Six candidates have filed to run for St. Joseph City Commission this year.
The city clerk’s office tells us the deadline to file was on Tuesday, and because there are only six candidates, there won’t be a primary in August. Instead, the six will all face off in the November election, with the top three vote getters receiving city commission seats.
Two eligible incumbents have filed for re-election. They are Commissioners Michael Sarola and Michael Fernandez. Commissioner Michelle Binkley could have run, but has chosen not to. Sarola was first elected in 2021, while Fernandez was elected in 2023.
The other four candidates have not previously served, although some have run before. They are Thomas Jennings, Kim Jorgensen Gane, Lisa Vetne, and Ryan Katowich. Jennings is the owner of the Sandbar and Grille, Jorgensen Gane previously ran for Michigan Senate, Vetne owns a graphic design firm, and Katowich is a realtor.
When the election is held in November, the top two vote getters will receive four-year terms on the city commission, while the candidate who comes in third will receive a two-year term.
The election will be November 4 and will be non-partisan.
