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August 7, 2002Results from area races by countyANTRIMBELLAIRE - County officials likely breathed a sigh of relief late Tuesday with the news that voters agreed to provide funding for the struggling county medical care facility. Voters countywide approved a five-year, 0.75-mill request for the Meadowbrook Medical Care Facility near Bellaire. The millage will raise just over $900,000 in its first year. The 113-bed Meadowbrook - the county's lone senior care facility of its kind - was one of only three comparable facilities out of 36 in the state that didn't have county support by either a millage or appropriation, administrator Judy Martin said. Declining Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements have raised concern. A forecast study by accounting firm Plante & Moran indicated the facility could face a deficit of $1.2 million by 2006 without new funding, Martin said. One of the hotter election issues for county commission candidates was a controversial wetlands protection ordinance the county board approved 5-4 in December. Implementation has proven difficult on the still-divided county board, and the results of Tuesday's primary and the November general election could tip the balance one way or the other. It is the first countywide ordinance of its kind in the state, and supporters claim it provides important environmental protection in a county renowned for its Chain of Lakes and Lake Michigan shoreline. Opponents call it redundant to state Department of Environmental Quality regulations, too burdensome and expensive for county landowners. Primary races existed for five of the county's nine commissioner positions Tuesday. In District 8, an unusual circumstance brought about by redistricting forced a face-off between three incumbents - John Conway, Bernard Blackmore and Donald Schuiteman. Conway and Blackmore tied with 77 votes, with Schuiteman receiving 63. Antrim Clerk Laura Sexton said if the tie indeed stands, Conway and Blackmore will draw slips of paper from a hat, one saying "elected" and the other "not elected," to determine who faces Democrat Gerald "Tut" Patrick in the November general election. In District 1, incumbent Republican Robert McLeod defeated Richard Sharkey, 237 to 92. In District 2, Eugene Dawson upset incumbent Republican Robert Wilson, 196 to 179. In District 5, Republican and former Kearney Township supervisor David Howelman soundly defeated Ed Martel, an outspoken critic of the county's wetlands protection ordinance. The vote count was 245 to 97. In District 7, Democratic incumbent commissioner Laura Stanek defeated Donna Theibert, 188 to 101. The winner now faces Republican William Kitchen in the November general election. Voters in nine of the county's 15 townships approved millages to fund ambulance service. Approving a 0.5-mill, five-year millage were Mancelona, Forest Home, Kearney, Central Lake, Custer, Helena, Chestonia and Star townships. Warner Township approved a 1-mill, four-year approval. The nine townships are currently served by Harbor Springs-based Allied Emergency Medical Service Systems Inc. The townships were forced to spend about $100,000 last year from their general funds to cover operational shortfalls. BENZIE BEULAH - Two county commissioners were hoping voters would re-elect them Tuesday, while two others were battling for a newly-created commission seat. Complete results were not available by press time Tuesday. With reapportionment upping the number of seats on Benzie County's board of commissioners from five to seven, former commissioner Robert F. Smith and Elberta businessman Michael Jones, both Republicans, were vying for the new District 3 seat. The district represents Elberta, Frankfort and Gilmore Townships. Smith served on the board from 1984-1997 when reapportionment dropped the number of commissioners from seven to five, displacing Smith's district. Two current commissioners, Donald Tanner and Don Howard, both were looking to be re-elected. Tanner, a second-term Republican commissioner, faced competition from local businessman Steve Haugen. Howard, a first-term commissioner, was challenged by retired banker Robert Yeager. Big issues cited by candidates included completing a county zoning ordinance to go with the new master plan, bringing in more money and cutting spending for the county and preserving farmland and open space. County voters also were asked to support two renewal millages - one for the commission on aging and one for the county-owned medical care facility. The commission on aging asked for a 0.66-mill renewal and The Maples, the medical care facility, asked for a 1 mill renewal. Voters in Crystal Lake Township were asked to approve a .8 mill renewal for the Benzie Shores District Library in Frankfort. Winners of the primary election will run unopposed in November. One commissioner, Bruce Andersen Sr., a Republican, will face a challenge from Democrat Michael Moorman in November. CHARLEVOIX CHARLEVOIX - Four of the county board of commissioners' six seats were challenged in Tuesday's primary. In an unusually feisty race in District 1, former Charlevoix city council member Valerie Snyder defeated incumbent Republican commissioner Donald Smith, 376 to 245. Snyder had criticized Smith's role in a March incident that led to a county board committee being investigated for a possible violation of the state's Open Meetings Act. The county spent more than $12,000 on attorney fees, though the charge was eventually dropped. Smith denied any wrongdoing. Snyder now faces Democrat Paul Richards and Green Party candidate Bill Henne in November. In District 2, former Boyne City manager Randy Frykberg defeated Boyne City restaurateur Frank Roselli, 126 to 43, in the Republican primary. Roselli had withdrawn from the race, though too late for his name to be removed from the ballot. In District 5, Dennis Jason defeated Jon Jasinski for the Republican nod, 129 to 85. Jason now faces a challenge from Democrat Arness Cox of East Jordan in the November general election. In District 6, portions of Charlevoix Township and the city of Charlevoix, incumbent Republican Shirley Roloff bested retired fruit farmer John Elzinga and Beaver Islander Richard Gillespie. Roloff received 286 votes; Gillespie 276 and Elzinga 141. Roloff will now face Green Party candidate Joseph King in November. The city of Charlevoix also featured a nonpartisan primary race for mayor. Incumbent council member Gabe Campbell received 243 votes; incumbent Mayor Alvin "Butch" Russell 219 votes; and Steven Smith 61 votes. Campbell and Russell will now square off in the November general election, to determine a winner. CHEBOYGAN CHEBOYGAN - Incumbent county commissioners Linda Chappelle and Dennis Hutchinson fended off challengers Tuesday. Chappelle was challenged by Bradley Ormsbee for the District 1 seat and she won by a margin of 253 votes to Ormsbee's 102. In District 4, Hutchinson, who received 144 votes, was challenged by Edward Ealy, who received 126 votes in an unofficial count. Hutchinson will face Democrat Alice Mushlock, who has on the board 10 years, because of redistricting. Results were not in for another commissioner race. Former Cheboygan County Controller Charles Brown was to find out Tuesday if he will serve the county in another capacity. Brown, who was the county controller for four years before the board opted not to renew his contract two years ago, challenged incumbent James Chaboneau, who has been on the board eight years for the District 5 board seat. County voters also decided a 0.49 mill renewal for senior services and a half-mill for enhanced senior services. Results were not available as of press time. CRAWFORD GRAYLING - Kirk Wakefield will serve as Crawford County's top cop for the next two years. Wakefield, who has been serving as interim sheriff, received 1,253 votes to challenger Tim Coe's 591. Wakefield, the former undersheriff, was appointed sheriff in February after Sheriff Dave Lovely took early retirement. Coe is a Grayling city police officer and former Crawford sheriff's deputy. Coe nearly upset Lovely for the office two years ago. There are two years on Lovely's unexpired term. In other county races, incumbent Lynnette Corlew held on to her seat in a race against challenger Mike Lange for the District 4 seat by a margin of 183 to 150 votes. David Stephenson and Loren Goodale vied for the new District 5 commissioner seat. Stephenson received 158 votes to Goodale's 154 in an unofficial tally. The winner will face Jay Stephan, who is running as an independent in November. The Crawford County Board of Commissioners is going from six to seven commissioners next year due to reapportionment. James Burtch defeated Thomas Barnes and Kathy Black in the Republican race for a six-year seat on the Crawford County Road Commission with 821 votes to Barnes' 313 and Black's 451. In Frederic Township, voters rejected a 0.15-mill proposal that would have been on the tax rolls for 12 years to build an addition and make improvements at the township's fire station. EMMET PETOSKEY - Emmet County voters went to the polls Tuesday to help determine who will lead the county as it grapples with continued growth and the issues that spring from it. Three of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners' seven seats were contested in Republican primaries Tuesday. In District 2, former West Traverse Township treasurer Roselyn Letzmann staved off a challenge from Paul Mooradian, owner of a real estate development company. Letzmann received 327 votes to Mooradian's 180. The winner faces Dale Scott of Harbor Springs, who has no party affiliation, in the November general election. In District 5, Commissioner Jack Jones narrowly held on to his seat by an unofficial margin of 132 votes to 121 in a face-off with Robert Waugh. In District 