U.S. Rep. and Michigan gubernatorial candidate Pete Hoekstra is scheduled to visit Niles this Friday. He will be at a reception at the Bell Building, 305 North Third St., from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.
Hoekstra, R-Holland, was the first gubernatorial candidate to get his name on the ballot when he submitted the necessary 15,000 petition signatures Wednesday morning. Candidates must turn in the signatures by mid-May to be eligible for the August primary.

Other Republicans seeking nomination to face Hoekstra are state Sen. Tom George, Attorney General Mike Cox, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard and Ann Arbor business leader Rick Snyder.

The primary election is slated for Aug. 3 with the general election on Nov. 2.

According to the most recent Rasmussen poll for the Republican Primary, Hoekstra leads the way with 27 percent, while Snyder is at 18 percent. Nearly one-third (32 percent) of those surveyed are still undecided, according to the poll.