URGENT CALL FOR CANDIDATES
Run for Office – “If it is to Be, It is Up to Me!” --- FILE NOW!
No one needs to tell you that our democracy is on the line. At the local level, this can look like electing law-breakers to office, efforts to defund the health department, diverting public school funds to religious schools, eliminating of separation of church and state, eliminating of environmental and zoning regulations or the disregarding facts in decision-making.
You can stand on the sidelines hoping that someone else will do something or you can make a difference. Run for local office!
Democrats who run for local office will receive a campaign contribution from the Antrim County Democratic Party (certain requirements apply, amount to be determined). We will help you run for office. You will have a team behind you all the way.
The deadline to file for office is April 21, 2026 - just a few days away.
Here are the local offices that we are seeking candidates for:
• State Rep for the 105th District
ECHO TOWNSHIP
Treasurer Partial Term 12/31/2028
Trustee Partial Term 12/31/2028
HELENA TOWNSHIP
Clerk Partial Term 12/31/2028
JORDAN TOWNSHIP
Clerk Partial Term 12/31/2028
Treasurer Partial Term 12/31/2028
VILLAGE OF BELLAIRE
President 2 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
VILLAGE OF CENTRAL LAKE
President 2 Year Term
Trustee Partial Term 12/31/2028
Trustee 4 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
VILLAGE OF ELK RAPIDS
President 2 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
VILLAGE OF ELLSWORTH
President 2 Year Term
Treasurer 2 Year Term
Clerk 2 Year Term
Trustee Partial Term Expires 2028
Trustee 4 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
VILLAGE OF MANCELONA
President 2 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
Trustee 4 Year Term
Need more information?
Meet Mitch Distin - a Democratic candidate who is running for office in Antrim County.
Mitch lives in north Antrim County and has registered to run for Michigan State House Rep for the 104th District. He’s new to politics, and has worked hard on a number of recent local issues. He has given us permission to share his introductory statement:
“We’re excited to announce that Mitchell Ryan Distin, PhD, has decided to run as a Democratic candidate for the 104th State Representative District! Dr. Distin is an evolutionary biologist and philosopher by training, receiving his PhD from the Universidad de Valencia in Spain with an International Mention from the University of Cambridge. He is the intellectual heir to Elinor Ostrom’s Nobel-winning research and mentored under the tutelage of top scientist David Sloan Wilson at the nonprofit Prosocial World, before moving back home to Michigan and starting his own environmental nonprofit The New People Foundation.
His conservation efforts were instrumental in stopping the Banks Township Gravel Mine, which saved the Elk River Chain of Lakes, and he’s been leading statewide efforts against Big Tech and data centers. He currently writes for the Northern Express and is the author of several books (mostly academic), including his first trade book “Common Enemy: The Falsity of the Left-Right Divide in America”, which he intends to distribute (for free) to voters in the 104th district. His politics attempt to bridge the political divide between the left and the right, redefine political identity boundaries toward the 99% vs. the 1%, and reinvesting in local communities rather than higher-level institutions of governance.
Dr. Distin will also host a fun Adult Spelling Bee, accompanied by a small lecture, at Short’s Pull barn in Elk Rapids, Thursday April 23rd from 6-8pm. Facebook link can be found here.
Contact your township clerk, Antrim County Clerk’s office or one of the incumbents. Or reach out to Mitch Treadwell. Mitch is a Democrat on the Traverse City Council. Contact him by phone at 231-922-4915. Leave a message and he will call you back.
The Antrim County Democratic Party exists for the purpose of winning elections. We can’t win if we don’t have candidates. Not a single Democrat has filed for any local office so far (with the exception of the 104th House District) and the deadline is April 21. As of this writing, no one has filed for most of these offices yet. So, head on in to the Township or County Clerk’s office and file for one of these offices today (during business hours of course).
Most of these positions are well-compensated for the amount of work required. File before the April 21 deadline.