7, Lester Atchison won a commission term in a race against Richard Rossi by a vote of 194 to 85. Commissioner races in districts 3 and 6 will be decided in the November election. County voters approved a half-mill for four years for senior citizen services by a margin of 2,623 votes to 959. The levy would raise $1 million in its first year. GRAND TRAVERSE TRAVERSE CITY - In the only contested county commission primary race, voters selected a National Cherry Festival director over a retired detective sergeant. Tom Kern won the seat, receiving 639 votes over Rick Robbins' 341. Kern will replace Richard Crowe, a three-term incumbent Republican and former board chairman. The commission district encompasses Peninsula Township, parts of East Bay Township and the northeast corner of Traverse City. Both candidates were familiar with county government. Rick Robbins spent 20 years with the sheriff's department before he retired last year. Kern serves on the county parks and recreation commission and is executive director of the National Cherry Festival. Four of the nine county commissioner seats will have contested races in the Nov. 5 general election. There were also separate township referendums in Acme and Paradise townships on Tuesday. In Paradise Township, residents approved a 1-mill levy for the next three years to provide ambulance and emergency medical service through the Kingsley Area Volunteer Ambulance Association by a margin of 265 to 165. The levy will generate more than $71,000 in local property tax revenue each year. Results were not available for a proposal in Acme Township, where voters were asked to consider a 0.3-mill levy to help pay for a community police officer contracted through the county sheriff's department. The six-year levy would begin with the Dec. 1 tax bills and continue through 2007, raising upwards of $68,000 per year. KALKASKA KALKASKA - Kalkaska County voters decided a millage increase for the commission on aging Tuesday, as well as three county commissioner primary races. Complete results were not available by press time Tuesday. The one countywide ballot proposal is for an additional 0.75 of a mill for five years for operations and services, such as personal care, caregiver respite, homemaker and home-delivered meals. If approved, the millage will generate about $409,000 per year. The commission already levies .25 of a mill and this would bring it up to 1 mill total. There were only contested races for the county board of commissioners. None of them will face opposition in the fall. In District 2, Republican incumbent James Green faced a challenge from Phyllist Senske. In District 3, Republican incumbent Michael Cox was opposed by Robert Hall. Democrats Alan McCullen and Larry Strouse sought the District 4 seat. LEELANAU LELAND - Incumbent commissioner Richard Scmuckal survived a primary challenge, and the county board will have two new faces - Mary Tonneberger and Mark Walter. In District 3, Scmuckal won by 16 votes over local businessman Will Bunek. The final tally was 295-279. In District 2, Walter easily defeated Kenneth Dezur on a vote of 283-119. Leelanau Township Planning Commission chairwoman Mary Tonneberger, by a tally of 256-229, downed former county commissioner Bob Weaver. Leelanau voters approved two county proposals. A six-year request for 0.275 mill to fund additional services for senior citizens won 2,900 to 2,207. The county road commission's request for a half-mill renewal for two years easily passed 3,466 to 1,590. In Bingham and Suttons Bay townships, voters overwhelmingly approved five-year requests for their joint fire and rescue department, advanced life support, vehicle replacement and the Length of Service Awards program. In Glen Arbor Township, voters approved a bond proposal of $1.76 million for 25 years to erect, equip and furnish a new public safety building. Leelanau Township voters gave a 373-326 nod to a request for 0.28 mill for three years to fund police services. A request for 0.4 mill for four years to fund facility and road improvements and equipment narrowly won 355-345. In Leland Township, Harry Larkin defeated Steve Mikowski 284-234 in the Republican race to fill the unexpired term of supervisor Gary Bardenhagen. Voters there also overwhelming passed to millage renewals for fire/rescue operations and equipment. A fire/ambulance millage also easily passed in Solon Township, where the tally was 185-73. By a 2-1 margin, Republican John J. Popa easily defeated Robert Roubal for a seat on the county road commission. The unofficial tally was 2,029 to 1,123. MANISTEE MANISTEE - Voters here had only one contested county commission race Tuesday, but faced three county millage renewal proposals. Complete results were not available by press time Tuesday. Nita Guenthardt and Karl Waitner, both employees with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, were seeking the chance to challenge Democrat Shari