Shugars, Olmsted win Republican primaries for Kalamazoo County treasurer, clerk

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo County voters have decided which Republicans are advancing to the November election in the races for Kalamazoo County clerk and treasurer.

Dale Shugars, 71, beat out Republican challenger Pamela Herbert in the race for treasurer. Shugars received 12,696 votes (74.5%) while Herbert received 4,277 votes (25.1%).

Kathleen Olmsted, 57, defeated Republican challenger Emily Crawford in the primary for Kalamazoo County clerk. Olmsted received 9,037 votes (60.2%) while Crawford received 5,902 votes (39.3%).

Olmsted will now face incumbent Democrat Clerk Meredith Place, 35, in the November election. Shugars will go against incumbent Democrat Treasurer Thomas Whitener, 38, in November.

Shugars has an extensive history in local and state politics. He has been a state senator, state representative, Kalamazoo County commissioner and Portage City councilmember. He has also owned his own CPA practice and served as executive vice president of two home builder associations, according to Vote 411.

If elected, Shugars said he’d prioritize safeguarding taxpayer’s money, investing money in safe, high yield, liquid investments and accounting for the county’s finances.

Whitener has been treasurer for four years after defeating former longtime treasurer Mary Balkema in 2020. Before becoming treasurer, he was a real estate professional for two years, according to Vote411.

If voted in to another term, Whitener said he wants to continue reduced tax foreclosures, safeguard and grow the tax dollars and provide opportunities for affordable housing through efforts in both the treasurer’s office and at the land bank.

Olmsted is self-employed, according to bio information provided to the League of Women Voters. She has a bachelor’s from Western Michigan University and has spent 25 years in mortgage servicing and management, nonprofit board leadership and is a business owner. If elected, Olmsted said her top priorities are better transparency, lowering or eliminating unnecessary fees where possible and auditing all election results and making them available to the public.

Before becoming clerk, Place was a Kalamazoo County Commissioner. If elected another four years, Place wants to continue collaborating with the city of Kalamazoo and township clerks on early voting, improve access to records and services online and raise awareness of services the clerk’s office offers.

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