McLennan wins six-year term as fulltime PI County Probate Judge
Drama. There was not a lot of it at the state level, but plenty locally involving who would take on the duties of full-time Presque Isle County Probate Judge in 2007. It was not until well after 1 a.m. did the last precinct check in at the Presque Isle County Courthouse and the final tabulations gave former prosecutor Don McLennan the win. McLennan defeated incumbent Judge Ken Radzibon 3,161 to 2,705. The race was neck and neck when lopsided numbers from Presque Isle Township, heavily favoring McLennan, came in at 572 to 248. McLennan said the numbers from the last precinct ?were too much to ask for.? The crowd of family and friends gathered at the Water?s Edge Restaurant for the post election party let out a loud cheer when the final votes count was relayed via the telephone.
?I WOULD LIKE to commended Judge Radzibon for running a positive campaign,? said McLennan, who had two prepared statements ready for the media, one if he had lost and one if he had won. ?Together, we gave the voters a choice, and we did so in a responsible and respectable campaign. I am honored by the trust now placed in me, and I look forward to working for the citizens of this county.? Radzibon called McLennan at the Water?s Edge to congratulate him on the campaign.
?Personally, I am disappointed, after serving 23 years as a part-time judge,? said Radzibon, who will have been on the bench 24 years by the end of the year. He said it was disappointing not getting the full-time judicial position after the sacrifices his family has made over the years. ?Life goes on. I will be exploring other options and plans and do what is best for my family.? He also has told McLennan he would assist him with the transition.
THE FINAL vote count was surprising, not only because the numbers in Presque Isle Township were lopsided, but they were not expected for another hour or more. It all was part of the election night drama involving the most anticipated local race in years. As many residents had expected, the numbers released from the County Clerk’s office remained close in the hours after the polls closed. With 15 of 18 precincts reporting around 11 p.m., incumbent Ken Radzibon was trailing McLennan by 81 votes. Still left to report were Bismarck Township, the City of Onaway, and Presque Isle Township. Bismarck was the first of the three to arrive, with McLennan picking up 20 votes. The City of Onaway was close, again, but McLennan gained another 25 votes. With a cushion of 132 votes, all that was left was Presque Isle Township, which reported high voter turnout, but was going to be bringing in the ballots late.
ELECTION WORKERS were not able to process the 230 absentee ballots until after 8 p.m., because of the high turnout. Shortly after midnight, workers said they would be on their way in 10 minutes. They did not arrive until after 1:30 a.m. Unfortunately, the election workers left a memory card in the voting machine back at the precinct and had to return. Because of the fog, a sheriff?s department officer escorted the workers back to the precinct to get the data. The McLennan party was told that it might be a few more hours before the results would be available. County clerk Sue Rhode had the printout of the numbers from the township and star
MCLENNAN, WHO in a shrewd election year move, resigned from the prosecutor?s position after 26 years to focus on the election, received several endorsements from local judges, county commissioners, and members of the law enforcement community. It was support that was needed,? said McLennan. ?Statistics shows that 90 percent of incumbent judges win re-election.? McLennan also received a big boost in Rogers City Precinct #1, 407 to 272.
The new six-year term begins January 1, 2007 and brings with it added duties in other courts. Those responsibilities will be decided later when Circuit Judge Scott L. Pavlich and District Judge Harold Johnson meet with McLennan. Radzibon?s election night didn?t come without victories, but most of them came in less populated precincts. McLennan?s came in the most populated areas of the county. Radzibon had been seeking a fifth consecutive term on the bench. The election results are unofficial until certified by the county board of canvassers.