Despite the political pundits’ predictions of a blue wave in Michigan and the United States, Allegan County continues to be a Republican party stronghold.
Voting against the tide state-wide, voters in the county favored GOP standard bearer Donald Trump 41,381 to 24,447 for Democrat Joe Biden, 62.85 percent to 37.15%.
GOP U.S. Senate candidate John James did even better in the county, polling 42,351 to incumbent Gary Peters’ 22,937, a margin of 64.286 to 35.714 percent. However, Peters won statewide in the end.
Closer to home, Watson Township, one of the few
Allegan County municipalities with a Democratic majority four years ago, now is 4 to 1 on the Township Board. Supervisor Kevin Travis defeated Dem challenger Helen Goyings 862 to 348. Republican challenger defeated incumbent Treasurer Sue Jones 800 to 396 and two Republicans, Michelle Harris and Jack Carl Wood turned back a challenge from Democrat Candy Adrianson with 833 and 738 votes, respectively, while Adrianson had 411.
Clerk Kelli Morris is the lone remaining Democrat, as she ran unopposed.
The election for Wayland City Council seats showed newcomer Norman Taylor, retired Wayland Union Schools Superintendent, joined incumbents Abe Garcia and Joe Kramer on the council. Incumbent Tim Rose
finished out of the money in fourth place with 878 votes, Kramer had 1,050, Garcia 934 and Taylor 963.
Tim Bala was re-elected mayor by a comfortable margin of 1,146 to 660 for challenger Tracy Bivins, a former council member. Bala has been mayor since 2008.
The race for Wayland Board of Education also delivered somewhat of a shock as Board President Cinnamon Mellema finished fifth in a race for four seats. Theresa Dobry garnered the most votes with 4,197, Becky Hohnke had 4,025, Dan Cassini 3,658, Jason Shane 3,508 and Mellema 3,381.
Incumbent State Reps. Mary Whiteford and Steve Johnson were re-elected handily. Whiteford has earned the distinction of being the first state legislator to serve more than six years since 1996, when term limits were instituted. She won a special election after Cindy Gamrat was expelled and then was elected elected to three consecutive regular terms.
Mr Young:
That’s the beauty the freedom to vote has. The majority chose those who they believe are best for their community. These, in my opinion, are the most important…. very few presidents (except Gerald Ford) could have driven from the White House directly to Wayland or Dorr without guidance.
The country’s president is no doubt important, but our local leaders affect our lives directly with their every decision.
Per the article “GOP U.S. Senate candidate John James did even better in the county, polling 42,351 to incumbent Gary Peters’ 22,937, a margin of 64.286 to 35.714 percent. ” I am confused, Republicans are racists? or are we? Just how does this work? No matter the truth or facts, labels are used, remember this next election.
Yeah Bob, voting for a trumpee sycophant totally proves that trumpees aren’t racist. That logic is right up there with saying you’ve got a colored TV.
Mr. Gless,
Sir,
You forgot to say LTC James is a minority, having lived in the deep south in the 1960s I can say no racist would ever vote for an African American. Something is wrong when you say if you are an African American who supports President Trump you are not black, as Vice President Biden said. Your logic is not logical.
Army Bob,
Mr. Gless, being an avowed diehard Democrat, knows from experience about racists, since the KKK was a Democrat organization. Mr. Biden is a prime example.