Guthrie’s write-in campaign will face name on ballot

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – A recent Michigan State University graduate has filed to run as a Democrat for the Meridian Township Clerk position, effectively delivering a death knell to incumbent Deborah Guthrie.

Angela Demas filed her paperwork to run for the post on Monday. She’s a December 2023 graduate of MSU and a 2020 graduate of Okemos High School.

Demas’ candidacy has not been qualified for the ballot by the Meridian Township Clerk’s Office as of Monday evening, Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum tells 6 News.

If Demas is qualified for the ballot, her candidacy is essentially an end for current Clerk Deborah Guthrie’s write-in candidacy. Guthrie was disqualified from the ballot last week after filing a “not accurate” affidavit of identity.

The affidavit certified, under penalty of perjury, that all of Guthrie’s campaign finance reports, fines, and fees had been filed and paid. Guthrie owed $175 in late filing fees to the Ingham County Clerk’s Office at the time she signed the affidavit.

On Thursday, Guthrie filed paperwork to run as a write-in candidate for the Democratic nomination for the Clerk’s post. As a write-in candidate, Guthrie has to get voters to write her name on their ballots to vote for her.

Guthrie posted on Facebook over the weekend that her name would appear on the ballot. She has since updated her post to reflect she is a write-in candidate.

“At the chief election official in Ingham County, I worry that her social media post may confuse voters,” Byrum tells 6 News of Guthrie’s weekend post.

At the time, she acknowledged, and longtime political consultant Mark Grebner agreed, that if a person’s name appears on the ballot it’s unlikely she could prevail.

“If somebody is to file between now and April 23rd as a Democratic candidate, which somebody can, what would I do then as a write-in candidate?” she told 6 News in an interview on April 11. “Because the opportunity to win as a write-in candidate is none. Looking at the numbers — and you’ve probably seen numbers of write-ins, I mean, it’s just not feasible.”

Guthrie beat former Democratic Clerk Brett Dreyfus in the 2020 primary and went on to election in November 2020.

In a text message, Dreyfus tells 6 News he is “strongly considering” filing to run for the Democratic nomination for Clerk this week. He served as a Democrat in the post for two terms before Guthrie ousted him.

He tells 6 News his decision will hinge on two things. Who else files to run for other Township board positions and the outcome of Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting?

Trustees are expected to convene a closed session to discuss a personnel matter. 6 News has learned that the matter will involve a performance evaluation of Township Manager Frank Walsh. The evaluation will also include the outcome of an investigation conducted by outside legal counsel into complaints against Walsh.

Board officials declined to comment on a 6 News investigation Monday that revealed Walsh used township resources to support his private consulting business.

All 7 positions on the Meridian Township Board are up for election in November. In August, voters will select nominees from the Republican and Democratic parties to face off in November.

The seven positions are four trustees, a supervisor, a treasurer, and a clerk. Both the treasurer and clerk positions are full-time posts. Both the clerk and treasurer are paid $78,276.57 a year. The supervisor is paid $23,545 a year and the four trustees are paid $12,117 a year.

Current Treasurer Phil Deschaine has filled as a Democrat for re-election to the full-time position. Kathy Ann Sundland has filed for re-election as a Trustee. Trustee Marna Wilson, who was appointed to fill a partial term in 2022, has filed to be retained as a Trustee as has Trustee Peter Trezise, who was appointed to fill a vacancy in January.

Democrats Roger Taylor and Joyce VanCoevering have also filed for election as trustees.

No Republicans have filed for any of the 7 positions as of Monday night. The filing deadline is April 23, 2024, at 4 p.m.

Township Trustee Scott Hendrickson withdrew his paperwork to retain a trustee position he was appointed to in 2022 and filed instead to seek election as Township Supervisor.

Current Supervisor Patricia Herring Jackson has not yet filed paperwork related to the upcoming election.

Hendrickson declined to disclose if Jackson was seeking election to the supervisor position.

“I have spoken with Supervisor Jackson regarding my intention to run for Supervisor of Meridian Township,” he tells 6 News by text. “I have the utmost respect for Supervisor Jackson, and I know that if the voters elect me as Township Supervisor later this year, I will have big shoes to fill.”

6 News has learned Jackson will not be at Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting and is not available to sign township documents.

Jackson was copied on an email to the Board on Monday. She did not respond.

Hendrickson did respond on behalf of the Board.

“If Supervisor Jackson wishes to share additional information that is her prerogative, but the Township Board has no comment on that at this time,” Hendrickson, who serves as Supervisor Pro Tem, wrote.

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