Two incumbent Republicans in Allegan County were upset victims in Tuesday’s primary election.
Myrene Koch was foiled in her bid for a third four-year term as prosecutor by Mike Villar, who lost to Koch by only 17 votes in 2020. This time it was Villar who prevailed, with just over 50 percent of the total vote and a margin of 79. He had tried to win the post twice before and was turned away.
There was no word yet if Koch will seek a recount. The prosecutor’s contest easily was the most bitter in the county primary, with Villar attacking Koch’s record as an administrator and in court.
But perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was newcomer Cade Bolser defeating incumbent Mark Evans in Hopkins Township. Evans had served as supervisor for 28 years, starting in 1996. The tally was 411 to 238, or 63.3% to 36.7 percent.
However, another area veteran supervisor, Henry Reinhart turned back a challenge in Monterey Township from Stephen Young, 300 to 137.
All other township contests were non-races, with incumbents facing no primary opposition.
In the non-partisan race for the new 48th District Circuit Court seat, Emily Jipp of Saugatuck was the top vote-getter with 9,100 and Elizabeth Peterson was runner-up, so the two will face off in the Nov. 5 general election. Alice Bernal of Dorr finished out of the money.
In the state representative races for 43rd and 79th Districts, incumbent Republicans Rachelle Smit and Angela Rigas were unopposed.
Despite winning plenty of financial support, challenger Rich Cutshaw mustered less than 36% of the votes against incumbent Matt Hall in the 42nd District State Representative contest.
Allegan County Sheriff Frank Baker easily won his second four-year term with 63.5% of the total vote in a challenge from Dean Brandt.
Most local millage requests for fire, roads were approved. The proposal for county-wide roads and for recycling and the emergency 911 surcharge were approved by wide margins.
Only three of the millage requests among the six townships in northeast Allegan County lost.
Two were in Leighton Township, where a fire millage was defeated 691 to 640 and a road millage went down in flames by a 65-35% tally.
The fire millage in Dorr won 60 percent approval, as did proposals for roads in Watson Township, 226 to 148 and Wayland Township 475 to 273. The Wayland Township recycling proposition won with 55%, but a road proposal went down by just three votes, 375 to 372.
Leighton Township officials have said they plan to ask for road and fire millage approval again in November and it’s likely Wayland Township will try again Nov. 5 for road millage.