Primary voters in Macomb Township set the stage for county, state contests in November

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The candidates who won their respective state and county primary races Aug. 2 are now preparing their campaigns for the general election Nov. 8.

In the Macomb County Board of Commissioners 7th District race, James Perna, of Clinton Township, took just over 50% of the votes among three total candidates in the Republican primary and will proceed to November without a Democratic challenger.

“I am ready to start in January just to make sure this county is run efficiently,” Perna said. “It may be necessary to cross the lines at times, but that is what government is about — cooperation.”

Seeing the November election as a formality, Perna will take the time between now and January to help other Republican candidates.

“I am going to try and help as many other candidates and their races that are maybe difficult,” Perna said. “Help them with their fundraisers or their political agendas and see if we can get them elected, as well.”

Cheryl Cannon took second place with 36.5% of the vote, followed by Leo Melise with 13.3%.

The seat is a two-year term.

In the race for Michigan House of Representatives District 59, Douglas Wozniak, of Shelby Township, won the Republican primary with 52.1% of the vote (6,810 votes). Terence Mekoski finished with 34% (4,491 votes), and Frank Cusumano had almost 14% (1,781 votes).

“I am looking forward to going back into the House representing Shelby Township and, most importantly, to bring all the divisive politics that we’ve had in Macomb over the past couple of years, bringing that to maybe a screeching halt so we can go forth unified and have more Republicans take office,” Wozniak said.

Come November, Wozniak will face Democrat James Diez for the district, who was uncontested in the primary.

In the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 60, Linda Rose Clor beat her opponent, Carol Shumard Diehl, by securing 58.3% of the vote (3,893 votes).

“There weren’t any challenges (during the campaign),” Clor said. “I was very happy about the people who helped me through the process.”

Between now and November, Clor plans on assembling a support team and getting prepared for an active campaign.

“I know that it has been a very Republican community in Macomb County,” Clor said. “However, I think it is time for change. I know it is time for change, and I want to make that happen.”

Republican Joseph Aragona was uncontested in the primary and will also advance to the ballot in November.

Terms of office in the Michigan House of Representatives are two years.

In the Michigan Senate’s 11th District, Macomb County Commissioner Veronica Klinefelt won the Democratic primary with 13,418 votes, or 62.5%. She defeated Eastpointe Mayor Monique Owens, who received 8,056 votes, or 37.5%.

Klinefelt, a 30-year resident of Eastpointe, previously served on the Eastpointe City Council and the East Detroit School Board.

Mike McDonald ran unopposed in the Republican primary for the district, which covers the cities of Eastpointe, Roseville and Fraser, as well as portions of Detroit, Clinton Township and Macomb Township.

In the Michigan Senate’s District 12, two candidates ran in the Republican primary: Pamela Hornberger and Michael D. Williams. Hornberger defeated Williams, 64.5% (19,198 votes) to 35.5% (10,547 votes), according to the unofficial results from the state of Michigan.

Democrat Kevin Hertel ran unopposed in the primary.

The district spans Wayne, Macomb and St. Clair counties, and includes the Grosse Pointe communities, St. Clair Shores, Harrison Township, Mount Clemens and part of Clinton Township. It also includes Chesterfield Township, New Baltimore, Ira Township, Anchorville, Fair Haven, Clay Township, Algonac and Harsens Island.

Terms of office in the Michigan Senate are four years.

The Macomb Township parks and recreation millage passed with 66.5% support on Aug. 2.

“We are thrilled at the overwhelming results,” Salvatore DiCaro Jr., director of Macomb Township Parks and Recreation, said. “We hope that it is a testament to (the idea) that the community thinks the department is doing a good job at being good stewards with their money, so we are very happy about that.”

The proposal lowered the department’s millage from 1 mill to 0.75 mills (75 cents per $1,000 of taxable property value) and will be in effect from 2023 to 2043. Funds raised through the millage can be used “for the acquisition of park land and buildings, staffing, purchase of

equipment, operation and maintenance of parks, playgrounds or other recreational facilities.”

“We believe that parks and recreation improves the quality of life in the township and in the community,” DiCaro said. “This now gives us a chance to continue the job that we’ve started for the last 20 years.”