These are some of the local offices that provide an opportunity to help shape local policies and improve your community. Candidates for these offices must be registered to vote in their district and some offices have additional requirements. You can learn more about specific requirements on the Michigan Secretary of State website.
State Level
The House of Representatives consists of 110 members who are elected by the qualified electors of districts having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents. Representatives are elected in even-numbered years to 2-year terms. Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures obtained through the federal decennial census. Michigan legislators are limited to a lifetime total of 12 years in office, following a 2022 constitutional amendment (Proposal 1). Lawmakers can serve these 12 years in any combination between the House (6 terms) and Senate (3 terms), a change from the previous, stricter limit of 14 years. Michigan legislators are limited to a lifetime total of 12 years in office, following a 2022 constitutional amendment (Proposal 1). Lawmakers can serve these 12 years in any combination between the House (6 terms) and Senate (3 terms), a change from the previous, stricter limit of 14 years. This is a paid position, full-time.
State Representative
State Senator
The Senate consists of 38 members who are elected by the qualified electors of districts having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents. Senators are elected at the same time as the governor and serve 4-year terms concurrent with the governor’s term of office. Michigan legislators are limited to a lifetime total of 12 years in office, following a 2022 constitutional amendment (Proposal 1). Lawmakers can serve these 12 years in any combination between the House (6 terms) and Senate (3 terms), a change from the previous, stricter limit of 14 years. Michigan legislators are limited to a lifetime total of 12 years in office, following a 2022 constitutional amendment (Proposal 1). Lawmakers can serve these 12 years in any combination between the House (6 terms) and Senate (3 terms), a change from the previous, stricter limit of 14 years.Terms for senators begin on January 1, following the November general election. This is a paid position, full-time.
City and Village Offices
Mayor
Mayors manage the operations of their city or town, often recommending legislative actions and agendas to the city council. Depending on the city’s structure, the Mayor’s responsibilities may include oversight of all departments, including police, fire, education, housing, and transportation; managing the city’s budget; presiding over city council meetings; vetoing laws, if allowed by the city charter; appearing as a spokesperson for the community; and proposing solutions to address city issues. The extent of this office usually depends on whether the city employs a city administrator to manage daily operations. This is usually a part-time, paid position.
Village President
In Michigan, the village president serves as the chief elected official and presiding officer of the village council, providing leadership in guiding the legislative and policy-making body of village government; responsibilities typically include chairing village council meetings, casting votes on ordinances and resolutions, working with council members to set policy and priorities, representing the village in intergovernmental and civic functions, and often serving as a key spokesperson for the community. Depending on the village charter or ordinance, the president may have additional executive authorities such as signing contracts, appointments to local boards and commissions, and working closely with the village clerk and treasurer on implementing council decisions and ensuring municipal compliance with state law. This is a paid, part-time position.
City Council Member
As the city’s legislative body, the City Council or Commission is responsible for the implementation of programs and services provided by the city, as well as hearing the concerns of local citizens. They decide on basic city policy and act as liaisons between the city and the general public. They also supervise administrative officers, make changes to local ordinances, set the city budget, and consider plans for future development in the city. This is a part-time, paid position.
Village Board
In Michigan, a village board of trustees serves as the legislative and policy-making body for village government, responsible for adopting ordinances, resolutions, and policies that guide village operations and services; overseeing the village budget and finances, including setting tax levies and appropriating funds; approving contracts, agreements, and expenditures; establishing village services and programs such as public safety, utilities, parks, and infrastructure; and appointing or confirming members to village boards and commissions as authorized by law. The board typically includes the village president and trustees, who meet regularly to conduct official business, hear citizen concerns, and work with the village clerk, treasurer, and appointed officials to ensure that statutory and local requirements are met. This is usually a part-time, paid position.
Treasurer/Village Treasurer
In Michigan, a treasurer—whether for a city, township, village, or county—is the chief financial officer responsible for managing public funds and safeguarding the community’s financial integrity, including duties such as collecting and disbursing taxes, managing cash and investments, maintaining financial records, preparing financial reports, supervising payroll and accounts payable/receivable, and ensuring compliance with state law and accounting standards; treasurers also oversee budget execution, grant administration, debt service, and banking relationships, and they work closely with other elected officials (such as clerks, supervisors, and finance committees) to support transparent fiscal policy and stewardship of public resources. This is usually a full-time, paid position.
Village Clerk
In Michigan, a village clerk serves as the chief administrative officer for the village’s governmental operations and is responsible for maintaining official records; preparing, preserving, and authenticating minutes of village council meetings; administering local elections and ensuring compliance with election law; issuing licenses and permits as required by ordinance or statute; managing financial records, accounts payable/receivable, and village correspondence; and serving as a point of contact for public information and record requests. The clerk also often acts as the village treasurer in smaller jurisdictions or works closely with the treasurer on budgeting, payroll, and financial reporting, and plays a central role in compliance with state reporting requirements, open meetings law, and records retention mandates. These duties are outlined in Michigan’s General Law Village Act and Home Rule Village Act, which establish the clerk’s statutory responsibilities and authority as an elected or appointed officer of village government. This is a part-time, paid position.
