Chelsea Election Guide 2012: Learn About the Candidates, Issues

Editor's note: This election guide will be updated throughout the week.

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Chelsea Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town. Here are some local races voters are already talking about:

President of the United States

Voters will pick a candidate to serve a four-year term.

• Democratic candidate: Barack Obama
• Republican candidate: Mitt Romney
• Libertarian candidate: Gary Johnson

U.S. Senate

These six are running for a six-year term in the U.S. Senate.

• Democratic candidate: Debbie Stabenow
• Republican candidates: Pete Hoekstra
• Libertarian: Scotty Boman
• U.S. Taxpayers: Richard Matkin
• Green Party: Harley Mikkelson
• Natural Law Party: John Little

U.S. Representative

Four candidates are running for a two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives

• Republican candidate (incumbent): Tim Walberg
• Democratic candidate: Kurt Haskell
• Libertarian: Ken Proctor
• Green Party: Richard Wunsch

State Representative

Two candidates are running for one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

• Republican candidate (incumbent): Mark Ouimet
• Democratic candidate: Gretchen Driskell

Washtenaw County Prosecutor

• Democratic candidate (incumbent): Brian Mackie
• Libertarian candidate: Justin Altman

County Commissioner District 1

Two candidates are running for one seat on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.

• Republican candidate (incumbent): Rob Turner
• Democratic candidate: Kent Martinez-Kratz

Local Elections

Chelsea School District (Vote for 2)

• Dana Emmert
• Laura Bush
• Steve Olsen
• Kathy Keinath

Dexter Township

Dexter Township Supervisor

• Pat Kelly (incumbent)
• James Drolett

Dexter Township Clerk

• Harley Rider (incumbent)

Dexter Township Treasurer

• Libby Brushaber
• Dana Bullen

Dexter Township Trustee

Six candidates running for four seats on the board

• John T. Emerick
• Bill Gajwski
• Michael Howard
• Carl Lesser (incumbent)
• Anne Sullivan Buchholz
• Steve Feinman (incumbent)
• Jason Maciejewski (incumbent)

Proposal 1: Should Dexter Township levy a public safety millage to construct a permanent fire station?

Lima Township

Township Supervisor (Vote for 1)

• Craig A. Maier

Township Clerk (Vote for 1)

• Arlene R. Bareis

Township Treasurer (Vote for 1)

• Nanette L. Havens

Township Trustees (Vote for 2)

• Donald Laier
• Gregory A. McKenzie

Sylvan Township

Township Supervisor

• Scott E. Cooper
• Robert Lange

Township Clerk

• Douglas M. Smith

Township Treasurer

• Rodney J. Branham

Township Trustee (Vote for two)

• Kurt P. Koseck
• Roy Schmidt
• Sandra J. Egeler
• Alex Slocum

State Proposals

Click on each proposal to read about it:

• Proposal 1: Should emergency manager law be approved?

• Proposal 2: Should collective bargaining be added to the state constitution?

• Proposal 3: Should a renewable energy standard be added to the state constitution?

• Proposal 4: Should the state constitution be amended to give home health care workers limited collective bargaining rights?

• Proposal 5: Should the state constitution be amended to require a two-thirds majority of the state legislature or a statewide vote to raise state taxes?

• Proposal 6: Should the state constitution be amended to require a statewide vote to build international bridges or tunnels?