Click the button for the affidavit to file:
CAN’T RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE? You can still help…
We understand. It is not for everyone. So, here are a few alternatives:
Contribute to our campaign to raise $5,000 for the fund that we use to support candidates and run ads. We are aiming for 50 donors to each give at least $100 to fund our pledge to support Antrim candidates:
Become a Precinct Delegate. As a Precinct Delegate, you are committing to 10 hours of effort (whenever convenient for you) to reach out to Democratic neighbors to give them information about the election, particularly local candidates whom we support. We give you the training and the contact information for people we believe are likely to support Democrats within your neighbor. The link to the Affidavit of Identity in order to appear on the August 4 Primary ballot as a Democratic Precinct Delegate candidate is below.
No one will be running against you, so as long as you vote for yourself, you will be elected! The form must be notarized and submitted to the County Clerk before May 5, 4 pm. For help in completing the form or for questions, contact Myrna Holland at 231-631-0125.
Volunteer. You can write postcards, make phone calls, send texts, attend rallies. There is something for everyone. Contact Veronica Welter for more details Vlonsway@hotmail.com or 989-213-5193.
Most of these positions are well-compensated for the amount of work required.
File before the April 21 deadline.
CALENDAR OF REGULAR EVENTS
Antrim Dems are gathering
JOIN US!
PINTS AND POLITICS - A great place to meet others!
It occurs on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, alternating between Shorts Brewery in Bellaire (odd months), and Shorts Pull Barn in Elk Rapids (even months).
COME JOIN US IN APRIL!
WHEN: Tuesday, April 21
WHERE: Shorts Pull Barn in Elk Rapids
TIME: 4:00 pm for happy hour prices! Pints & Politics at 4:30…
REMINDER - You can always check the Antrim Dems Facebook page for dates and event information.
ANTRIM DEMS WOMEN’S WEEKLY COFFEE
WHEN: Every Wednesday, 10 am
WHERE: Art and Connection, 965 Green Street, Elk Rapids
ANTRIM DEMS COFFEE FOR ALL IN BELLAIRE
WHEN: Every Tuesday, 10 am
WHERE: M-88 Morning Grind, 614 E Cayuga.
ANTRIM DEMS MEN’S COFFEE
WHEN: Every Thursday, 11 am
WHERE: Art and Connection, 965 Green Street, Elk Rapids.
ANTRIM DEMS MONTHLY MEETING BY ZOOM
WHEN: 3RD Thursday OF EACH MONTH
THIS MONTH: APRIL 23 6:30 PM
Click the button below for the link to the meeting.
Meeting ID: 839 0852 0516
Passcode: 448799
REMINDER - Membership lasts one year and then you need to re-up.
ANTRIM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
We would love to have more people attending Antrim County Board of Commissioners meetings.
Meetings are held the 1st Tuesday of the month at 10:00 AM and the 3rd Thursday at 6:30 PM. All meetings are held in the Commission Chambers at the County Building in Bellaire.
The next meeting is April 16 at 6:30 PM. Meetings are held in the Board of Commissioners room at the Antrim County Building, 203 E. Cayuga Street, Bellaire.
Meetings are live-streamed on the County’s Facebook page. Open to the public.
Visit the County Commission Website
by clicking the button below
RECAP
NO KINGS RALLY HELD ON MARCH 28 WAS REPORTED TO BE THE LARGEST RALLY IN U.S. HISTORY, WITH SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 8 TO 9 MILLION PEOPLE PARTICIPATING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
In Elk Rapids and Bellaire, Antrim County held two of the more than 3,300 rallies across the country. Total attendance at the rallies was estimated at about 8 million. The October No Kings Rally wasa estimated at 6 million,. Thanks to everyone who attended on that brisk but sunny day.
Let’s Unseat Jack Bergman!
In March and April: Great Opportunities to Meet Candidates Running for the 1st Congressional District/US Congress.
There are several people running to defeat Bergman. Get to know them and their viewpoints.
Primary elections will be held Tuesday, August 4th.
The candidates visited Antrim County in the last few weeks and Antrim County residents showed up to hear them! Both events were well attended.
On March 23, “Good Trouble-ers” held a meet and greet for Callie Barr in Elk Rapids.