County Offices
County Commissioner
The County Commission is the governing body for the county government. Commissioners provide guidance to the county administration, establish local government policy, pass resolutions and ordinances, approve the budget, establish proper funding and policies for social welfare programs and county roads, set local tax rates, approve land use plans, and oversee county services. They also appoint people to county boards and commissions. County Commissioners serve four year terms. This is a part-time, paid position.
Road Commissioner
In Michigan, a county road commissioner (as a member of the county road commission board) serves on the governing body responsible for providing safe, efficient local roads and bridges by overseeing planning, construction, improvement, maintenance, and budgeting for the county’s road system; commissioners set policy, approve road projects and funding priorities, and work with professional staff (such as engineers and managers) to ensure that county roads are built and maintained in accordance with state law and local needs, often coordinating with townships, municipalities, and the Michigan Department of Transportation on projects and road standards. This is a part-time, paid position.
Township Board Member
In Michigan, a township board member (whether supervisor, clerk, treasurer, or trustee) serves as part of the legislative and governing body of township government with responsibility for adopting policies, ordinances, and resolutions that guide township operations, overseeing financial decisions and budgeting, and making decisions on services and programs provided by the township; as part of the board, members attend regular meetings, vote on matters affecting the community, and participate in decisions about contracts and township affairs, acting in a fiduciary role to manage township business in the public interest. Board composition and quorum requirements are established under Michigan law, with the board typically consisting of the supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustees, and members sharing equal voting power in governing matters. This is a part-time, paid position.
District Court Judge
In Michigan, a District Court judge serves as a trial judge in the state’s limited-jurisdiction trial courts, where they preside over a broad range of everyday legal matters including criminal misdemeanor cases, civil disputes (often involving claims up to $25,000), landlord-tenant issues, traffic and parking infractions, small claims, and initial hearings in felony cases such as arraignments and preliminary examinations; the judge applies the law to determine facts, issues rulings, sentences, and may transfer serious felony cases to the Circuit Court if there is probable cause. District Court judges also issue legal orders such as bail and bond decisions, handle procedural matters in court, and provide judicial oversight of court proceedings in their courtroom. This is a full-time, paid position.
Library Board Member
In Michigan, public library board members serve on the governing board of trustees for a public or district library and are responsible for setting policy and overseeing the library’s overall operations in accordance with state law and local bylaws; this includes adopting bylaws, rules, and regulations for library governance, controlling the expenditure of library funds and oversight of finances, appointing and evaluating the library director and necessary staff, and ensuring the library’s facilities and services meet community needs; trustees act in a policy-making and fiduciary capacity rather than managing day-to-day operations, This is a part-time, unpaid position.
Water District Board Member
In Michigan, members of a water management district board are appointed to oversee the administration and governance of a water management district established under state law, which generally involves planning and carrying out projects for flood control, drainage, and related water management needs across multiple counties. Board members must be resident property owners in the district and, once appointed, elect a chair, adopt procedural rules, and hire necessary staff to implement the district’s programs; they designate a treasurer who is bonded and responsible for district funds and ensure the annual audit of financial accounts. The board prepares and submits a tentative budget for maintenance and operation of district projects (including assessments against public corporations) and conducts public hearings on that budget, and it may also authorize contracts, acquisitions, and other actions necessary to carry out water management projects under the statutory framework. This is a part-time, paid position.
School Offices
School Board
In Michigan, a school board member serves on the legislative and governing body of a public school district with the authority to supervise and manage the schools and adopt rules and policies for the organization, government, instruction, and business of the district. These responsibilities include establishing strategic goals, overseeing finances, selecting curriculum and instructional resources, and hiring and evaluating the superintendent, who acts as the district’s chief executive and professional adviser to the board. The board also has the general charge of district operations, such as levying taxes, providing funds for school operations, managing property and facilities, and making contracts in accordance with state law. This is a part time unpaid position.
College Board
An elected Community College Trustee in Michigan acts like a member of a local Board of Directors, representing the public’s interest in how the college is run. Their primary job is governance, not management; they set the long-term vision, approve the annual budget, and decide on tuition rates and property tax levies. Most importantly, they are responsible for hiring and evaluating the College President, who handles the daily operations. As unpaid volunteers, they serve as a bridge between the community and the institution to ensure the college provides high-quality, affordable education that meets local workforce needs. This is usually a part-time, paid position.
Contact chair@jacksoncountydems.org for more information on running for office.
