KATHY FUNK

A woman who was a public official in a Michigan community admitted Wednesday that she broke a seal on a ballot box to ensure that votes could not be recounted in her 2020 race, prosecutors said. Kathy Funk, 59, pleaded no contest to misconduct in office, a felony, under an agreement that includes no time in jail. Funk, a Democrat, was the Flint Township clerk in 2020 with responsibility over elections.

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The county’s former elections supervisor has reached a plea deal with prosecutors, avoiding a trial on criminal charges tied to alleged ballot tampering while she served as the Flint Township clerk following the August 2020 primary election. As part of the plea agreement, Funk will not receive jail or prison time and a felony charge of ballot tampering against her will be dismissed. The charges were filed after a Michigan State Police investigation into suspicious activities in the days following the Aug. 4, 2020, primary election in Flint Township. MLive-The Flint Journal received a heavily redacted copy of the MSP report through the Freedom of Information Act. Funk won re-election with 2,698 votes compared to 2,619 for challenger Manya Triplett, according to official results from the Aug. 4, 2020, election.

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Two criminal investigations of top officials in the county Clerk’s Office and the death of Commissioner Bryant Nolden dominated county government news in 2022. Domonique Clemons, a Flint Township Democrat, was chosen as the new chairperson of the county Board of Commissioners on Jan. 5. Richard A. Hammel, a former chairman of the county commission and manager-director of the county Road Commission, died on April 9 at age 85. They also elected Martin L. Cousineau, D-Thetford Twp., former Flint City Council member Dale Weighill, and Michelle Davis of northeastern Genesee County. Clemons departure and the death of Nolden created two openings on the county commission heading into 2023.

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The county’s elections supervisor will have the chance to defend herself against ballot tampering and misconduct in office charges early next year. County Prosecutor David Leyton recused himself from reviewing a Michigan State Police investigation into the ballot tampering charges because Funk is a county employee, and the case was referred to the state for possible prosecution. MLive-The Flint Journal received a heavily redacted copy of the MSP report in January through the Freedom of Information Act. It says that the ballot tampering investigation started in the days following the Aug. 4, 2020, primary election. Read more at The Flint Journal:Genesee County elections supervisor facing ballot tampering, misconduct chargesSnyder attorneys want dismissal of his Flint water criminal charges tooFlint’s $300 water credits applied to accounts, including thousands that were past-due

FLINT, MI – A trial in the criminal case against Genesee County’s elections supervisor could take place early next year, a Genesee County Circuit Court judge said Tuesday, July 26. Kathy Funk, the county’s elections supervisor who is facing criminal ballot tampering charges, appeared before Circuit Court Judge Mark W. Latchana Tuesday for her first pre-trial hearing in circuit court. “I would imagine that trial, given the court’s calendar, would be sometime in early (2023), if it becomes necessary. The state Attorney General’s office is prosecuting the case after Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton recused himself from the matter. Read more at The Flint Journal:Genesee County elections supervisor on unpaid leave after ballot tampering chargesGenesee County elections supervisor facing ballot tampering, misconduct chargesGenesee County asks state to oversee local elections, demands suspension of supervisor

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The county’s chief deputy clerk is on her way to getting a 15% temporary pay raise as she shoulders additional duties while two top officials in her office face criminal charges. Raleigh told commissioners that in addition to her regular duties, she’s filling in as the head of elections without enough staff with the Aug. 2 primary election fast approaching. We’ll be fine,” Raleigh told commissioners Wednesday. Her budgeted salary will be used to pay for the temporary raise for Raleigh. Raleigh’s raise will be retroactive to April 28, the date the state disqualified Gleason from involvement in the August primary election.

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- A criminal ballot tampering case is moving directly to Genesee Circuit Court after the county’s elections supervisor waived an initial preliminary examination on Friday, June 3. Unless a preliminary examination is waived, prosecutors must show there is probable cause to believe that a crime was committed and that the defendant committed it. Funk is charged with two felony counts of election ballot tampering and common law offenses. His case is pending in Genesee District Court. Read more at The Flint Journal:Criminal case against Genesee County elections supervisor delayed againGenesee County Clerk-Register John Gleason facing witness intimidation, neglect of duty chargesFlint residents would pay more for garbage, less for street lights under plan

FLINT, MI – The preliminary examination of Genesee County Elections Supervisor Kathy Funk has been adjourned to Friday, June 3. However, McCabe raised concerns over having the hearing Wednesday, citing a long docket of cases and the amount of time Funk’s examination is expected to take. Funk’s charges are tied to the August 2020 primary election in Flint Township, where she worked previously as the township clerk. She was placed on unpaid administrative leave by county Clerk-Register John Gleason in March after the county Board of Commissioners demanded the action and asked the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office to oversee county elections until Funk’s case is resolved. Read more at The Flint Journal:Genesee County elections supervisor on unpaid leave after ballot tampering chargesGenesee County asks state to oversee local elections, demands suspension of supervisorGenesee County Clerk-Register John Gleason facing witness intimidation, neglect of duty charges

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- County Clerk-Register John Gleason has been told to stay out of any election-related activities by the Michigan Bureau of Elections. County Elections Supervisor Kathy Funk is currently on unpaid leave from her job because of criminal ballot-tapering charges that she is facing. The criminal charges against Gleason and Funk are unrelated. It comes eight days after the county Board of Commissioners wrote to state elections officials for a second time in two months, asking for assistance with coming elections. Read more:Genesee County renews plea for election help from stateGenesee County Clerk-Register John Gleason facing witness intimidation, neglect of duty chargesGenesee County elections supervisor facing ballot tampering, misconduct charges

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- County Clerk-Register John Gleason remains in office after he was arraigned on charges of bribing or intimidating a witness and willful neglect of duty on Friday, April 8, but he can only keep the job if avoids a felony conviction. Both Gleason and Kathy Funk, his elections supervisor, are facing criminal charges in unrelated cases but both cases are tied to their alleged past actions in office. The charges against Gleason were filed after Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark Reene reviewed a Genesee County Sheriff’s Office investigation of the clerk-register. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson detailed the arrest and charges against Clerk-Register John Gleason during a Friday, April 8 press conference. Read more:Genesee County Clerk-Register John Gleason facing witness intimidation, neglect of duty chargesGenesee County investigates allegations clerk pushed employees to backdate marriage licenseMichigan SOS won’t take over May 3 Genesee County election

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The Michigan Secretary of State’s Office will work closely with the county on the May 3 election but won’t take it over as requested by the Board of Commissioners. SOS Director of Elections Jonathan Brater told commissioners of the decision in a March 25 letter, a week after commissioners asked the state to take over oversight of local elections after county Elections Supervisor Kathy Funk was charged with felony ballot tampering.

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The criminal ballot tampering case against the county’s elections supervisor is on hold for four weeks as a new attorney for her familiarizes himself with the allegations. An arrest warrant in the case alleges she broke open or violated the seals or locks of a ballot box used in the primary election, preventing any recount. Funk, who has denied the charges, herself was a candidate in that election, narrowly defeating her opponent. She was placed on unpaid administrative leave by county Clerk-Register John Gleason earlier this week after the county Board of Commissioners demanded the action and asked the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office to oversee county elections until the case against Funk is resolved as well as a county investigation into the clerk-register’s offices. Read more:Genesee County elections supervisor on unpaid leave after ballot tampering chargesGenesee County elections supervisor facing ballot tampering, misconduct chargesGenesee County asks state to oversee local elections, demands suspension of supervisor

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Kathy Funk, the county’s elections supervisor, has been placed on unpaid administrative leave after having been charged with felony ballot tampering crimes earlier this month. In an email to the county Human Resources Department, Clerk-Register John Gleason said he has placed Funk on leave effective immediately and requested a “future review of this status and appropriate transitions” in the future. Funk was charged on Friday, March 11, with purposely breaking a seal on a ballot container while she worked as the Flint Township clerk following the Aug. 4, 2020, primary election. A spokeswoman for the Secretary of State’s Office said Monday that the request from the county to oversee upcoming county elections is being reviewed. Read more on MLive:Genesee County asks state to oversee local elections, demands suspension of supervisorGenesee County clerk silent as elections supervisor arraigned for ballot tampering, misconduct in officeGenesee County elections supervisor facing ballot tampering, misconduct charges

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The county’s elections supervisor has been arraigned on charges of ballot tampering and misconduct in office but her boss -- county Clerk-Register John Gleason -- has yet to comment on her job status. Related: Genesee County elections supervisor facing ballot tampering, misconduct chargesFunk was a candidate in that election -- the August 2020 Democratic primary -- winning by just 79 votes, according to the unofficial count of ballots, which could not be recounted because of the broken ballot seal. “Clerk Gleason owes all of us a full explanation,” county Board of Commissioners Chairman Domonique Clemons said Monday. Recall organizers have said they’ve been stonewalled in their efforts to gain information from Gleason about recall petition signatures that were disallowed in the attempted recall. Read more:Prosecutor recuses himself from Flint Township vote tampering investigationGenesee commissioners want written report from clerk on Davison recallGenesee County commissioners will investigate ‘internal culture’ of Clerk’s Office

A former Flint Township clerk is accused of tampering with a ballot container so the votes inside couldn’t be recounted during an election she narrowly won, officials said.

A former township clerk and current county elections supervisor in Michigan has been charged with ballot tampering in the August 2020 primary.

A former township clerk and current county elections supervisor in Michigan has been charged with ballot tampering in the August 2020 primary. Kathy Funk also is charged with misconduct in office, the Michigan attorney general's office said late Friday.

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The county’s elections supervisor has been charged in a warrant with ballot tampering and misconduct in office while she worked as the Flint Township clerk in 2020. Funk not only oversaw that August 2020 election in the township, but she was also a candidate, seeking re-election as the clerk. In November, Funk told Flint Township trustees in a letter that she was resigning her position as township clerk and had accepted the position of elections supervisor in the office of county Clerk-Register John Gleason. MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach Gleason for comment on Funk’s job status on Friday, but the elections supervisor has continued to work despite a Michigan State Police investigation into the possible vote tampering. Related: Prosecutor recuses himself from Flint Township vote tampering investigationIn a news release Friday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said her office is committed to prosecuting all election violations.

A former Flint Township Clerk is facing felony charges for ballot tampering related to the August 2020 Primary Election, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Michigan State Police have completed an investigation into possible vote tampering in Flint Township during the 2020 primary election, and county Prosecutor David Leyton said Tuesday, Jan. 4, that he’s recusing himself from the case because of the potential appearance of a conflict of interest. Leyton said his office has received a warrant request packet from MSP and said he asked Attorney General Dana Nessel on Monday, Jan. 3, to assign the case to another prosecutor because the investigation involves former Flint Township Clerk Kathy Funk, who now works as the county’s election supervisor.