UPDATED: 13 File for Office in Northville Township Board of Trustees Election

This story was updated at 7:30 p.m. One more application, from Karen Woodside, came in prior to the 4 p.m. deadline.

Thirteen Northville Township residents met the filing deadline today to run for township board of trustees seats, according to records provided by the township clerk's office.

The deadline to file for office was today at 4 p.m. Write-ins can still declare their candidacy with the clerk's office by July 27, said township clerk Sue Hillebrand. The candidates are vying for a win in the August 7 primary. All seven 4-year term seats on the board of trustees are up for election. The winners, and those who will be running unopposed, will move on to the November general election ballot. To qualify, candidates needed to submit a minimum of 50 resident signatures to get on the ballot.

One candidate, Republican Karen Woodside, submitted applications for all four offices – supervisor, clerk, treasurer and trustee – prior to the 4 p.m. deadline, said Hillebrand. She will have until 4 p.m. on May 18 to choose one office.

Other than Woodside, three people are vying for the township supervisor seat . Current trustee as well as and Edward Kriewall are seeking the seat as Republican candidates. There are no Democratic candidates.

Hillebrand may be running unopposed for re-election as township clerk. She has served since 1992. Trustee is seeking the office of township treasurer, which is currently held by Richard Henningsen. She may also be running unopposed. Hillebrand and Banner are running as Republicans.

Seven, besides Woodside, submitted applications to run for four trustee seats. They include:

• (Republican)
• Marvin Gans, incumbent (Republican)
• Symantha Heath (Republican)
• Mindy Herrmann, incumbent (Republican)
• Michael Kheibari (Republican)
• (Democrat)
• (Republican)

Summer elections present attendance challenge

Usually, the August primary has a very light attendance, said Hillebrand. In August 2000, only 20.8 percent of registered votes cast a ballot. In August 2004, that number dipped to 15.27 percent. However, there was a slight increase in the last board of trustees election, in August 2008, with 27.54 percent of registered voters casting a ballot. Eighty percent is considered a "good turnout," Hillebrand said.

She said voters who plan to be out-of-town or may be busier in the summer, can apply to receive an absentee ballot. The application is available online.

Come back to Northville Patch for election updates.