Post voters decide township offices, county, state races in Aug. 6 primary

ROCHESTER/ROCHESTER HILLS/OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — In the Post’s coverage area, voters weighed in on various state, county and local primary races Aug. 6, including township offices.

Across Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced, more than 1.2 million voters had cast an early or absentee ballot in the August primary before the polls closed at 8 p.m. on election night. Election officials reported steady turnout throughout the day.

“First, I want to congratulate all voters for participating in the Primary Election,” Benson said in a statement. “Secondly, I want to assure them that the counting and canvassing processes will be carried out in accordance with the law, every ballot will be counted fairly and accurately, and the election’s outcome will reflect their will.”

Benson said it’s common for vote tallies to change from the initial unofficial results, as Michigan’s election system has built-in steps to identify and correct errors before results are finalized and certified. At press time, she said, bipartisan boards of county canvassers will canvas the results for accuracy and correct any clerical mistakes. After the Board of State Canvassers certifies, the primary election results will be official and final.

The unofficial results reported by all Michigan counties are available online at Michigan.gov/Vote.

 

State House District 55
Two Democrats, Trevis Harrold and Alexander Hawkins, ran for their party’s nomination to compete for a two-year term in November. Harrold came out on top with 52.8% of the vote, or 4,859 votes, while Hawkins earned 47.2%, or 4,347 votes, according to unofficial election results. Harrold will face off against Republican Mark Tisdel, who ran unopposed in the primary, this November. The salary for the position is $71,685.

 

State House District 66
Two Republicans, Randy LaVasseur and Joshua Schriver, ran for their party’s nomination to compete for a two-year term in November. Schriver earned 65.8% of the vote, or 8,494 votes, surpassing LaVasseur, who had 34.2% of the vote, or 4,414 votes, according to unofficial election results. Schriver will compete against Democrat Shawn Almeranti-Crosby, who ran unopposed in the primary, this November. The salary for the position is $71,685.

 

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner
Two Democrats, Jim Nash and Jim Stevens, and two Republicans, Steve Johnson and Steve Klein, ran for their parties’ nominations to compete for a four-year term in November.

Nash received 68.16%, or 87,325 votes, outpacing Stevens, who earned 31.66%, or 40,554 votes, according to unofficial election results from the Oakland County Elections Division. Johnson garnered 64.33%, or 45,847 votes, to surpass Klein, who earned 35.40%, 25,226 votes, according to unofficial election results from the Oakland County Elections Division. Nash and Johnson will compete for the position in November. The annual salary for the position is $170,761.

 

Oakland Township Supervisor
Two Republicans, Rubin Buxar and James Komendera, ran for their party’s nomination to compete for one four-year term in November. Buxar earned 51.82%, or 1,113 votes, while Komendera received 48%, or 1,031 votes, according to unofficial election results from the Oakland County Elections Division. No Democrats filed to compete in the primary race. The position has an annual salary of $13,226.

 

Oakland Township Treasurer
Two Republicans, John Giannangeli and Christopher Hornbeck, ran for their party’s nomination to compete for one four-year term in November. Giannangeli garnered 61.03% of the vote, for a total of 1,259 votes, against Hornbeck, who followed with 38.78%, for a total of 800 votes, according to unofficial election results from the Oakland County Elections Division. No Democrats filed to compete in the primary race. The treasurer position has an annual salary of $8,998.

 

Oakland Township Trustee
Nine Republican candidates ran for their party’s nomination to compete for four, four-year terms in November. John Casadei led the field with 15.21% of the vote, or 1,059 votes, followed by Emily Campbell with 893 votes, Jeanne Langlois at 892 votes and Jack Elder with 860 votes, according to unofficial election results from the Oakland County Elections Division. Drew Moore earned 803 votes, Karen Reilly had 703, Keith Popis got 665, Craig Blust received 601 and Clayton Winkler earned 475, according to unofficial election results. No Democrats filed to compete in the primary race. Trustees earn $300 per quarter, plus $100 per meeting.