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 20^th District with nearly 70 percent of the tally. Term limited State Rep. Thomas Albert breezed to victory in the 18^th with about 68.5%.

The 43^rd 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.

The other State Rep. district in the county, the 79^th, 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.