Clinton Township, Fraser voters pick primary candidates

CLINTON TOWNSHIP/FRASER — 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%.

In the Democratic primary for the Macomb County Board of Commissioners 8th District, Antoinette Wallace of Mount Clemens took 41% of the vote in a four-way contest spread across Mount Clemens and much of Clinton Township.

“I think it’s time to focus back on the community,” Wallace said, describing her plans between now and November. “You spend a lot of time trying to focus on yourself and remind the community of what you’ve done and what you can still do. I think this is the time I can get back to what I was doing, and that’s giving back to my community, giving back to the local schools and working with them.”

Wallace will take on Republican Lisa Valerio-Nowc in November, who ran unopposed in the primary.

Pamela David placed second in the Democratic primary, followed by Matt Wojcik in third and Jason Davidson in fourth.

Terms of office on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners are two years.

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.

In the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61, Mike Aiello won handedly over his opponent, Austin Negipe, with just shy of 85% of the vote.

Democrat Denise Mentzer, of Mount Clemens, ran unopposed in the primary and will also advance to the November ballot.

In the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 62, Alicia St. Germaine received 36.4% of ballots cast in the party primary (3,760 votes). She beat out fellow Republicans Joe Marino, who received 33% (3,411 votes); Hillary Dubay, who received 21.3% (2,197 votes); and Rola Zarife, who received 9.3% (957 votes).

Democrat Michael Brooks ran unopposed in the primary and will also advance to the November ballot.

Additionally, 3,202 votes were cast as write-ins across both primaries.

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

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.