Watershed Voice full and final election preview

Next Tuesday, November 4, is Election Day in Michigan. There are no national or statewide measures, but that doesn’t mean the decisions made on Election Day won’t have impact. Local elections often have an understated influence, deciding who will represent residents most directly in their own city halls rather than in Lansing or Washington.

For those who have not yet turned in absentee ballots — you have until Monday to register for one at your clerk’s office — or are planning to vote in-person on Election Day, Watershed Voice has compiled the following guide to races appearing on local ballots to provide readers with information about who is running.

Here is the full November 2025 Watershed Voice election preview, including all received questionnaire responses. Each candidate had two weeks to return their completed questionnaire, which we then published in the order received. We sent questionnaires to all candidates in contested races and have posted all responses individually. Those responses are linked here.

Questionnaires are organized by county and election. 

St. Joseph County

There is one countywide millage proposal in St. Joseph County: a renewal of the county’s 911 Central Dispatch millage. The proposal asks voters to renew a 0.9-mill property tax for five years, from January 2026 through December 2030, to fund county emergency communication services. The measure represents a decrease from the current rate, which expires at the end of 2025, and would generate $0.90 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, according to St. Joseph County Central Dispatch.

Three Rivers Mayor

There are three candidates in the race for Three Rivers mayor.

Tom Lowry, the incumbent, has served as mayor for 26 years and owns Lowry’s Bookstore in downtown Three Rivers and Sturgis. “I believe that I have always tried to do what is best for the common good,” Lowry stated in his questionnaire.

Angel Johnston, a Three Rivers homeowner who holds a master’s degree in public administration from Western Michigan University, has run a campaign to “fight for clean water in every home, open communication from City Hall, and leadership that listens,” according to her campaign Facebook page.

Nathan Walden, a lifelong Three Rivers resident, describes his campaign as one of “grit, heart, us – the Party of Three Rivers. No party BS; fight for the erased, build unbreakable together,” according to his questionnaire.

Cass County

Dowagiac Mayor

There are two candidates for Dowagiac mayor.

Donald Lyons, the incumbent of 27 years — currently the longest-serving mayor in Dowagiac’s history and the third longest-serving mayor in Michigan, according to his website — is running on a platform of “ensuring Dowagiac remains a welcoming community so that the next generation of entrepreneurs and creative people want to build their lives here,” according to his campaign website. (Did not complete Watershed Voice questionnaire.)

Patrick Bakeman, who was born and raised in Dowagiac, graduated from Lansing Barber College in 1999 and worked in the Detroit suburbs before returning to Dowagiac with his wife, Ravan, to purchase their business, Bakeman Barbers. His questionnaire states, “After serving on City Council for the past eight years, I believe our community is ready for a new chapter — one that builds on our progress while embracing fresh ideas and new leadership.”

Dowagiac Third Ward Councilmember

There are two candidates for Dowagiac’s Third Ward council seat.

Breanna Bundy was appointed to the position in July 2025 and serves as the technical incumbent. She moved to Dowagiac in 2013 and holds an associate degree in social sciences from Southwestern Michigan College and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Ferris State University. She describes her decision to run as a story of “love” and believes that with “vision and teamwork, there’s no limit to what a community can achieve,” according to her questionnaire.

Justin Doyle moved to the city as a teenager and attended Dowagiac Union High School and Southwestern Michigan College. As a young adult, Doyle worked as a manager at the Dowagiac McDonald’s and Mennel Milling. His questionnaire states he’s running because he wants to “help bring the people of Dowagiac and our city leadership closer together. Everyone should feel comfortable speaking up, asking questions, and knowing their voice matters.”

Kalamazoo County

Kalamazoo Mayor

There are three candidates for Kalamazoo mayor.

David Anderson, the incumbent, has served on the commission since 2005. A graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and Western Michigan University (B.B.A. in accountancy), he has been a city resident for 40 years. Anderson advocates for affordable housing, strong neighborhoods, and financial stability. (Did not complete Watershed Voice questionnaire.)

Chris Glasser was born and raised in Kalamazoo and earned a degree in criminal justice from Western Michigan University. He said he is running because he’s frustrated with politics and wants to restore trust in government. His questionnaire states, “I grew up being disappointed in our elected officials and understand the frustrations that people have with government at all levels. I want to be the public servant that people deserve — someone that will listen to their concerns, accept criticism, and act with integrity.”

Robert E. Gray, a lifelong Kalamazoo resident, has taught math and language arts at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission and the State Hospital, working with some of the community’s most vulnerable residents. Gray said his main issue is addressing gun violence. (Did not complete Watershed Voice questionnaire.)

Kalamazoo City Commissioner

There are ten candidates for Kalamazoo City Commission. Voters will select their top three.

Stephanie D. Hoffman, the lone incumbent up for reelection this year, said she will continue to fight against gun violence as a top priority. Earlier this year, multiple bullets struck her home during crossfire. Hoffman also emphasized her intent to focus on affordable housing solutions and increased investment to address climate and environmental injustice. “We have the solutions and must implement them without egos or agendas getting in the way,” she stated. (Did not complete Watershed Voice questionnaire.)

Drew Duncan, business solutions coordinator at the W.E. Upjohn Institute/Michigan Works! Southwest, has lived in the area for three years. He said he wants to “make Kalamazoo a city where working families can afford to live, feel safe, and see real opportunity. I want City Hall to move faster on housing, public safety, and neighborhood investment, and to partner better with employers, nonprofits, and residents,” according to his questionnaire.

Jess Thompson, owner of Bee Joyful Shop and executive director of the Kalamazoo Downtown Development Authority, said she wants to “bring that same hands-on leadership, transparency, and teamwork to the City Commission — to continue listening, learning, and working alongside our neighborhoods to build a stronger, more connected Kalamazoo,” according to her questionnaire.

Thomas Durlach, a Kalamazoo resident of 32 years, identifies as an independent and has said he wants to focus on economic growth, homelessness, public safety, local businesses, and community-centered housing and spaces. (Did not complete Watershed Voice questionnaire.)

Jacqueline Slaby, neighborhood activator for the City of Kalamazoo, works with all 22 neighborhoods on planning and implementation of community-led improvements. She holds a bachelor’s degree in growth and structure of cities from Bryn Mawr College and a master’s in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania. (Did not complete Watershed Voice questionnaire.)

Keshia Dickason, a Kalamazoo County Road Commissioner, business owner, and author, is emphasizing “Housing, Environment, and Redevelopment (H.E.R.)” — focusing on affordable and senior housing, clean and walkable neighborhoods, workforce development, and local job growth. (Did not complete Watershed Voice questionnaire.)

Sara L. Schlack, an attorney based in Kalamazoo, had no additional biographical or issue information publicly available. (Did not complete Watershed Voice questionnaire.)

Kizzy N. Bradford’s public platform information is limited, and no additional campaign or background details were available. (Did not complete Watershed Voice questionnaire.)

Solomon J. Carpenter’s publicly available background and campaign information remain limited. (Did not complete Watershed Voice questionnaire.)

Bernard Dervan III’s public information is minimal, and no campaign materials or policy positions were available. (Did not complete Watershed Voice questionnaire.)

Local elections shape everyday life — from housing and public safety to parks and infrastructure. Voters can find polling locations and ballot information at Michigan.gov/vote or through their county clerk’s office. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.