Midterm election draws voters to the polls
by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor
Approximately half of Presque Isle County voters went to the polls for Tuesday’s mid-term election that yielded few surprises.
“You could not split it more evenly,” said county clerk Ann Marie Main, when the final tallies were counted after midnight.
The Presque Isle County Board of Canvassers was scheduled to meet Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Presque Isle Township election worker Cynthia Paavola, who serves as a trustee on the township board, said there was a steady stream of traffic all day at her precinct.
“It was very busy,” said Paavola. “We had a lot of absentee ballots. We never had less than six people lined up. Some more, some less. It took time, because it was such a big ballot, with all the issues. It was good, we were encouraged.”
Incumbents ruled the day, including Gov. Rick Snyder (R), who won a second term over Mark Schauer (D), and carried the county by less than 400 votes (2,743-2,365).
“We’re not going to stop today,” Snyder stated on his campaign Web site. “We’re going to keep moving forward – we’re going to keep accelerating – tomorrow, and on Thursday, and on Friday, and for the next four years.”
If there was one surprise, it was the passage of the countywide recycling millage that will add 1/10th mill to the December tax roll.
The county is planning on using the funding to refurbish recycling bins, pay for hauling to Emmet County and schedule a hazardous waste pickup day in the future.
It passed in both Rogers City precincts by a total of 623 to 383. Presque Isle Township supported it 500 to 375, as did Onaway, 133 to 91.
While Onaway city voters were supporting recycling, they defeated the marijuana charter amendment, 148 to 82.
In the races for county commissioner, District 4 incumbent Carl “Preach” Altman (R) was retained with 70.58 percent of the votes in five precincts. He had 607 votes. Challenger Gary Rickard garnered 251 votes in his first go-around.
Bob Schell (D) was the only other commissioner to receive a challenge and that came from Green Party candidate Wayne Vermilya. Schell won District 1 by a comfortable margin, 537 to 285, although Vermilya was pleased with the how he did, running as a third party candidate.
“I will live to fight another day and I am very pleased to know that almost 300 people turned out in support of not only me but the Green Party platform,” stated Vermilya in an e-mail statement to the media. “I wish commissioner Schell the best in facing the county’s many challenges.”
Dr. Dan Benishek (R) will return to congress for a third term after edging Jerry Cannon (D) 124,597 to 109,010. He carried the county by 300 votes.
“As a doctor from the U.P. I never thought I would run for Congress, but representing northern Michigan has been a privilege and I want to thank the hardworking people in this great district for their continued support,” stated Benishek in an e-mail.
Peter Pettalia (R) was a convincing winner over Robert Kennedy ( D), 18,614 to 15,219.
Other winners included Gary Peters (D), who will take retiring U.S. Senator Carl Levin’s seat in Washington, D.C. He was projected
Bill Schuette (R) was retained as attorney general and Jim Stamas (R) was elected to the state senate.
School elections in Posen were as follows: Anna Soik, 545, Danielle Kowalski 511 and Dennis Budnick 471. There were three running for three seats.
In Rogers City, Ivy Cook was the leading vote getter with 1,241 and was followed by Frank Andrews at 1,095. there were 441 write-it votes; however, it was unclear how many went to incumbent Don Kromer. Voters were electing three board members.
The results are unofficial until certified by the board of canvassers.