Saline Election Update: Educators Jumping Into School Board Race, Council Petitions Turned In

The local election is beginning to take shape.

Two former Saline Area Schools educators have jumped into the race for the Board of Education. Tom Frederick, who retired from Saline Area Schools, has filed to run for the four-year seat, according to county documents. Jennifer Miller, who left Saline Area Schools to work in Ann Arbor, has created a Facebook page to promote her candidacy. Brad Gerbe, an educator in Manchester Community Schools, has filed to run for the four-year seat.

Saline district voters will elect one candidate to run for a six-year term and two candidates for four-year terms.

Incumbent Paul Hynek, vice-president of the board, has filed for the six-year term. A record on the county website shows that Board President Heidi Pfannes has also filed to run for the six-year term, but at the recent board meeting Pfannes said there was a mix-up and she re-filed for the four-year term. The change is not yet reflected in documents on the county website.

At the city level, incumbent Brian Marl and challenger Christen Mitchell are known to be running for mayor. 

There are five candidates for three city council positions on the ballot so far, including incumbent Janet Dillon, Heidi McClelland, Dawn Krause, Brian Cassise and Jenn Harmount. Incumbent Dean Girbach is close to submitting his nominating petition. Kerstin Woodside has also pulled a nominating petition.

More News from Saline

• York Township Committee shares options for proposed trail York Township non-motorized pathway proposal drew support, concerns from residents at a meeting Jan. 9. The township is working to obtain grants, community support for phase 1A.
• Jupiter Energy, Invenergy Seek a Joint Meeting With Saline Township Board, Planning Commission Jupiter Energy, developer of the proposed battery storage facility and Invenergy, the solar energy developer, seek a joint meeting with the township board and planning commission..