By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
On the Clare County level, voters went to decide if they would approve millage renewals for the Senior Services Millage, a 0.27 mil request. The millage request was approved by a vote of 4,904 to 1,599.
The millage helps Senior Services to continue to provide In- Home Services and Congregate Meals for seniors at two dining centers and home delivered meals to homebound seniors.
A second county request was for the renew of .5 mills for the Clare County Transit. The voters also approved that millage by a vote of 4,167 to 2,332. That funds the county-wide Clare County Transit services at the same combined level previously approved by voters and helps provide rides to and from places of employment, schools, grocery stores, doctor’s appointments, retail establishments, special events, and food distributions throughout the area for a small fee, or even free for those over 80 and veterans.
The Farwell School District’s request to establish a .5 (1/2 mill) Sinking Fund was approved by a very narrow margin Tuesday. Voters approved the proposal 1,180 to 1,062. The millage will begin an investment fund (savings) for specific repair, construction and remodeling, security issues and technology upgrades. The plus for the approval of this millage, which will raise an estimated $240,000 the first year, is that it will fill the gap as the millage for the 2019 bond decreases, so the taxpayer will not see an increase on their bill and will keep the millage at its present rate of 3 mills for the next two years.
Candidate results are also in for the Primary Election Tuesday. At the state level, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer will face Republican Tudor M. Dixon in November. Dixon had 369,723 votes; Kevin Rinke 201,221 Garret Soldano had 172,314 ; Ryan Kelley 146,587; and Ralph Rebandt 39,375.
Republican Incumbent John Moolenaar, winner in the Primary with 77,391 votes against Thomas Norton with 41,272, will now face Democrat Jerry Hilliard in November for the next two-year term as a Congressional Representative in the 2nd District.
In the Republican Primary, Roger Hauck handily won the ballot slot in November with 27,721 votes against Lisa M. Sowers with 8,334. Hauck will now face Democrat Christine Gerace in the November election for a four-year term as State Senator of the 34th District.
In the Republican Primary Race for the 99th District State Legislature, the clear winner was Mike Hoadley with 6,720 votes against Shawn Petri with3,999. Alan Hover claimed 683 votes and Earl Lackie 650. Hoadley will face Democrat Kenneth A. Kish in November.
There were no challenges at all in the Primary for the 100th District of the State Legislature but Republican Tom Kunse will face Democratic opposition in November from Nate Bailey.
In Clare County races, two Republicans, Merle Harmon and Max L. Schunk had no opposition from Democrats in the Primary and won’t have any in November, assuring them of the two seats on the Clare County Road Commission.
On the Clare County Commission, representing District 1, Republican Marlene M. Housler won over Curtis Schaub in a close race 305-300 Republican Primary insuring that, with no Democratic opposition, she will claim that seat in November.
With no Democratic opposition for the District 2 seat on the County Commission, Republican Dale Majewski faced a challenge from Bronwyn Hawks Asplund in the Republican Primary. Majewski claimed the seat in a 361-263 vote.
Two more Republicans faced off Tuesday for the District 3 seat on the board. With no opposition in November, Samantha Pitchford won the seat in a 336 vote to 202 votes cast for Jacob Gross.
The District 4 seat on the County board will be filled by Republican Jeff Haskell, who had no opposition in the primary and won’t face any from the Democrats in November.
Republican David Hoefling will face Democrat Sandra Bristol in November after his win in the Republican Primary Tuesday. Hoefling collected 348 votes to Robert Van Denbrook’s 266.
Who fills the District 6 seat was decided Tuesday when Republican and former commissioner Jack Kleinhardt won that Primary race against Shawn Anderson 341 to 215. There were no candidates in the Democratic Primary.
Only two Republicans were on the Republican Primary side for District 7 and District 8 seats on the County board. For District 7, Republican Gabe Ambrozaitis was unopposed in the Primary and will be unopposed in November. The same holds true for Republican George Gilmore who likely will fill the District 8 seat on the County Commission after an uncontested November election.
The final board member for District 9 will not be determined until the November election when unopposed Republican candidate Rickie G. Fancon and Democratic candidate Tom Koch face off for the seat.
Townships:
In Grant Township, Incumbent Republican Karl W. Randall lost his board seat to Linda Gilmore by a vote of 257-214 in the Republican Primary. With no opposition from the Democratic side, Gilmore will claim the trustee position on the board in November.
Grant Township voters also approved a renewal of the 1.098 millage for fire protection that was on the August 2 ballot. The vote was 553 to 131 for four more years to provide funds for fire protection from the Clare Fire Department.
Four other Township Republicans and one Democrat were unopposed on the Primary ballot and have no opposition in November. They are Republican Valdine Erskine for Hamilton Township Clerk; Republican Susan L. Brower for Redding Township Clerk, Republican Cindy LaFave for Freeman Township Clerk, Republican Donald Warner for Greenwood Township Treasurer, Democrat Sandra Bristol for and Democrat Sherilene Levy for Summerfield Township Treasurer.
In Lincoln Township two proposals were on the ballot. Voters approved 350 to 151 a renewal and restored millage of 1.25 mills for ten years to fund law enforcement services. They also approved 392 to 124 a proposal to renew the Lincoln Township Fire and Rescue Services millage rate of 1.5 mills for ten more years.
A one-mill request for road maintenance and improvement in Hamilton Township was approved by voters 255 to 207.
Summerfield Township voters approved the 1.930 mill request 69 to 24, which will continue the road millage for five more years.