County has 65% voter turnout; recap of local election results.
#MasonCountyElection.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.
LUDINGTON — Sixty-five percent of the 22,816 registered voters in Mason County voted in Tuesday’s Presidential Election, 14,948 people. Here are the results of most of the races in Mason County:
Note: Percentages are rounded up.
Straight party tickets:
- Republican: 3,970 (59%)
- Democrat: 2,348 (35%)
- Libertarian: 89 (.42%)
- U.S. Taxpayers: 28 (.93%)
- Green: 62 (.93%)
- Natural Law: 5 (.08%)
- Working Class: 130 (2%)
President of the United States:
- Donald J. Trump (Republican): 8,505 (57%)
- Hillary Clinton (Democrat): 5,281 (36%)
- Gary Johnson (Libertarian): 601 (4%)
- Darrell Castle (U.S. Taxpayer): 76 (.51%)
- Jill Stein (Green): 189 (1%)
- Emidio Mimi Soltysik (Natural Law): 6 (.04%)
- Write-in: 134 (.91%)
Representative in Congress, First District:
- Jack Bergman (Rep): 2,258 (58%)
- Lon Johnson (Dem): 1,442 (37%)
- Diane Bostow (Lib): 149 (4%)
- Ellis Boal (Green): 54 (1%)
Representative in Congress, Second District:
- Bill Huizenga (Rep): 6,617 (63%)
- Dennis B. Murphy (Dem): 3,411 (32%)
- Erwin J. Haas (Lib): 204 (2%)
- Ronald E. Graeser (UST): 82 (.78%)
- Matthew A. Brady (Green): 188 (1.8%)
Representative in State Legislature, 101st District:
- Curt VanderWall (Rep): 8,825 (60%)
- Dan Scripps (Dem): 5,767 (40%)
Mason County Prosecuting Attorney
- Paul R. Spaniola (Dem): 9,361 (97%)
- Write-in: 316 (3%)
Mason County Sheriff
- Kim C. Cole (Rep): 11,540 (98%)
- Write-in: 161 (1%)
Mason County Clerk
- Cheryl Kelly (Rep): 11,021 (99%)
- Write-in: 133 (1%)
Mason County Treasurer
- Andrew R. Kmetz IV (Rep): 10,535 (99%)
- Write-in: 132 (1%)
Mason County Register of Deeds
- Diane L. Englebrecht (Rep): 10,724 (99%)
- Write-in: 105 (.97%)
Mason County Drain Commissioner
- Jim Riffle (Rep): 11,020 (99%)
- Write-in: 135 (1%)
Mason County Surveyor
- Rex Pope (Rep): 10,466 (99%)
- Write-in: 133 (1%)
Mason County Commission, First District
- Wally Taranko (Rep): 1,496 (98%)
- Write-in: 28 (2%)
Mason County Commission, Second District
- Bill Carpenter (Rep): 1,207 (98%)
- Write-in: 20 (2%)
Mason County Commission, Third District
- Charles Lange (Rep): 1,835 (99%)
- Write-in: 18 (.98%)
Mason County Commission, Fourth District
- Lewis G. Squires (Rep): 1,703 (98%)
- Write-in: 26 (2%)
Mason County Commission, Fifth District
- Steven K. Hull (Rep): 1,565 (99%)
- Write-in: 16 (1%)
Mason County Commission, Sixth District
- Janet S. Anderson (Rep): 1,505 (99%)
- Write-in: 20 (1%)
Mason County Commission, Seventh District
- Thomas M. Posma (Rep): 1,382 (98%)
- Write-in: 31 (2%)
Amber Township Supervisor
- James F. Gallie (Rep): 998 (99%)
- Write-in: 13 (1%)
Branch Township Supervisor
- Michael D. Shoup (Dem): 376 (97%)
- Write-in: 12 (3%)
Custer Township Supervisor
- Ron Bacon (Rep): 514 (99%)
- Write-in: 6 (1%)
Eden Township Supervisor
- Roger L. Nash (Dem): 182 (98%)
- Write-in: 3 (2%)
Free Soil Township Supervisor
- Gregg C. Surma (Dem): 268 (85%)
- Write-in: 47 (15%)
Grant Township Supervisor
- Robert J. Rakowski (Dem): 318 (98%)
- Write-in: 5 (2%)
Hamlin Township Supervisor
- Nancy Vandervest (Rep): 1,590 (99%)
- Write-in: 13 (.8%)
Logan Township Supervisor
- Bruce Burke (Rep): 133 (97%)
- Write-in: 4 (3%)
Meade Township Supervisor
- Lois Krepps (Rep): 60 (94%)
- Write-in: 4 (6%)
Pere Marquette Township Supervisor
- Paul A. Keson (Rep): 1,075 (100%)
- Write-in: 2 (.19%)
Riverton Township Supervisor
- Gary L. Dittmer: 319 (98%)
- Write-in: 2 (.19%)
Sheridan Township Supervisor
- Corliss T. Gulembo (Dem): 339 (97%)
- Write-in: 6 (2%)
Sherman Township Supervisor
- Joseph F. Mickevich (Dem): 377 (98%)
- Write-in: 6 (2%)
Summit Township Supervisor
- D. Wayne Kelly (Rep): 416 (99%)
- Write-in: 4 (.95%)
Victory Township Supervisor
- Jim Mazur (Dem): 425 (96%)
- Write-in: 20 (4%)
Amber Township Clerk
- Brenda J. Knizacky (Rep): 997 (99%)
- Write-in: 11 (1%)
Branch Township Clerk
- Kimberly Tenney (Rep): 403 (98%)
- Write-in: 10 (2%)
Custer Township Clerk
- Ann Larr (Rep): 509 (99%)
- Write-in: 6 (1%)
Eden Township Clerk
- Julie VanDyke (Rep): 182 (98%)
- Write-in: 3 (1.62%)
Free Soil Township Clerk
- Lynda Papes (Dem): 307 (98%)
- Write-in: 5 (2%)
Grant Township Clerk
- Mary Jo Janowiak (Dem): 317 (98%)
- Write-in: 5 (2%)
Hamlin Township Clerk
- Catherine Lewis (Rep): 1,572 (99%)
- Write-in: 12 (.76%)
Logan Township Clerk
- John Kampfschulte (Rep): 129 (98%)
- Write-in: 2 (2%)
Meade Township Clerk
- Sue Hasenbank (Rep): 73 (100%)
Pere Marquette Township Clerk
- Rachelle D. Enbody (Rep): 1,060 (99%)
- Write-in: 7 (.66%)
Riverton Township Clerk
- