Helwig tapped to fill vacant BOC seat

BELLAIRE – A new face will be seated at the Antrim County Board of Commissioners’ table next month after the board approved Mancelona resident Jason Helwig to fill the District 8 post vacated by incumbent Scott Kruger.

The appointment was made during the board’s regular meeting on Thursday, Nov. 8 by a 6-2 margin, with Commissioners Dawn LaVanway and Melissa Zelenak opposing the measure.

However, Helwig’s appointment is only for a limited time, or maybe not.

The situation developed when Kruger ran unopposed for re-election and secured his seat in the August primary. But he resigned from the position on Thursday, Oct. 11. With no other names on the printed ballot, Kruger’s re-election to another two-year term was confirmed when he received the most votes in the Nov. 6 General Election.

Because Kruger’s resignation was in effect, it was up to the board to appoint an individual to finish out the balance of Kruger’s prior term which ends Jan. 1, 2019. If Kruger opts to not return for his newly elected seat (through a second formal resignation), the board has 30 days to decide if it will reappoint Helwig, appoint someone else, or hold a special election to fill the seat.

In the Nov. 6 General Election, Helwig received 41 write-in votes while fellow Mancelona area resident Dana O’Dell received 36 write-in votes. Both were on hand Nov. 8 to address Commissioners.

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