Articles

School bond defeated; Smit wins 43rd District Rep. seat

Rachelle Smit

The Wayland School District’s $48.5 million bond proposal was defeated in Tuesday’s primary election by a count of 2,703 to 2,478, or roughly 52 to 48 percent.

The proposal to build a new swimming pool and enable renovations at all district buildings was turned down heavily in Dorr, Hopkins and Leighton townships.

The much ballyhooed governor’s derby for the Republican Party, talk show host and businesswoman Tudor Dixon pulled away and was declared the winner by 9:30 p.m. by national news outlets. In the biggest upset of the night, newcomer John Gibbs unseated incumbent Peter Meijer in the Third Congressional District.

In the two Michigan Senate GOP primary contests, incumbent Aric Nesbitt was a runaway winner in the 20th District with nearly 70 percent of the tally. Term limited State Rep. Thomas Albert breezed to victory in the 18th with about 68.5%.

The 43rd District State Rep. race was more interesting, but it appeared in the early going that Martin Township Clerk Rachelle Smit would pull out the victory with about 50 percent of the total vote among four candidates. She polled 4,539 votes in Allegan County and runner-up Dorr businesswoman Lindsey Kronenmeyer was a distant second with 2,930.

Angela Rigas

The other State Rep. district in the county, the 79th, which includes Leighton Township, saw Angela Rigas with a wide lead over two other candidates with about 68 percent of the vote.

Rigas, Smit and Dixon all were endorsed by former President Donald Trump as was Gibbs over Meijer.

In one of the few upsets of the night, Scott Beltman, architect of the new county-wide ORV ordinance, captured the Fourth District County Commissioner’s seat with 1,884, eclipsing the 971 for incumbent Max Thiele.

Martin Township’s fire millage proposal was approved handily, 493-186.

In Dorr Township, a millage for curbside recycling proposal for $50 per year per household was passed 1,145 to 1,057.

In Dorr Township, a millage for curbside recycling proposal for $50 per year per household was passed 1,145 to 1,057. Watson Township finally joined the curbside recycling program by approving a ballot proposal 294 to 228. Watson voters also approved a road improvement millage, 340 to 185.

Allegan County’s senior millage request seemed to headed for easy victory by better than a 2-to-1 margin.

9 Comments

  • Esteemed: being respected; having an illustrious reputation

    It’s clearly evident that many of Allegan County’s voters think like commenter David and trust the only former US President to attempt a coup and overturn the results of a general election by stopping the Vice President from certifying the results in 58 US Presidential elections starting when George Washington agreed to run for a 2nd term in 1793. Every GOP nominee for state wide office and state legislative office in Allegan County supports Trump’s Big Lie. Esteemed? Yeah right.

    Elections in Trump’s world, along with commenter David, Tudor Dixon, Angela Rigas, Smit and Huizenga (who was unopposed in the primary) are only valid when Republicans win. Welcome to government controlled by the West MI Christian Taliban if they are successful in November,

    • Couch, Thanks a bunch. It is clear the truth excites many libs. Many Traditional Americans look forward to November. Take care.

  • WUS district voters. Please don’t despair, they (school board) will give you another opportunity this fall in the General election to vote in the 48.5 million of free money. Nope I don’t have any “credible” sources however past history says we will have yet another chance.

    Cheers!!

    • John Wilkens, you are correct. In my experience as a supplier to the education market I have witnessed and had numerous discussions with school superintendents across west Michigan regarding this very subject. School districts hire an architect, whose firm has experienced people in the bond writing world. The philosophy is this; First, hit the voters with a huge outlandish bond request, AKA sticker shock, then months later pare this down a bit to get what you really want, then put that before the voters. This time explaining how they have cut away some of the truly “wants” and now offer what are truly “needs.”

      • Good old smoke and mirrors. If they don’t win the first time they will keep on hammering until they do.
        Disgraceful.

Leave a Reply to John Wilkens X