BERRIEN COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS 2016

By DEBRA HAIGHT

ST. JOSEPH – We didn’t only elect a new president and Congress last week, several area races were decided as was Lake Michigan College’s capital millage proposal. After all was said and done, most county officials won re-election, although there will be some new faces on the Berrien County Board of Commissioners.
Unopposed in their bids for new terms serving county residents were County Clerk Sharon Tyler, County Treasurer Bret Witkowski, County Prosecutor Michael Sepic, County Register of Deeds Lori Jarvis and County Surveyor John Kamer. Christopher Quattrin was also unopposed in his bid to become the new County Drain Commissioner.
Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey was the only countywide official to have formal competition. He easily defeated Natural Law Party candidate Rick Briand of Niles. Bailey, a Republican, received 48,586 votes to Briand’s 9,164 votes.
In non-partisan judicial races, incumbent Berrien County Circuit Court Judges John Donahue and Charles Lasata were unopposed in their races for re-election, while incumbent Berrien County District Court Judges Gary Bruce and Dennis Wiley also were unopposed in election to new terms. Brian Berger who had been appointed a judge late last year was unopposed in his bid for election to a partial term as a probate judge.
There will be some new faces on the Berrien County Board of Commissioners. While several incumbents were unopposed in their bids for re-election, there was one open seat decided in the third county board district and incumbents were defeated in the ninth and 12th districts.
In the third commissioner district representing part of the Benton Harbor area, Democrat Don Meeks defeated Republican Michael Sleep II in the race to succeed Marletta Seats who gave up the seat to run for the 79th state house district seat. Meeks received 3,183 votes to Sleep’s 1,486 votes.
In the ninth commissioner district representing Three Oaks and New Buffalo, longtime Commissioner Andy Vavra, a Democrat, was defeated by Republican Ezra Scott. Scott received 3,384 votes to Vavra’s 2,993 votes.
There was also an upset in the 12th commissioner district representing the Niles area. Newcomer Republican Michael Majerek defeated Democrat incumbent John Klimek. Majerek received 2,501 votes to Klimek’s 2,161 votes.
Republicans also won the two races for state representatives.
Incumbent Dave Pagel easily defeated newcomer Democrat Dean Hill to win a third and final term in the state legislature representing the 78th district, while newcomer Republican Kim LaSata defeated Democrat Marletta Seats and U.S. Taxpayers candidate Carl Oehling to represent the 79th district.
LaSata will succeed Al Pscholka who was term-limited from seeking another term in Lansing. Although a newcomer to politics, LaSata can draw on her husband’s experience in Lansing. Charles LaSata represented the 79th district before Pscholka and is currently a Berrien County Trial Judge.
Pagel said he was looking forward to his third and final two-year term in Lansing where he is currently on the appropriations, education and agriculture committees.
Hill said he knew it would be an uphill battle as no Democrat had won the 78th state district seat since 1964. Even so, he said he enjoyed it and plans to run again in two years. “I had a good time, I met some wonderful people and some interesting people,” he said.
***********
Lake Michigan College’s capital millage proposal was approved in a close vote with a margin of less than 1,000 votes. The yes votes ended up totaling 35,619 with the no votes ending up at 34,935.
The millage levy of .48 mills for 10 years will pay for capital improvements to the college’s three campuses. The owner of a home with a $50,000 taxable value will pay an extra $24 a year.
This was the college’s first time asking voters to approve a capital millage. The millage levy will raise $40 million to pay for safety and security improvements, modernize classrooms and teaching equipment, upgrade facilities including energy efficiencies and make improvements to student support services and success centers.
A number of communities and/or school districts also had proposals on the ballot including a building site sinking fund renewal for the Niles Community Schools which passed with 5,348 yes votes to 3,719 no votes.
Voters also approved a bond proposal for the city of New Buffalo, an operating millage renewal for Hagar Township, a road millage renewal for Weesaw Township and an emergency services millage renewal for the village of Michiana.
************
In other area races, the city of Niles has a new mayor after newcomer Nick Shelton easily defeated City Councilman Robert Durm. Shelton was scheduled to be sworn in to a four-year term as mayor earlier this week.
The November election also featured races for township boards, city and village councils and school boards throughout the county with several of the races featuring no formal opposition.
In nearby Cass County, voters chose a new circuit court judge to succeed Michael Dodge who is retiring at the end of the year. In a close race, Dowagiac attorney Mark Herman defeated former Cass Prosecutor Scott Teter. Herman received 8,625 votes to Teter’s 8,483 votes.