Concentrating on the accuracy test of voting equipment are (from left) Moran Township Clerk Kris Vallier, Hudson Township Clerk Barb Kerridge, and Moran Deputy Clerk Kathy Stephan. They joined other clerks in the county, meeting at the Court House Wednesday, October 29. Each municipality ran 72 test ballots through its voting machine to ensure ballots were being read correctly in preparation for the November 4 general election. Municipal clerks were prepared for a record number of voters at the general election Tuesday, November 4, but while voting remained steady throughout the day, no county record was set, falling about 4% shy of 2004 poll attendance.

Election upsets were kept to the township level, with Gerald Hill becoming the new Clark Township supervisor, Jolynn Brawley the new clerk in Newton Township, and Donna O'Grady and Mike Soder the new supervisor and trustee, respectively, in Portage Township.

County incumbents retained their positions, while newcomer Tom Doty will fill a vacant seat on the road commission.

This year, 67.6% of Mackinac County's registered voters went to the polls. In 2004, the county boasted one of the largest voter turnouts in its history, at 71%.

Early on, absentee ballot filings broke records in many local municipalities, giving every indication turnout at the polls also would be heavy.

In October, Clark Township Clerk Cathy Nordquist predicted 300 absentee ballots would be received, and by election day, poll workers there were processing 436 absentee ballots.

Mackinac Island Clerk Karen Lennard and Moran Township Clerk Kris Vallier had similar experiences. On the Island, 220 absentee ballots were returned, representing 50% of all registered voters there. In Moran Township, 190 absentee ballots were counted, which is more than three times those received in previous elections.

Statewide turnout, which has not been certified, may set a record with about 5.1 million voters, or 68% of the state electorate.

Lagging behind all local municipalities in the county was the City of St. Ignace, with a 55.6% voter turnout.

"I don't know why it would be so low in the city," said St. Ignace Clerk Renee Vonderwerth. "I'm just as surprised as anyone else. We planned for a big turnout. There just really isn't any explanation for it."

County Clerk Mary Kay Tamlyn said this may be average for city voters. In 2004, 1,197 city residents cast ballots at Little Bear East Arena and this year 1,180 ballots were submitted.

"Compared to the last [presidential] election, it's basically the same," she said. "I don't know why voter turnout was lower compared to other precincts countywide."

For this election, Mackinac County had 9,567 registered voters, compared to the August primary when 9,481 were registered to vote. In the 2004 presidential election, 9,422 county residents were registered voters. Other municipalities in the cunty had the following turnouts: Bois Blanc Township, 91.7%; Mackinac Island, 66.8%; Clark Township, 72.8%; Portage Township, 77.8%; Newton Township, 73.2%; Brevort Township, 58%; Garfield Township, 68.9%; Hendricks Township, 72.3%; Hudson Township, 67.7%; Marquette Township, 78.5%; Moran Township, 70.4%; Newton Township, 73.2%; St. Ignace Township, 65.6%.

Mackinac County

Contested county seats were retained by incumbents, including County Commissioner Mike Patrick, who outpaced challenger Jim Farero by 531 votes. Mr. Patrick said he was pleased with the results and looks forward to continue working with department heads.

"I do enjoy this job," he said.

Appointed incumbent treasurer Nora Massey won by a similar margin, earning 651 more votes than challenger Rob Winkelman.

"That was one grueling marathon," said Mr. Winkelman. "Obviously I would have liked to have won. I was just glad the finish line was reached."

Rather than attend community events, said Mr. Winkelman, who has no plans for future campaigns, a better strategy for him would have been to knock on more doors.

Ms. Massey said county residents can expect her to be involved with the day-to-day responsibilities and duties of the office.

"The public can expect my office will operate in a friendly, efficient, and organized manner," she said, with the office open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., including the lunch hour.

An open seat on the Road Commission will be filled by Tom Doty of Cedarville, who outdistanced Richard Oliver of Germfask by a 681-vote margin.

"My main goal is to get people back to work and keep people working," said Mr. Doty.

Keeping people employed will help the local economy, he said, and he would like the focus of projects geared toward maintenance of existing roads.

"Major projects are good, but at the same time we need to concentrate on maintaining the roads we have to keep them in good shape," he said. "There's kind of a fine balance there."

Register of Deeds Diane Frankovich earned 1,114 more votes than challenger Bambi Robinson.

A 513-vote spread separated incumbent county surveyor Jeffrey Davis from challenger Neil Hill Sr.

In other county seats, incumbents were unchallenged.

Townships

Clark Township Supervisor Linda Hudson, who was defeated by Gerald Hill in the August primary, ran as a write-in candidate. She earned 366 votes, falling short of the 792 cast for Mr. Hill, who said he is looking forward to taking a seat on the board.

Early projects garnering Mr. Hill's attention are reviewing the budget, making committee appointments, addressing the phosphorus situation in Cedarville Bay, and continuing the work of the Master Plan, he said.

Falling eight votes shy, Newton Township incumbent Clerk Alice Zdebski was unseated by Jolynn Brawley in a 116-vote to 124-vote contest.

By a slightly larger margin, Portage Township incumbent supervisor Donald Ferris lost his seat to Donna O'Grady by 85 votes. Trustee Mark Devereaux also lost his seat on the board and will be replaced by newcomer Mike Soder. Incumbent Patrick Abram will return as a trustee.

Township Proposals

Two school operating millages were approved in Bois Blanc Township. Both renewals included increases. The first five-year proposal is an increase of 0.5 mill for a total of 4.0377 mills, which is estimated to generate $93,523 in the first year. The second is an increase of 0.1371 mill for a total of 1 mill, which will raise $23,162

in the first of five years.

In Portage Township, a one-mill capital improvement proposal for fire and ambulance equipment failed by 54 votes, 305 to 251. If it had passed, the three-year millage would have raised about $72,477 the first year.

Judicial Contests

On the judicial side, incumbent 92nd District Judge Beth Gibson retained her seat on the bench, earning 2,225 more votes than challenger Tom North. Judge Gibson received 1,777 votes in Luce County and 3,490 votes in Mackinac County. Tom North earned 786 votes in Luce County and 2,256 votes in Mackinac County.

Judge Gibson said she plans to continue current programs and will be seeking additional funding for sobriety court, a comprehensive drug treatment program supervised by the court. The program to bring the courtroom to area schools will continue, too. It allows students to learn about law and the court process.

Court proceedings will continue at the Garfield Township Hall yeararound, she said, and on Mackinac Island in the summer.

Judge William Carmody ran unopposed to head the 11th Circuit Court. He is replacing retiring Judge Charles Stark.

State Proposals

State proposals received mixed results within the county, although both generated enough votes at the state level to be passed by voters.

The use of medical marijuana proposal received 63% of the statewide vote, 3,008,980 votes in favor to 1,792,870 against, while in Mackinac County, it received 58% support, 3,602 in favor to 2,653 against.

The Stem Cell research proposal won state-wide with 53% of the vote, 2,522,976 to 2,272,903. It lost in Mackinac County, 3,387 against to 2,838 for.

U.S. Senate, Congress,

107th District

The county electorate followed state voters in their choice of supporting incumbents Carl Levin over Jack Hoogendyk Jr. for U.S. Senator, Bart Stupak over Tom Casperson for U.S. Congress, and Gary McDowell over Alex Strobehn for 107th District Representative.

Voter turnout figures are unofficial until certified by the Board of State Canvassers, which is set to meet no later than Monday, November 24.

At the local level, for detailed uncertified voting results by municipality, please see the accompanying election charts. Mackinac County election results are expected to be certified by Wednesday, November 12.