Callie addressed a packed Elk Rapids Town Hall introducing herself and describing her goals. Here is her youtube video:
Then…
On April 2, Antrim Action sponsored a nonpartisan congressional candidate forum in Bellaire. Traverse City had the same forum and taped it. Participants are: KYLE BLOOMQUIST (D), ZEBULON FEATHERLEY ((), JUSTIN MICHAL (R ) , AND WAYNE STILES (D). You can listen to the forum here. The video/audio has a long ‘entry’ and you may need to fast forward:
KEEPING UP WITH ANTRIM COUNTY ELECTIONS
The filing deadline for most positions (other than Precinct Delegate) is April 21, 2026. As of right now, no candidate has filed for most of the seats and not one single Democrat has filed. Voters want a choice and Democrats need to be represented. Run for office! Check out the list here:
MAY 5 ELECTION
Did you know that many of the villages and townships have millage proposals before voters on May 5? Click to check out what is on the May 5 ballot here:
MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE COMING
Voters in Antrim County will go to the polls for primaries on August 4, 2026, and Midterms on November 3, 2026.
Here is the Secretary of State’s list of all state and judicial races:
JOIN OR RENEW YOUR
2026 MEMBERSHIP
Membership is on a calendar year basis. So, it’s time to renew your membership! Click HERE it’s so easy!
We also need your donation. In 2025, we spent $9,495 on advertising in the 3 papers. Our advertising focused on how Republican policies are hurting Antrim County citizens, on how Jack Bergman is complicit in the shenanigans in Washington, and how Democrats have a path forward that focuses on bread and butter issues for the average person.
In 2026, we will expand our efforts, especially in social media, to unseat flawed local politicians and increase the vote for Democrats at all levels.
Without your help, none of this can happen!
If you have already renewed your membership, you can make an additional donation HERE
If you prefer, you can mail your check to Antrim Conty Dems to:
ACDP
P.O. Box 331
Elk Rapids, MI 49629
Need to join for the first time?
You can join as :
• Voting in Antrim County
• Joining Antrim Dems but don’t vote in this county
• Want to support Antrim Dems but don’t want to join.
PRECINCT DELEGATES
Becoming a candidate is a big commitment. But becoming a Precinct Delegate is a very small commitment. It means you are willing to commit a total of 10 hours between now and Election Day to helping get Dems elected. It might be sending text messages, making phone calls, writing postcards or knocking doors. You decide what you are going to do and when to do it. Do it with a friend or family member or perhaps your dog. Just do it.
Call Myrna Holland to find out more. 231-631-0125.
Here is the form that needs to be completed, notarized and filed with the County Clerk. Do not sign until the notary can witness your signature. Forms can be notarized at the Clerk’s office:
It is highly recommended that you review your Affidavit with Myrna for completeness.
PRECINCT DELEGATES MUST SIGN UP BY MAY 5.
Getting elected is easy. As long as you vote for yourself, you will be elected (since it is unlikely anyone will be running against you.)
Here is a list of current Dems who have signed up so far to be Precinct Delegates:
We are allotted 64 delegates in Antrim County. There are a set number in each precinct.
As a delegate, you will not be voted out. You will not be treated poorly in the community. You do not have to sign your life away. It takes just a bit of time between August and November.
If you count up time at coffees, at Pints & Politics, you will be spending fewer hours making postcards and calls than you do at the Coffees and Pints and Politics. Please consider being a Delegate!
DEMOCRACY is NOT a spectator sport and we should all be doing something
As David Orr said, “Hope is a verb with its shirt sleeves rolled up.” Action reduces anxiety.
THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION, THIS TIME ---2026--requires action from us all.
IF YOU EVER WANTED TO GET INVOLVED, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!
KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE
OVER OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
Concerning County Clerk – Victoria Bishop
With the level of corruption in Washington today, it might be easy to overlook the criminality that is going on in our own County. It is hard to think of a local politician who comes close to Victoria Bishop, our County Clerk, when it comes to being morally bankrupt.
While Bishop has almost 3 more years to serve as Clerk, it is important for all of us to be aware of her misdeeds and to keep a close eye on how she performs her duties as Clerk.
Top 10 Reasons Victoria Bishop is Unqualified to be County Clerk
1. Was officially reprimanded for filing false campaign finance report. Initially, she filed a campaign finance report claiming to have received campaign loans from her husband when she was running for Clerk. Later she claimed she gave the money to her own campaign. Where did the money really come from?
