Six candidates vying for commission seats

Two commission members not seeking re-election

IMLAY CITY — There will be a contested race for positions on the Imlay City commission this fall, following certification of the candidates.

Four seats on the commission are up this year, with two commission members, Joe DeLuca and Al Ramirez, choosing not to seek re-election.

Ramirez has been a longtime member of the commission who was not afraid to express his opinion, even if it was not in line with what administration or the commission felt.

Two other current members, Barbara Yockey, who currently serves as Mayor, and Luke Stempien have terms expiring as well and have filed paperwork to seek re-election.

Imlay City Clerk Dawn Sawicki-Franz told the Tri-City Times, “The following candidates have had their City Commission petitions verified and their receipt of filings have been sent on the Lapeer County Clerk for the NOVEMBER 03, 2026 Election:

Those filing are Barbara Yockey, Luke Stempien, Mike Vermeesch, Paula J. Janda, Tara Marsh and Trent Schoonover.

The ballot language according to the City Charter reads: The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of four years and the candidate receiving the fourth highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of two years, all such terms shall commence at the first regular or special meeting following the certification of the election results.

Attorney General Dana Nessel has directed police officers to protect voters’ rights throughout the election process and enforce election laws effectively. Also featured are resources on reporting AI-generated election misinformation, election administrator information, and election security.

“Every eligible Michigan voter has the right to cast their ballot safely and securely,” said AG Nessel. “Despite recent attempts to muddy the waters ahead of this election, Michigan’s voting rules haven’t changed since 2024. To help residents cut through the noise and stay informed about early voting periods, mail-in ballots, and state election laws, my office has put together this election protection webpage. We remain committed to safeguarding the right to vote and holding accountable those who try to intimidate voters or interfere with our electoral process.”

In other Clerk’s Office news, Sawicki-Franz said the front office has a new employee that recently was hired and has hit the ground running.

“The new Imlay City Deputy Clerk/Utility Biller’s name is Janet Pauli and she comes to the city with a great deal of office experience and is currently learning the election process and the state required trainings for elections. She is also getting familiar with the city’s Utility Billing Program which includes water, sewer and garbage for our city residents. This is the only recent personnel change within the City of Imlay City offices.”

The Tri-City Times will be running election articles detailing each candidate and what their platform is, in the coming weeks.