Huron County to Review Lake Township Board Recall Petitions
The Huron County Election Commission scheduled a public clarity and factuality hearing on July 7, 2026, to review revised recall petitions targeting four Lake Township board officials. The proceedings aim to verify if the submitted language provides voters with sufficient transparency regarding the specific allegations.
Key Highlights
- The Huron County Election Commission will evaluate eight revised and new recall petitions during a public hearing on July 7, 2026.
- The petitions target Lake Township Supervisor Valerie McCallum, Clerk Lisa Clinton, Treasurer Nicole Collins, and Trustee Dale Hartsell.
- Allegations include Open Meetings Act violations, refusals to host a town hall meeting, and approving a 10.11% board salary increase.
- One prior petition against Supervisor McCallum was already approved during a June 24 hearing, subject to a 10-day judicial appeal window.
The county election commission will convene on July 7, 2026, to conduct a formal clarity and factuality review regarding modified petitions aimed at unseating four members of the Lake Township administration.
The scheduled hearing is open to citizens and will commence at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, within the confines of the Huron County District Courtroom.
The regulatory body will utilize the session to assess if the text within the petitions maintains the required level of factual precision and transparency for the electorate. The reviewing panel comprises Probate Judge Julienne M. Ferris, County Clerk Lori Neal, and County Treasurer Sheryl L. Jahn.
Should the panel validate the petition text, local organizers can legally initiate the collection of endorsements from registered township voters.
Conversely, a rejection of the phrasing allows the petitioner to either contest the determination in the 52nd Circuit Court of Huron County or tender newly adjusted language.
Lake Township resident Julie Mozdzen submitted eight distinct recall filings on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The documents target Supervisor Valerie McCallum, Clerk Lisa Clinton, Treasurer Nicole Collins, and Trustee Dale Hartsell, citing Open Meetings Act infractions, town hall scheduling denials, and a 10% salary bump.
The filing distribution includes one petition leveled at Hartsell, two separate filings targeting McCallum, two against Clinton, and three focused on Collins, culminating in eight active petitions.
Mozdzen previously introduced six recall documents against the identical group of officials, though the commission validated just one during a June 24 assembly. That authorized document named McCallum for neglecting to uphold an open public comment timeline, leaving her 10 days to appeal to the Circuit Court.
Following the initial outcomes, Mozdzen altered and resubmitted the five dismissed petitions while generating three entirely fresh filings against McCallum, Clinton, and Collins.
The precise text of the newly introduced petitions outlines the following grievances:
1. Dale Hartsell β Trustee
“We, the undersigned, registered and qualified voters of the Township of Lake Township, in the County of Huron and State of Michigan, petition for the calling of an election to recall Dale Hartsell, from the office of Trustee, for the following reason(s):
“On May 21, 2026, Township Trustee Dale Hartsell interfered with the designated public comment period of the Board of Trustees meeting by interrupting a citizen during their allotted time in violation of the Open Meetings Act.”
2. Valerie McCallum β Supervisor
“On June 18, 2026, Lake Township Supervisor Valerie McCallum refused to hold a Town Hall meeting.”
3. Valerie McCallum β Supervisor (second petition)
“On March 17, 2025, Lake Township Supervisor Valerie McCallum voted to approve a township budget that included salary increases from $21,797 to $24,000 a 10.11% raise, for Nicole Collins, Treasurer, and Lisa Clinton, Clerk.”
4. Lisa Clinton β Clerk
“On June 18, 2026, Lake Township Clerk Lisa Clinton refused to hold a Town Hall meeting.”
5. Lisa Clinton β Clerk (second petition)
“On March 17, 2025, Lake Township Clerk Lisa Clinton voted to approve a township budget that included a salary increase from $21,797 to $24,000 a 10.11% raise, for Township Clerk.”
6. Nicole Collins β Treasurer
“On June 18, 2026, Lake Township Treasurer Nicole Collins refused to hold a Town Hall meeting.”
7. Nicole Collins β Treasurer (second petition)
“On March 17, 2025, Lake Township Treasurer Nicole Collins voted to approve a township budget that included a salary increase from $21,797 to $24,000 a 10.11% raise, for Township Treasurer.”
8. Nicole Collins β Treasurer (third petition)
“On May 21, 2026, Township Treasurer Nicole Collins vacated her seat and exited the Board of Trustees meetings during public comment portion of the agenda.”
Future Outlook
The upcoming July 7, 2026 hearing represents a critical threshold for local governance in Lake Township. If the Huron County Election Commission clears the language across the eight revised petitions, a intensive signature-gathering campaign will launch within the municipality. Organizers must secure a government-mandated quota of valid signatures from registered local voters within a specific timeframe to successfully force a recall election onto a future ballot.
Meanwhile, Supervisor McCallumβs response to her single approved petition from the June 24 hearing will play out concurrently in the 52nd Circuit Court if she exercises her 10-day right to appeal. Should the court uphold that initial petition and the commission approve the new batches, the township faces the prospect of a sweeping special election that could alter the entire composition of its current five-member Board of Trustees.
FAQs
When and where will the Huron County Election Commission meet?
The commission is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in the Huron County District Courtroom for a public clarity and factuality hearing.
Which Lake Township board members are facing recall petitions?
The four board members targeted by the recall petitions are Supervisor Valerie McCallum, Clerk Lisa Clinton, Treasurer Nicole Collins, and Trustee Dale Hartsell.
What are the main allegations listed in the recall petitions?
The petitions allege violations of the Open Meetings Act, formal refusals to schedule a requested town hall meeting, and the approval of a 10.11% salary raise for certain board positions.
What happens if the election commission rejects the petition language?
If the commission determines the language is not clear or factual, the petitioner has the option to appeal the decision in Huron County’s 52nd Circuit Court or submit newly revised language for another review.
