City commission to resume intact in January: Wregglesworth, Abshagen and Marsh win recall vote
by Peter Jakey- Managing Editor
Two out of three incumbents were retained during this week’s historic yet controversial election in Onaway, but by January the original board will be back to serve the city into 2014.
Jessie R. Horrocks was the lone incumbent recalled from the board and will be replaced immediately by Roger Marsh for the final three regular meetings of 2013. However, Horrocks garnered enough votes to reclaim her seat in the general election.
Mayor Gary Wregglesworth was retained over former police chief James A. Gibson, 144 to 107. Additionally, commissioner Chuck Abshagen was the top vote getter among several candidates in the retain/recall issue (134) and the general election (131).
Marsh received 115 votes to edge out Horrocks by one vote to recall the incumbent. James G. Grainger was not far behind with 112 votes.
On the general election side, Horrocks was the second leading vote getter with 105 votes. Marsh trailed her by nine votes. Grainger had 91, followed by Brad C. Porter with 39 and Richard Norman with 26.
Abshagen and Horrocks will serve two-year terms from 2014 to the end of 2015.
All vote counts are unofficial until certified by the county board of canvassers, who were meeting Thursday at the Presque Isle County courthouse.
Still on tap in May is another retain/recall questions regarding the future of incumbents Bernie Schmeltzer and Ron Horrocks.
In what may be the most confusing ballot to ever face Onaway voters, they turned out in big numbers. Nearly 40 percent of the city’s voters showed up.
“I’m very pleased with the results,” said Wregglesworth. “I also was very pleased with the turnout.
“This election gives us the opportunity to keep moving Onaway forward. We have a very competent city manager. By continuing to work with him and continuing with a team effort on all fronts, we can continue to do great things,” the mayor said.
Abshagen echoed those thoughts.
“I believe the voters have shown their support for the direction in which the city is moving,” said Abshagen. “Now that the election is over, hopefully we can reunite as a city and move forward.”
Marsh was pleased with the large turn out, “and I’m happy to see so many exercising their right to vote. I am a little confused over the whole situation though, having won the recall but losing the general election. I would have expected either winning or losing both, but not the split. Either way, I plan on giving the city six good weeks of service.”
Jessie Horrocks plans to attend the final meetings of the year to keep up on the issues.
“I am disappointed with the results of the recall, of course, but I am looking forward to getting back to it in January,” said Horrocks. “I am hoping these election results are a statement to (the opposition) so we can start moving forward on the things we need to work on. It is very difficult when you go to a meeting and you can’t work on the things you need to work because you are bogged down.”
Gibson plans to run again for mayor in November when Wregglesworth’s four-year term expires.
Gibson said, “I think it turned out the way we wanted it to. We got it on the ballot, and we let the voters decide. In that respect, it was a win.”
He was not disappointed that he was not able to claim the mayor’s seat. “This was all up to the people, and this is what the people wanted…I am not bitter or disappointed.”
Gibson also believes there was some confusion regarding the election that he may take to the state election commission.
He also plans to continue attending meetings and staying involved.
“I have a right to voice my opinion and I am not going to stop doing that,” said Gibson.
In other matters, the Presque Isle County
There was concern that the negative tone associated with the courthouse project would affect other proposals. It did not in the case of the Presque Isle County Council on Aging’s transportation question. The organization will get its one-quarter of a mill with voters giving it a thumbs up, 1,886 to 1,075.
In Case Township, voters backed a 30-year irrevocable electric franchise with Presque Isle Electric and Gas Coop, 79 to 47.