Several candidates seeking Commissioner seats

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will see at least two new faces starting in 2017, as commissioners Robin Baker and Rick Shaffer have decided to not seek re-election.
White Pigeon’s Dan Czajkowski, 60, is running unopposed and will replace Baker to the two-year term as District 4 representative.
Four contestants are competing to replace Shaffer as commissioner of District 3. They are: Dennis Allen, 60, and Heather Bright, 45, both of Centreville, and John Hyden, 70, of Lockport Township. Florence Township’s Tim Carls, 55, is running as a Democrat and in November will face the winner of the August primary.
Board chairman Allen Balog, 60, of Fabius Township, is being challenged by 26-year-old Cody Sharpe of Three Rivers as representative of District 1.
Incumbent Don Eaton, 55, a Burr Oak Township resident, will have to fend off Chad Behrends, 44, and Kathy Pangle, 62, both of Mendon, in order to serve another two years. Their contest is for District 2.
District 5 commissioner John Dobberteen, the dean of the five-person board, is running unopposed. A 57-year-old Sturgis resident, Dobberteen represents the city of Sturgis and Fawn River Township.