Primary sets the stage for county, state contests in November

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

According to the unofficial results provided by the Macomb County Clerk’s Office, in the Macomb County Board of Commissioners 13th District, Sarah Lucido was the top vote getter in the Democratic primary with 3,345 votes, defeating Courtney Flynn with 2,149 votes and Robert D. Roscoe with 890 votes. In the Republican primary in the district, Randell J. Shafer edged out Michael Babat with 1,443 and 1,407 votes, respectively.

Now, Lucido and Shafer will square off in November.

“I’m grateful to the residents who put their faith in me. I look forward to running in November and serving as their next county commissioner,” Lucido said. “I would like to thank my opponents for running a civil campaign. If I’m elected, I want to make sure everyone’s tax dollars are being spent for our residents. I want to make sure we are receiving quality resources and have a balanced budget.”

Lucido, of Eastpointe, currently is a member of the Eastpointe City Council. Her term expires at the end of 2023. Should she get elected to the Macomb County Board of Commissioners this November, she will have to give up her City Council seat and the council will appoint someone to fill the vacancy.

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

The winner between Hornberger and Hertel in November will serve a four-year term. 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.

In the Michigan House of Representatives’ 11th District, Veronica Paiz, of Harper Woods, was the top vote getter in the Democratic primary. She received 1,844 votes, defeating Ricardo White (1,768 votes), Alex Manwell (1,491 votes), Regina L. Williams (1,415 votes), Athena Lynn Thornton (994 votes), Marvin Cotton, Jr. (764 votes), David Maynard (701 votes), Paul Robert Francis (478 votes) and Patrick Biange (296 votes).

Paiz currently serves on the Harper Woods City Council. Her term expires Nov. 13, 2023. If elected state representative, she will have to give up her City Council seat and that vacancy will be filled.

Paiz’s opponent in November will be Republican Mark T. Foster. Foster, of St. Clair Shores, who won the Republican primary election with 2,526 votes. Foster defeated Christopher Jeffery (2,220 votes).

“I appreciate everyone that voted for me,” Foster said. “I’m going to work hard to win in November.”

Foster said his “three most important” issues are school safety, voter integrity and protecting the Second Amendment.

In Michigan House of Representatives’ District 62, Democrat Michael Brooks ran unopposed in his party primary. He will face off against Republican Alicia St. Germaine, who received 3,760 votes.  She beat out fellow Republicans Joe Marino (3,411 votes), Hillary Dubay (2,197 votes) and Rola Zarife (957 votes).

The district encompasses portions of Chesterfield Township, Clinton Township, Fraser, Harrison Township, Roseville and St. Clair Shores.

Additionally, 3,202 votes were cast as write-ins across both primaries. The winner of the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 1, will serve a two-year term.

On Aug. 2, the St. Clair Shores police and fire millage renewal passed. The millage, known as Proposal A, passed with 10,492 “yes” votes and 3,865 “no” votes, according to the Macomb County Clerks Office’s unofficial results.

Proposal A allows St. Clair Shores to authorize the levy and collection of up to 4.6623 mills per $1,000.00 of state taxable value. It is estimated to produce $8,573,593 in the first year to be exclusively used for police and fire department operations. The current millage is set to expire on June 30, 2023. The renewal is for a period of three years, beginning July 1, 2023.