(CENTREVILLE) – Nine people are seeking seven seats on the St. Joseph County Commission in the August 2 Primary Election.

All nine candidates have filed as Republicans to run in the Primary. Two of the seats on the Commission are being contested in the election.

Current Second District Commissioner and Commission Chairperson Kathy Pangle is being challenged by Rusty Baker. They will be running for the reconfigured Third District, which includes Mendon, Park and Leonidas Townships and a portion of Colon Township.

The other contested race is for the redesigned Fourth District seat. Luis Rosado and David Hayslip are running for a chance to represent Constantine, Mottville and White Pigeon Townships. Long time Commissioner Dan Czajkowski announced he would not be seeking re-election.

Former County Commissioner Rick Shaffer is running to represent the redesigned Second District, which would be made up of Florence and Lockport Townships along with a portion of Fabius Township and a portion of the City of Three Rivers.

Running to be the new Seventh District Commissioner is Terry Conklin. The Seventh District consists of Burr Oak and Fawn River Townships, along with a portions of Sturgis and Colon Townships and a portion of the City of Sturgis.

Incumbents Jared Hoffmaster, Dennis Allen and Ken Malone are running unopposed. Hoffmaster is seeking to represent the reconfigured First District, which will include Flowerfield Township, along with a section of Fabius Township and the City of Three Rivers.

Allen would represent the slightly changed Fifth District, would be made up of Nottawa and Sherman Townships, a part of Sturgis Township and a section of the City of Sturgis.

Malone is seeking to represent the newly created Sixth District. That would be made up of the majority of the City of Sturgis and a section of Sturgis Township.

The Commission is expanding from five to seven commissioners, beginning in 2023, based on information received from the 2020 Census.