Six File for Four Spots on Fenton Council, Including Mayor's Seat

In the Nov. 8 Fenton City Council election, Councilman Tim Faricy will oppose longtime Mayor Sue Osborn.

Osborn was appointed to council in 1985 and has been mayor since 1999, the city website states. Before that, she was on the planning commission from 1978 to 1985. Osborn has lived in Fenton since 1976.

The mayor's seat is for two years.

In addition, three of the six council member seats are up for election in November. These seats are for four years.

A representative for the Genesee County Election Division said four candidates have filed for the three Fenton council seats. They are retired , incumbent Councilwoman Cheryl King, former Genesee County Commissioner Pat Lockwood and Fenton Downtown Development Authority member Michael Piacentini.

King is serving her fourth term on council. She became involved with the city as a member of the Beautification Commission, where she started the annual Shiawassee River Clean-Up in 1988.

Lockwood has served as Emerald Ash Borer Policy Director and acting Michigan Racing Commission director, in addition to serving as Fenton's mayor for several years.

The deadline to file as a candidate with his or her name on the ballot was Tuesday. Candidates have until two Fridays before the Nov. 8 election to file as write-ins, the county election division representative said.

A change in Michigan election law moved the deadline to file with one's name on the ballot from late September, to Tuesday, Aug. 16. The previous deadline was from Fenton's city charter, over which the new state law takes precedence.

Mayor Pro Tem John Rauch, an incumbent council member, has not filed for re-election.