2026.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Teri Beilby
Current Martin Public Schools Board of Education member with a term expiring in 2026.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Pennfield Schools
Michelle Bickman
Candidate for Pennfield Schools Board of Education. A reliable current campaign biography was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue platform was located in this review.
Sarah Marie Jones
Current Pennfield Board of Education secretary and a longtime educator. Her district biography documents experience with curriculum, facilities/bond work and superintendent selection.
Public board biography identifies student achievement, teacher satisfaction, student involvement and community involvement as priorities.
Timothy Wood
Current Pennfield Board of Education treasurer. His district biography lists a background as a carpenter/general contractor and insurance adjuster.
Public board biography references school safety, finance/policy/facilities work, in-person learning, grading, extracurricular opportunities and facilities.
Austin Brown
Current Pennfield Board of Education trustee, elected in 2024. His district biography notes labor/union experience.
Public board biography identifies transparency, collaborative relationships, educator recruitment/retention and trust as priorities.
Plainwell Community Schools
William A. Geresy
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms William A. Geresy as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Kyle Lyke
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Kyle Lyke as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Rex Hall Jr.
Current Plainwell Community Schools Board of Education vice president.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Julli Bennett
Current Plainwell Community Schools Board of Education treasurer.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Andrea Barrows
Current Plainwell Community Schools Board of Education trustee.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Thornapple-Kellogg Schools
Kate Bynski
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Kate Bynski as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Mark Price
Current Thornapple-Kellogg Board of Education treasurer. Public election records show he won a partial board term in 2024.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Jim Flikkema
Current Thornapple-Kellogg Board of Education trustee.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Wayland Union Schools
Aubrey Chubb
Candidate for the Wayland Union Schools Board of Education. Kent County’s September 3 candidate list spells the surname “Chubb”; voters should use the spelling printed on their own official ballot.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements or campaign page were located in the public sources reviewed.
Pete Zondervan
Current Wayland Union Schools Board of Education vice president. District biography says he was first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022.
No separate 2026 campaign platform was located. His district biography documents long-term board service and community involvement.
Brad Dorland
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Brad Dorland as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Norman L. Taylor
Current Wayland Union Schools trustee. District biography says he is a retired public educator/administrator with 44 years in education and was appointed in 2022 before winning election that November.
Public district biography notes work with the bond committee and community communication; no separate 2026 campaign platform was located.
Sherry Lynn Miklusicak
Barry County’s September 2 candidate listing confirms Sherry Lynn Miklusicak as a candidate in this race. A reliable current candidate biography or personal campaign page was not located in the public sources reviewed.
No candidate-specific 2026 issue statements were located in this review.
Jeff Koon
Current Wayland Union Schools Board of Education president. District biography says he was elected in 2022 and works in supply-chain management.
No separate 2026 campaign issue platform was located in the public sources reviewed.
Local Proposals
These are local or district proposals in the September 2 Barry County listing. They do not appear on every Barry County ballot.
Planning Commission Establishment Ordinance
Asks whether Baltimore Township should adopt an ordinance establishing a township planning commission under the Michigan Planning Enabling Act, including its composition, powers, duties and limitations.
$24.8 Million Bond Proposal
Would authorize up to $24.8 million in general-obligation unlimited-tax bonds for school-building remodeling and equipment, secure entrances and security improvements, academic and career-technical spaces, instructional technology, buses, and athletic facilities and sites.
Special Education Millage — Restoration
Would increase the special-education property-tax limitation by 0.1699 mill for 2027–2034, allowing the intermediate school district to levy the previously approved maximum rate of 3.05 mills. The ballot language estimates approximately $13.7 million in 2027 revenue.
Career & Technical Education Millage — Restoration
Would increase the area career-and-technical-education property-tax limitation by 0.0994 mill for 2027–2034, allowing the previously approved maximum rate of 1.78 mills. The ballot language estimates approximately $8.0 million in 2027 revenue.
Are you a candidate who would like your information updated on our website?
Email us your campaign photograph, short biography, campaign website or public social-media pages, and information about your priorities or positions. Please include the office you are seeking and confirm that we have permission to publish the information and photograph you provide.
Email Your Information