The first meeting of the new year was also the last for Belvidere Township’s longtime supervisor and clerk.
Supervisor John Anderson and Clerk Sheila Smith both unexpectedly announced their resignations during Wednesday morning’s meeting.
recall election
Belvidere Township supervisor and clerk resign
Board votes to pay supervisor $4,000 in exchange for his resignation
4 candidates file to run in Belvidere, Cato township recalls
Candidates will take on incumbents in May electionFour candidates have filed to run against four incumbents in two recall elections in May in Belvidere and Cato townships.
Belvidere Township Supervisor John Anderson, a Republican, is facing a recall effort initiated by township resident Judith Spring after Anderson and his fellow township board members voted in April 2022 to approve a wind energy ordinance in that township.
Recall signatures certified for township officials
The Montcalm County Clerk’s Office on Monday certified recall signatures against four officials in two townships.
A total of 227 elector signatures were needed to initiate a recall against Belvidere Township Supervisor John Anderson and 358 signatures were certified as valid.
Benko elected, Welder recalled from Sidney Township Board
The leader of a group “advocating against the irresponsible and invasive placement of industrial wind turbines and solar arrays in Montcalm County” was elected to the Sidney Township Board on Tuesday, ousting a trustee who supports a proposed wind farm and who voted against the township’s wind energy ordinance.
Erik Benko received 389 votes in Tuesday’s recall election compared to incumbent Trustee Jed Welder who received 196 votes — a 63% to 32% margin. Sidney Township saw a 32% voter turnout — larger than the local 2020 presidential primary election voter turnout, according to the Montcalm County Clerk’s Office.
First candidate files to run in Sidney Township recall election
The first candidate has filed to run against a Sidney Township Board trustee in May’s recall election.
Scott Giddings of Sidney Township filed with the Montcalm County Clerk’s Office on Wednesday, running under “no party affiliation” against current Trustee Jed Welder, who will automatically appear on the May 3 ballot as a Republican.
