By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
THUMB AREA — The Tuscola County Board of Canvassers and the Huron County Board of Canvassers have each completed verifying Tuesday’s election results, but the “official tally” of two school districts is still pending.
Because the Reese School District and the Mayville School District are each in another county besides Tuscola, those election results are still pending as of press time.
The Tuscola County Board of Canvassers met Wednesday and all day Thursday to complete their verification process. They met 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon also.
“Hopefully, the other counties will have their results in (Friday) so we can complete this,” said Tuscola County Clerk Jodi Fetting. “We are waiting for the results from Lapeer County for Mayville Schools, and the results from Bay County for Reese Schools. When we get those numbers, we will be finished.”
The 84th State House seat:
From a field of seven Republicans and two Democrats vying to represent the 84th House seat, the field was narrowed to two. In the general election in the fall, Republican Edward J. Canfield and Democrat David J. Jaronch will square off in the fall.
The final totals for 84th State Rep. seat were:
Canfield won in both Tuscola and Huron counties. In Huron County, he received 1,709 votes, and 1,530 votes in Tuscola County for a total of 3,239.
Other Republican candidates received: James L. Wencel ran a good race coming in second. He received 1,045 in Huron and 835 in Tuscola for a total of 1,880 votes. Curtis J. Boehmer received 285 votes in Tuscola and 422 in Huron for a total of 707 votes. Kurt Damrow received 416 votes in Tuscola and 746 in Huron for a total of 1,162 votes. Dan Grimshaw received 1,179 votes in Tuscola and 209 in Huron for a total of 1,388 votes. Marlene Jobe received 166 votes in Tuscola and 662 in Huron for a total of 828 votes. Tom Wassa received 915 votes in Tuscola and 370 votes in Huron for a total of 1,285 votes.
Democrat David J. Jaronch received 877 votes in Tuscola and 1,076 votes in Huron for a total of 1.953 votes. Richard Badger received 783 votes in Tuscola and 358 votes in Huron for a total of 1,141 total votes.
For the 31st District Senate set:
With a little over a 600 vote margin Inc. Mike Green will go on to the November election.
Green received 10,409 votes to edge out Kevin Daley who received 9,756 votes. Jeffery L. Phillips received 947.
Green received 3,726 votes in Tuscola County, Daley received 1,512, and Phillips 212.
Green will no square off against Ron Mindykowski (D – Bay City) in the fall.
At the present time the 31st District covers Arenac Huron, Sanilac, Tuscola and Bay counties. However, because of redistricting, the boundaries of his 31st State Senate seat will be comprised of Lapeer, Bay and Tuscola counties as of Jan. 1, 2015.
The candidates who won the primary election will square off in the general election Tuesday, Nov. 4.
State Proposal:
State Proposal 1 to eliminate the state’s personal property tax passed in the state. In Tuscola County the issue received 5,432 yes votes to 2,106 vote votes, and in Huron County it received 5,130 yes to 1,618 no votes.
TUSCOLA COUNTY
TUSCOLA COUNTY MOSQUITO ABATEMENT’S request for .6316 received 6,534 yes to 1,122 no votes.
There was a contested Republican race for the one, Tuscola County Road Commission seat
Inc. John “Jack” Laurie received 2,693 votes to edge out newcomer Cody Thomas received who received 1,906 votes.
There were also several millage issues on the ballot.
ALMER CHARTER TOWNSHIP’S request for 1 new mill for five years for roads upkeep received 193 yes to 88 no votes.
DENMARK TOWNSHIP’S request to issue bonds for a $2.4 million water project was defeated with 497 no votes to 440 yes votes. (See related article.)
The renewal request for 1 mill for six years for road improvements was approved with 655 yes votes to 252 no votes; but the second request for 1 additional mill for six years for road maintenance and improvements to roads was defeated with 583 no votes to 319 yes votes.
ELMWOOD TOWNSHIP’S request for 1.25 mills for fire protection was approved with 117 yes to 31 no votes.
GILFORD TOWNSHIP’S got 2 mills for roads received 113 yes to 46 no votes.
MAYVILLE SCHOOLS’ request to renew 18 mills received 595 yes to 293 no votes. The tally from Lapeer County is still pending.
MILLINGTON ARBELA DISTRICT LIBRARY’S request for 1 mill received 759 yes to 295 no votes.
NOVESTA TOWNSHIP’S request or up to 1 mill for roads received 104 yes to 86 no votes.
RAWSON MEMORIAL LIBRARY’S request of .35 received 647 votes to 162 no votes.
REESE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S request of 1.5 mills for a sinking fund received 638 yes votes to 275 no votes. The tally from Bay County is still pending.
UNIONVILLE – SEBEWAING SCHOOL DISTRICT’S request for 18 mills received 295 yes votes and 77 no votes in Tuscola County, and 457 yes votes and 207 no votes in Huron County for a total of 752 yes to 284 no votes.
HURON COUNTY
For the six-year 52nd Huron County Circuit Court Judge position are newcomers Gerald M. Prill and Timothy J. Rutkowski will square of in November. Prill received 2,897 votes and Rutkowski received 2,702 votes. And, Jill L. Schmidt received 1,178 votes.
Because a judgeship is a nonpartisan position, two candidates move on to the next election.
Also, Sebewaing Township’s millages for the library, roads, and emergency services all passed.
In Tuscola County, it was about midnight before all of the precincts reported results. In Huron County, the final totals were reported about 9:30 p.m.
Voter turnout was light. Of Tuscola County’s approximate 40,778 register voters only 7,231 voted, which was about 17.73 percent. There was a little better turnout in Huron County with 7,242 of the county’s approximate 26,213 registered voters participating, which was about 27.63 percent.
Compiled by Mary Drier, a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.