Polls come to a close in Royal Oak and Clawson

ROYAL OAK/CLAWSON — Voting booths are now closed and unofficial results from the election Nov. 5 have been announced.

In Royal Oak and Clawson, voters were tasked with deciding federal, state, county and local elections, including Oakland County commissioners and two proposals in Clawson.

Clawson voters voted on a charter amendment concerning retail cannabis establishments and a $64.5 million bond proposal.

Machele Kukuk, Clawson city clerk, said that the election went smoothly for Clawson voters. There were fewer voters who turned up in person than expected.

“We were busy and steady all day,” she said Nov. 6. “We didn’t hit the 80% mark that we had in 2020; I think we were more like 77% or 78% — I haven’t quite finished all of my tallying on my reports, but that’s what I saw on the county site.”

Clawson voters were asked to vote on a proposed city charter amendment establishing “an application process, selection criteria, licenses, fees, and regulations for two adult-use retail cannabis establishments in the City,” according to the ballot language.

The charter amendment was passed in Clawson. Of the 7,093 votes, 3,824 (53.91%) approved the amendment and 3,269 (46.09%) voted no.

Joe Rheker, Clawson city manager, said that he cannot yet make a comment on the charter amendment.

“Its passage has some legal exposure that still needs to pass scrutiny,” he said via email.

Clawson voters also voted on an infrastructure improvement bond to allow the “City of Clawson, Michigan, to borrow the sum of not to exceed Sixty-Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($64,500,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds, in one or more series, payable in not to exceed twenty-one (21) years from the date of issuance, for the purpose of paying all or part of the costs to acquire, construct, reconstruct and improve infrastructure for the City, including road and street improvements, water main replacements and improvements, sanitary sewer improvements, and storm sewer improvements, together with all related site improvements.” The language continues to say that “the estimated millage to be levied in 2025 is 3.50 mills ($3.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds is 5.26 mills ($5.26 per $1,000 of taxable value).”

The infrastructure improvement bond was approved. Of the 7,021 votes, 4,478 (63.78%) said yes to the bond, and 2,543 (36.22%) said no.

“Hopefully we will be seeing our roads get fixed here,” Kukuk said. “As far as the charter amendment, I don’t have a comment at this point.”

Rheker said that he is relieved that the infrastructure bond has been passed.

“I interviewed 2.5 years ago stating we would have to develop a millage for a revenue stream. Our team worked hard to provide transparent access and awareness to information and how this millage would financially impact them. The voters have spoken and want better roads, sewers, and water mains; and now they’ll get it,” he said over email.

Improvements will begin to be made as early as spring 2025, Rheker said.

“If you look around you will see we have several projects going on: Broadacre/Washington, Redruth. Miscellaneous Concrete patching and spray patch. We now will be able to continue this tempo and increase it in the years to come,” he said over email.

Democrat Natalie Price once again was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. Her 6th District seat represents the cities of Berkley and Huntington Woods, and portions of the cities of Birmingham, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Township, Beverly Hills and Southfield.

“I’m so grateful to my voters and all of my constituents for trusting me to be their voice in Lansing, and the results are clear to me,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do to make sure that everybody is safe and protected in Michigan, and so I’m here for the work.”

Price received 39,803 votes (66.19%) against her Republican challenger, Brent Lamkin, who received 20,329 (33.81%).

Price will be returning to a House that has now been reclaimed by Republicans. She stated that while her role in Lansing will be different now in the minority, it won’t change how she works for her community.

“It doesn’t take away my resolve to show up to continue to represent what’s best for my constituents, to keep up the hard work and dedication to make sure that everybody has a fair shot in Michigan, and that’s what I’m here to do,” she said. “I’m so grateful to live in a district that clearly supports a collective vision of making sure that working families are safe and supported and protected, and that is my mandate to bring that voice to Lansing.”

For the Representative in State Legislature position in the 56th District, the Democratic candidate, incumbent Sharon MacDonell, won with 29,038 votes, which comes to 57.16% of the vote. The Republican candidate, David Kniffen, received 21,765 votes, which comes to 42.84% of the vote.

For the County Commissioner District 1 race, 38,073 votes were cast. Dave Woodward, Democratic Party incumbent, won the election with 23,520 (61.78%) votes followed by Republican Regina Wilk, who had 14,497 (38.08%) votes.

For the County Commissioner District 2 race, 37,484 votes were cast. Incumbent Democrat Penny C. Luebs won with a total of 21,915 (58.46%) votes followed by Republican Edward Kempen with 15,486 (41.31%).

In the U.S. House of Representatives District 11 race, incumbent Democrat Haley Stevens won reelection with 260,489 votes (58.21%) to Republican Nick Somberg’s 177,286 votes (39.62%). Green Party candidate Douglas Campbell received 9,693 votes, or 2.17%.

For the six-year U.S. Senate term, Democrat Elissa Slotkin won election with 2,690,000 votes to Republican Mike Rogers’ 2,673,233 votes. The difference was 48.61% to 48.31%. Libertarian Joseph Solis-Mullen received 56,529 votes, Green Party candidate Douglas P. Marsh received 53,845 votes, U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Dave Stein received 41,288 votes and Natural Law Party candidate Doug Dern received 18,751 votes.

Royal Oak City Clerk Melanie Halas was called for comment on the Royal Oak election but did not respond before press time.

Woodward and Wilk were called for comment on the results on the Oakland County Commissioner District 1 position, but did not respond before press time.

Luebs and Kempen were called for comment on the results on the Oakland County Commissioner District 2 position, but did not respond before press time.

To view election results, visit oakgov.com/government/clerk-register-of-deeds/elections-voting.

Staff Writers Mike Koury and Sarah Wrlght contributed to this report.