2. Illegally accepted $10,000 in cash donations in excess of $20 limit. She testified under oath that she gave her campaign $10,000 in cash that she had laying around the house. Campaign finance law in Michigan requires all contributions over $20 to be made by check, credit card or debit card. She seemed totally unaware of the law she is expected to be the expert on locally.
3. Doesn’t know basic campaign finance laws. She had no idea that she could only accept $20 cash. Her campaign finance reports were poorly prepared and incomplete. She seemed totally unaware of the law she is expected to be the expert on locally.
4. Failed to file tax returns for more than 5 years. In both her sworn testimony and her husband’s, they admitted not filing returns for as far back as they could remember. Since she owns a business (a radio station), she is legally compelled to file.
5. Comingled personal and business finances. She filed with the Court copies of her business bank statements. They showed both she and her husband making expenditures from the account for personal items such as liquor, nail salons, gas, and groceries.
6. Failed to keep required campaign finance records. When asked for copies of checks and receipts for expenditures, she indicated that she did not keep them.
7. Failed to keep required business records. She claimed to owe no taxes but kept no business records to show income or expenses. Her bank statements showed numerous deposits that appear to be from advertisers.
8. Likely failed to file proper Form 1099 for independent contractors. She claimed to employ two individuals as engineers for the radio station but no Form 1099’s were presented in the court proceedings.
9. Despite having an accounting degree, doesn’t seem to understand basic accounting requirements. She kept no records or income or expenses and filed no tax returns.
10. Was found in Contempt of Court by Federal Judge. She was repeatedly served with summons to appear in Court and present documents. The judge became so frustrated that she found her in Contempt of Court.
And that doesn’t even begin to cover the fact that she lives in an expensive golf course home with her husband, Trucker Randy, who is attempting to claim financial bankruptcy to avoid paying damages in a defamation suit from Moran Ironworks of Cheyboygan.
With a record such as hers, we can’t just hope she does a good job as Clerk. We need to attend meetings and when necessary, file Freedom of Information Act requests to stay aware of her conduct in office.
Just this past week, we had to notify Clerk Bishop that she calculated the allocation of Precinct Delegates incorrectly and not in compliance with Michigan law.
Please help us keep an eye on our local elected officials to assure we are getting the representation we are entitled to.
Bellaire Dam
As we go to press, the water at the Bellaire Dam is approaching flood stage for those downriver. We are family. If any affected families need assistance, please contact Veronica at 989-213-5193. We are here to help.
• STAY UP TO DATE WITH ANTRIM DEMS •
AND ALSO VISIT TRAVERSE INDIVISIBLE FOR LOCAL UPDATES:
Dear ACDP Faithful,
In case you haven’t yet heard, the Antrim County Democratic Party Media/Communications Team has been hard at work trying to get the word out about news and events affecting us all.
We are embarking on a some new directions we think will bring us forward into this new modern social era that will help us to reach a wider audience and encourage more engaged participation.
Our facebook page is seeing more activity and newer followers than ever before. If you havent visited, you can click through to www.facebook.com/antrimcountydemocraticparty and join in the conversation.
We have recently begun posting to Instagram, and you can follow and join in the conversation there as well. Find us here: @antrimcountydems
We are also refurbishing our website presence by utilizing the Substack platform. All the usual information will be found there in this exciting new format that is easy to follow and navigate. We will also be adding some features not found on our old site, so stay tuned and visit often! Even this bi-monthly newsletter is produced through Substack. You’ll receive it in your email inbox as usual, but it will also be available to access on the website.
Substack is also a great place to find world news and featured writers who are following the issues of the day. We will offer up some recommended reading and you can search the platform at will.
Substack is free to access, free to subscribe, and the mobile app is free to download and use.
Let us know if you have any questions!
Antrim County Democratic Party/Michigan
Chairperson: Veronica Welter
Website: antrimdems.substack.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AntrimCountyDemocraticParty/
Volume #5. ANTRIM DEMS NEWSLETTER, WRITTEN AND ASSEMBLED BY ALLEN WOLF, JIM BLACK, AND SALLIE FOLEY. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS CAN BE DIRECTED TO SFOLEY@ANTRIMDEMS.COM