Debbie Sew
ers, Steve Johnson and two Dorr Township millage proposals were the biggest winners Tuesday in the Republican Party primary election.
Sewers won the Dorr Township Clerk’s post with about 58 percent of the votes cast, defeating incumbent Brian Boot. The former deputy clerk, she did it the old-fashioned way, campaigning hard and going door to door.
Johnson was the clear leader among five candidates for 72nd District State Representative with more than 42% of the votes tallied. Tony Noto was second, but Johnson appeared to have it locked up. Democrat Steve Shoemaker was winning the 72nd District race over Dick Cunningham with about 68%.
Incumbent Mary Whiteford of South Haven was winning handily in her bid to win her first full term as state representative from the 80th District. With more than 60% of the vote counted, she had collected about 72 percent over challenger Abigail Nobel of Salem Township.
The news was encouraging for the Dorr Township volunteer citizens’ roads committee, chaired by Carolyn Sandel. The margin was slim, at 51.16% to 48.84%, but it was the first time the three-mill request was approved, on its third attempt. It was defeated by only 22 votes in August 2014, but was clobbered in in a special May 2015 election, which included the widely unpopular state-wide roads proposal.
Dorr Township Fire Chief Gary Fordham also had to breathe a sigh of relief for the one-mill mill voters passed by a count of about 56% to 44%. The half-mill renewal was defeated in 2012 and 2014, and the department was down to having to consider seeking help from the township’s general fund to buy equipment and apparatus.
The largest millage proposal on the primary ballot, Martin schools’ request for approval of a $17.65 million bond issue for improvements over several years, was p
assed by a convincing margin of 63
% to 36%.
Another huge individual winner in the primary was Dorr Township Supervisor Jeff Miling, who easily turned back a challenge from Trustee Patty Senneker with more than 68% of the final vote. Senneker had challenged Miling in a special election in 2014 along with fellow Trustee John Tuinstra, and both were turned away by wide margins.
Senneker, along with Boot, will have to give up her seat in November. The four Republican trustees who were elected without opposition were Tuinstra, Josh Otto, Dan Weber and newcomer Terri Rios.
Leighton Township Supervisor Steve Deer got more than 63 percent of the total vote to defeat challenger Dianna Moore, who had run unsuccessfully against Clerk Mary Lou Nieuwenhuis four years prior.
Incumbent trustees John Hooker and Brian Bonnema turned back a challenge from Matt Vander Eide in a three-for-two race. Hooker had 43.18% of the vote and Bonnema 35.06%.
Another incumbent who turned back a challenge was Hopkins Township Treasurer Sandra Morris, who captured nearly 70% of the vote in her victory a second time over Kathy Laseur.
Outside of the Townbroadcast coverage area, but relevant in Tuesday’s election returns, was the victory of challenger Henry J. Reinart over Nevin Cooper-Keel for Monterey Township Supervisor with a significant 66.44% of the vote. Reinart runs an ad in this publication and he submitted a letter to the editor asking for constituents’ support. His father, Chris Reinart, lost to Cooper-Keel by one vote in a recount four years ago.
Otherwise, the remainder of the voting results reflected victories for incumbents running unopposed and millage renewals that were approved.
PHOTOS: Debbie Sewers Steven Johnson
Jeff Miling Steve Deer
