Former Kalamazoo Township Treasurer Files for August Primary Despite Township Claims She Cannot Be Her Own Successor
KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Sherine Miller, the former treasurer of Kalamazoo Charter Township, has filed to run for the same position she vacated after a months-long dispute with the township board. Miller is now on the unofficial candidate list for the August 4 primary election, even though township officials say she is not eligible to fill the vacancy she created.
Miller signed her resignation letter in March after facing two censures and receiving a letter from the township board asking Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to remove her from the position. Township Supervisor David Combs confirmed she resigned, though Miller has maintained she retired voluntarily. The township argues she cannot be her own successor under Michigan law.
"I got a little rest and I said 'why not?'" Miller told News Channel 3 in a one-on-one interview.
Miller secured a $110,000 separation package and two years of retirement benefits when she left the role. Township officials say the payment is nearly a full treasurer's salary, but Miller says she is not deterred. "This is my right," she said. "When I resigned, retired from the position, it was not because the people asked me."
The position Miller is seeking will be serving out what was supposed to be her four-year term, which was to expire in 2028. Township trustees appointed former Supervisor Don Martin as trustee following Clara Robinson's departure from the treasurer role, and Martin subsequently filed to run against Jalen Gibson and Michael Prather for the trustee position. All three are Democrats.
Clara Robinson, who was appointed treasurer following Miller's resignation, also filed to run for the role. Both Robinson and Miller are Democrats. No Republicans filed to run.
Misconduct Accusations Led to Board Petition for Removal
In late January 2026, the Kalamazoo Charter Township Board voted to strip Miller of all her duties as township treasurer after accusing her of years of misconduct. The board said she balanced accounts with her own money and selectively waived interest payments and late fees for unpaid taxes for some people but not others.
An outside report called her "incompetent" with funds, leading to an investigation. A few weeks later, in early February, the board censured her again and said, despite being stripped of all her responsibilities as treasurer, she violated board policies by transferring $4 million in tax revenue from the township's checking account to a township money market account without notifying staff in advance.
"The township has already hand delivered a letter to Sherine letting her know that she is not an eligible candidate," Supervisor Combs said regarding her campaign filing.
Miller's attorney called the accusations against her "inaccurate or lack[ing] full context." She disputed the report's findings, saying the allegations are false or misleading. She said she was prepared to challenge the allegations in court but stepped aside "solely out of her respect for the citizens she was elected to serve."
Township Board Accused Her of Multiple Violations
The board accused Miller of failing to appoint a deputy treasurer, something she is required to do for the position. Miller said she tried multiple times but the board kept rejecting her picks.
Regarding the accusation that she selectively waived interest and late fees for unpaid taxes, Miller said she looked at each resident's personal situation before doing so, deciding on a case-by-case basis.
"I am running because there are residents in my community who are having a growing lack of trust in our local government, including myself," Miller said.
Kalamazoo County Chief Deputy Clerk John Curran confirmed that there is nothing preventing Miller from running again, despite the position only being up for election this year due to her vacating it. When the county received the necessary documentation from Miller to be added to the ballot, they asked the Bureau of Elections if she could run again, and they said there is no basis in election law to prevent her from doing so, Curran said.
Combs said Miller's filing for treasurer was sent to the county clerk by mistake and the township and county are now discussing the matter to correct the error.
Board Sent Letter to Governor Asking for Removal
After her second censure, the board sent a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asking her to remove Miller from the position. Board members called her "erratic" and "incompetent," and said she was unfit to serve in the role.
A month later, Miller signed a resignation letter, officially relieving her as township treasurer. Miller maintains she was treated unfairly and accused the board of unlawful governmental overreach.
"I stand with those residents. Their voices matter and their concerns cannot be ignored," Miller said in a statement.
Whoever assumes the role will be finishing out what was supposed to be Miller's four-year term in the position, set to expire in 2028. The Kalamazoo Township treasurer position is an elected office, and board members do not have the authority to remove someone from the position. Only the governor can remove an elected official.
Miller said she is committed to Kalamazoo Township and hopes to handle invoices once again if elected. "I'm sorry, but I was elected by the people, one of seven to manage who is running the township and how it's run," she said.
Robinson left her position as a trustee to become treasurer. The board appointed former Supervisor Don Martin to take her place leading up to the election. Martin subsequently filed to run against Jalen Gibson and Michael Prather for the trustee role, per county documents. All three are Democrats.