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 to turn 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. 

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 on 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.”

Two candidates ran for one four-year term as Oakland County commissioner in the 1st District; the salary for this position is $45,131.

For the County Commissioner District 1, 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.

Two candidates ran for one four-year term as Oakland County commissioner in the 2nd district; the salary for this position is $45,131.

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

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

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

Penny C. Luebs and Edward 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 https://www.oakgov.com/government/clerk-register-of-deeds/elections-voting.