Wild in the fall. Wild is current county board chairwoman. Voters were asked to renew 1 mill for county library operations and maintenance. They also were asked to renew 0.33-mills for five years for the Dial-A-Ride public transportation system. The third millage renewal was 1 mill for five years to construct, operate, upgrade and maintain the 911 Emergency Response Telecommunication System and Central Dispatch. In addition to Wild, three Republican incumbent commissioner will face challenges from Democrats in the Nov. 5 general election. Commissioner David McNeilly will face off against Democrat Judith Cunningham. Commissioner Carl P. Mezeske is being challenged by Democrat Glenn T. Lottie. The third contested race in November will be between Republican Thomas Mannisto and Democrat Allan O'Shea, who are squaring off for the commission seat being vacated by Jeffrey Dontz. MISSAUKEE LAKE CITY - Missaukee County residents voted Tuesday against instituting an animal control department and narrowed the fields in three county commissioner districts. A group that takes in stray animals convinced the board of commissioners to seek a levy of 0.25-mills in property taxes for six years to create the one-employee animal control department within the sheriff's department and build an animal shelter. The vote went more than 2-1 against the idea, 2,105 no to 984 yes. Voters approved a renewal of 0.25-mills for four years for operations of the county's Commission on Aging, 2,148 to 913. There were contested races in three commission districts In District 3, Republican Dale M. Fockler defeated Robert Flint Jr., Raymond W. Moore, and Daniel D. Waller. Fockler had 98 votes, Flint 23, Waller 85 and Moore 21. In District 6, Republican incumbent Donald R. Shaarda easily turned back a challenge from Allen Emil Reinke by a 187-85 vote. In District 7, redistricting forced to incumbent Republicans - Hubert Zuiderveen and Philip J. Lucas to run against each other with Zuiderveen winning 274-105. OTSEGO GAYLORD - Faced with cuts in state revenue sharing and deficit budgeting the last three years, Otsego County officials found out just how deep the cuts will go Tuesday. Voters overwhelmingly turned down a request for 0.75 mills for five years to fund county operations on a vote of 2,566 to 1,448. By a vote of 2,034 to 1,991, voters also turned down a request for 0.1875 mills for five years to fund the Otsego County Community Center. The county operational millage would have raised about $723,000 per year. For the last three years, county officials have dipped into the fund balance to cover about $400,000 in increased expenditures each year. County officials sought the millage to cover increased labor and insurance costs and a hazard waste pick-up day. There were contested races in three commission districts In District 1, Republican incumbent Clark Bates defeated Dawn Johnston 100-60. In District 2, Republican incumbent Paul Beachnau easily defeated Cliff Black on a vote of 187-75. In District 5, Republican incumbent Carl Lord, who has been on the board six years, lost to Jeff Garfield, an Otsego Township Board trustee, on a vote of 262-227. In District 6, where redistricting forced two incumbents to square off, Ken Glasser won the Republican primary over Ron Chavey on a 135-117 vote. TRAVERSE CITY TRAVERSE CITY - Scott Hardy and Denise "Deni" Scrudato will vie for a city commission seat in the Nov. 5 election, according to results from Tuesday's voting. Hardy received 1,509 votes, Scrudato 811 and candidate Scott Gorney received 248. Results have to be verified by the board of canvassers. Hardy and Scrudato will compete in the non-partisan general election to fill the final year of a term of commissioner Larry Hardy - Scott Hardy's father - who died this spring. The candidates said they wanted to bring more civility and independent decision-making to the commission. Commissioners could have filled the vacant seat by appointment but decided instead to hold a special election. WEXFORD CADILLAC - Wexford County residents decided four county commissioner contests Tuesday, with the funding of a $4.5 million courthouse addition driving the debate in most of them. Complete results weren't available by press time Tuesday. Voters also decided on millage renewals for the commission on aging and for the Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority. The main issue in the commissioner races was the commission's decision to fund the courthouse expansion with interest from the $14 million landfill fund. The fund consists of fees paid for dumping trash in the landfill and is to be used for monitoring the fund after it is closed in an estimated 30 years or more. Several candidates, mostly non-incumbents, said neither the landfill funds nor the interest should be touched for fear of depleting the fund or concern that the practice may be illegal. |
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