Robinson bumps incumbent from commission; Schmeltzer returns for another term
It was a tight race for Onaway City Commission, but when the final votes were tallied at the Presque Isle County Courthouse, former city commissioner Jerry Robinson edged out incumbent Jessie Palmer by four votes.
Robinson spent a significant time campaigning in the community, making public appearances, knocking on the doors of local residents, and on Tuesday, he stumped for votes on the grounds of the courthouse, greeting people as they went to the polls.
?It was just my way of letting the citizens know that I sincerely wanted their vote,? said Robinson.
That continued throughout the day until the polls closed at 8 p.m. It probably made the difference in the final tally.
?I am looking forward to serving the citizens of Onaway, and I encourage your attendance at the commission meetings,? said Robinson. He also said he would be available to anyone who would like to call him at home (the number is listed).
LONGTIME INCUMBENT, and former mayor, Bernie Schmeltzer, easily won re-election with 213 votes. Robinson followed with 162.
According to the city charter, the newly elected officials will begin their terms at the next city commission meeting November 20.
Palmer, who received 158 votes, was an outspoken member of the city commission, representing the city with a no-nonsense approach, a trait that is serving her well in her representation of the area on the County Development Commission, a role she may continue post-election.
Palmer also served as a voice of local business community as the owner of the Lyon?s Motel.
Palmer?s many decisions on the commission over the years helped to bring the successful sewer project to fruition.
VOTER TURNOUT in the city was well below county and state numbers.
Presque Isle county clerk Sue Rhode said voter turnout was 58.21 percent. Of the 11,138 registered voters, 6,483 votes were cast. Voter turnout was about 57 percent in Cheboygan County, according to county clerk Mary Ellen Tryban.
In the city, 311 votes were cast out of the 696 registered voters. State-wide voter turnout was 53.3 percent.
There were 3,833,357 voters who went to the polls in Tuesday?s election in Michigan, which is a mid-term record, according to the Secretary of State?s office.
Vote counts are unofficial until certified by the Board of State Canvassers.
*STATE REP. KEVIN ELSENHEIMER won a second term in the State House of Representatives. Elsenheimer defeated Democratic challenger Tom Hay Bauer of Mentor Township. The 105th Michigan House District includes a significant part of Cheboygan County.
?It was a good experience,? said Howard Viegelahn Wednesday morning from his office on his Section 12 Highway farm. Viegelahn lost his bid for the 106th State Rep. seat to Democrat Matt Gillard Tuesday, 23,675 to 12,827, with all 79 precincts in the district reporting. The incumbent also took Presque Isle County, 3,321 to 2,930.
In the race for State Senator, Republican incumbent Jason Allen defeated Democratic challenger Sharon Unger, 63,495 to 43,743. That was with all 179 precincts reporting. He wins another four years in office. The vote count in Presque Isle County was: Allen 3,492, Unger 2,693. Cheboygan County: 6,783 to 4,466.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm locked up a second consecutive term in the Governor?s chair by defeating Republican challenger Dick DeVos. The votes by county follow: Cheboygan County: DeVos 5,891, Granholm 5,457. Pres
The conservation state proposal fund passed; a proposal to ban affirmative action was approved; the mourning dove hunt was defeated; the eminent domain proposal got the thumbs up; while the school funding issue for K-16 was defeated.
Democrat U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, who is completing his 14th year in Congress, easily fended off four challengers to win another two years in Washington.
Democrat U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow rode a nationwide wave of anti-Republican sentiment straight into a second six-year term, sweeping past GOP challenger Mike Bouchard.
In other local races, Democrat Donald J. Spray defeated Republican David D. Brown for Cheboygan County road commissioner, 5,945 to 5,190.