Five vying for commission seats

Four vacant spots on city panel; all four incumbents seek re-election in Nov. 3 vote

Five candidates are vying for four open spots on the Alma city commission in the Nov. 3 general election.

All four incumbents whose terms are up, Mayorgregmapes, and commissioners Roger Allman, Larry Mott and Nick Piccolo, are seeking reelection, along with one newcomer, Daniel Wernick.

Wernick is an Alma native and Alma High Schools graduate. He and his wife, Andrea, own two local businesses, Wernick’s Remodeling and a hair salon, Studio Nine. The couple has two children.

Mapes was also born and raised in Alma and attended Alma High

School and Centralmichigan University. He was previously the owner of a downtown men’s clothing store and has worked for Isabella Bank for the past 15 years.

Mapes was first elected to the city commission in 2002, and has served as mayor for four years.

Allman is a U. S. Army veteran who has lived in Alma for 48 years. He once owned an ice cream shop in town and spent 25 years in the insurance business before retiring. He’s now a parttime school bus driver for Dean Transportation.

Allman, one of the founders of the Community Cafe, a weekly meal program at the Alma First Presbyerian Church, has been a member of the city commission for seven years.

Mott is another born and raised Alma resident who worked in the grocery business for 38 years. He also was a member of the Alma Fire Department for 37 years.

Mott has served on the city commission for 13 years and is currently a real estate agent for

New Horizons Realty.

Piccolohas beenanalma resident for 17 years. He’s the retired vice president for student life at Alma College and currently teaches graduate courses at Central Michigan University.

Piccolo has been amember of the city commission for 10 years.

The four candidates elected will each serve four-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2021.