EBEN — Due to alleged plans to conduct unlawful interference with voter ballots in the upcoming Nov. 5 election, an Alger County township clerk and deputy clerk have been suspended indefinitely from all election duties.

This directive was handed down by Jonathan Brater, the director of elections of the Michigan Bureau of Elections, on Monday to Rock River Township Clerk Tom Schierkolk and Deputy Clerk David LaMere.

According to Brater’s letter, Schierkolk and LaMere intended to “deviate from the required procedure of placing tabulated ballots in secure, numerically sealed containers following the close of the polls and instead intend(ed) to conduct a hand count prior to the Alger County Canvass.”

Schierkolk admitted their intentions in a response letter to the Bureau of Elections last Friday. National newspapers such as The New York Times allege that Schierkolk — who is a pastor at Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Eben Junction — and LaMere are part of a pro-Donald Trump movement that harbors distrust of voting ballot machines.

“Accordingly, in order to ensure public trust and confidence in the integrity and security of elections and to ensure that elections in Rock River Township are conducted in accordance with the Michigan Election Law, I am directing you and the deputy clerk to refrain from administering any elections held in Rock River Township, including the upcoming November 5, 2024, election,” Brater wrote.

Election duties of the clerk and his deputy will be transferred to Rock River Deputy Treasurer Wilma Hill with the assistance of Au Train Township Clerk Mary Walter Johnson and any others designated by Hill until further notice.

“They have taken the choice to remove a duly sworn township clerk,” Schierkolk said. “They (the Bureau of Elections) is doing that without any constitutional (backing). The people are a higher authority than the (Bureau of Elections) and they told us ‘We want hand counts of ballots.'”

According to representatives from the Alger County Clerk’s Office, none of Schierkolk’s and LaMere’s other duties as clerk and deputy clerk will be affected.

There will also be no effect on either man’s eligibility to run in the Nov. 5 election. Schierkolk, the incumbent clerk, is running for his position again under no party affiliation against Republican Heather Marsh. LaMere is running under no party affiliation for Alger County sheriff against Republican Todd Brock.

At the end of Brater’s letter, he instructs the clerk and his deputy to provide Hill with immediate access to the required equipment. Due to their actions, Rock River Township may be billed for all costs incurred by the state, including staff time, for administering elections within the municipality. Failing to comply with this order is a criminal misdemeanor offense.

The Mining Journal was unable to reach LaMere for comment.