MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Democratic candidate for the 109th State House District seat Margaret Brumm has again filed recall language against two Marquette Area Public School board members over their votes to change the district’s former nickname.
This is Brumm’s second attempt, and the third attempt altogether, to remove Jennifer Klipp and Jennifer Ray from the school board. Brumm’s first attempt filed in March was denied by the Marquette County Election Commission in April for being “unclear.”
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Brumm’s first recall petitions (seen above) were filed in March 2024. Under the reason for the petitions against both Klipp and Ray, Brumm wrote, “Violations of MAPS Financial Policies and Procedures, “Section 3000, Operations Finance, and Property”; Failure to manage control over MAPS depts [sic] to prevent embezzlement of at least $100,000; Failure to keep written records as required concerning donations of rebranded tee-shirts; Failure to manage rebranding efforts in a fiscally prudent manner; and failure to publicly review Financial Status of MAPS at publicly scheduled School Board Meetings.”
Brumm’s new recall petitions (seen above) were filed May 29, 2024. Under the reason for the petitions against both Klipp and Ray, Brumm wrote, “Trustee [Klipp/Ray] voted to remove the Redmen and Redette nicknames from Marquette Senior High School.”
The Marquette County Election Commission will meet on Wednesday, June 12 at 2:00 p.m. to “rule on the clarity and factuality of recall language filed.” That meeting will be held in the probate courtroom of the Skewis Annex in the Marquette County Courthouse.
This all stems from the MAPS Board of Education’s decision last July to change the high school’s nickname from “Redmen” and “Redettes.” The board voted 4-3, with Cherryl Maddox-Smith, Jennifer Klipp, Glenn Sarka, and Jennifer Ray voted in support of the name change, with Jason Zdunek, James Hewitt, and board president Kristen Cambensy voting in opposition.
The decision has been met with opposition — and praise — from the public every step of the way. Along with filing recall petition language in March, Brumm also preemptively filed for a trademark for the Sentinels name in an effort to prevent the school district from using the name without paying her for the rights.
At its meeting on May 6, the MAPS board voted on the new Sentinels logo to replace the block “M” logo. In a statement at the time, Cambensy said in part, “I… am looking forward to seeing what our students, teachers, staff, and community can do with this.”
WZMQ 19 has reached out to Brumm and the MAPS school board for comment, but we have not received a response back at the time of this publishing.
