It was a big night for Clark Galloway, developer of the his proposed airstrip Galloway Landings in Leighton Township.
Voters in the Aug. 7 primary election voted 1,069 to 717 in agreement with the Township Board to allow improvement of the airstrip near 144th Avenue and Kalamazoo Avenue, formerly used by property owners Bill and Rita Martin. The tally amounted to just shy of 60 percent yes and a little more than 40% no.
Galloway about two years ago presented plans to improve the airstrip to accommodate up to four residences and seven planes. Neighbors protested, insisting the operation would disturb the rural agricultural character of the site and perhaps present noise and safety problems.
Some residents went as far as gathering enough petition signatures to place the issue as a referendum on the Aug. 7 primary ballot.
Galloway Landings, with the positive vote, will proceed with improving the airstrip.
Whitmer, Schuette win gubernatorial primaries
Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette gave his victory speech at about 10 p.m. in the GOP primary race, defeating Lt. Gov. Brian Calley with about 50 percent of the statewide vote tally. Calley didn’t even muster 25% and Jim Hines and Patrick Colbek were far back in the four-way race.
On the Democratic side, two-term State Senator Gretchen Whitmer also polled around 50% of the vote, Abdul El-Sayed picked up about 34 percent and Shri Thandar, despite massive advertising, finished third.
Nesbitt wins GOP Senate primary impressively
Aric Nesbitt of Lawton captured more than 60 percent of the vote in a surprising blowout victory in the contest for 26th District State Senator. Allegan County Clerk Bob Genetski, former state representative from the 80th District, was second and Don Wickstra was third.
Nesbitt, a farmer and former state representative from the district in Van Buren County, spent a fair amount of money with broadcast advertising. He will now face Democrat Garnet Lewis in the Nov. 6 general election.
The 26th District includes all of VanBuren and Allegan counties and Gaines Township and Kentwood in Kent County.
In the GOP primary race for U.S. Senate, John James defeated Sandy Penslar for the right to square off against incumbent Democrat Debbie Stabenow in November.
Dr. Matt Littlejohn won the four-way contest among 6th Congressional District Democrats, besting George Franklin, David Benac and Rich Eicholz. He now will face Republican incumbent Fred Upton, who is seeking his 17th two-year term in Washington.
Johnson wallops challenger in Allegan County
Incumbent Republican Steve Johnson, seeking his second term in the State House, handily defeated challenger Jennifer Antel in Allegan County vote tallies with about 74% of the vote, but final tallies hadn’t come in yet from Gaines Township and the City of Kentwood.
Johnson only polled 29.3% in the five-way 2016 primary race.
Antel, mayor pro tem for the City of Wayland, was expected to give hm a stronger tussle in the Kent County portions of the district.
Ludwig appears to be Dem choice in 80th District
Mark Ludwig of Fennville appears to have won the primary for the 80th District State Representative seat.
Ludwig was off to a commanding lead in early polling against Erik Almquist.
If he prevails, he has the unviable task of taking on incumbent Republican Mary Whiteford in the Nov. 6 general election.
The 80th District takes in all of Allegan County except Wayland, Dorr and Leighton townships and the City of Wayland.