Whiteford wins State Rep. race easily; Martin’s 4 road mills OK’d

Republican Mary Whiteford has won the special election for 80^th District State Representative in an apparent landslide.

Meanwhile, a request to approve a four-mill levy for Martin Township roads for 10 years was approved 340 to 235, or 59% to 41%. A total of 3.996 mills amounted to a renewal and the full four mills are a rollback of provisions of the Headlee Amendment.

Whiteford, with 100% of the precincts reporting, had polled 14,812 votes, or nearly 64% of the total. Democrat David Gernant of Plainwell, a retired judge, at the same time had 6,926 votes, or 29.82%.

The 80^th District includes all of Allegan County except for the City of Wayland and Leighton, Dorr and Wayland townships. Municipalities in this area that are part of the district are Hopkins, Watson, Martin, Salem and Monterey townships.

In the presidential primary count of 84.8% of precincts, the huge surprise was that Democrat Bernie Sanders of Vermont was leading former Secretary of State and New York Senator Hillary Clinton by a 60.3% to 37.95% margin.

On the Republican side, Texas Senator Ted Cruz was the top vote getter with 36.87%, or 7,531votes. Businessman and reality TV star Donald Trump had 26.08% and Texas Gov. John Kasich 22.70%. Florida Senator Marco Rubio was trailing badly in fourth with 9.7 percent.

Whiteford in 2014 ran in the GOP primary for 80^th District State Rep., but was runner-up in a four-candidate race, losing to Cindy Gamrat of Plainwell. However, Gamrat last year became embroiled in a sex and coverup scandal with fellow State Rep. Todd Courser and was expelled from her seat last Sept. 11 in Lansing.

Whiteford, a nurse and co-business owner from the South Haven area, decided to seek the office again, this time winning the GOP primary in November with more than 50% of the vote in a seven-candidate field.

Gernant ran unopposed in the special primary in November.

PHOTO: State Rep. Mary Whiteford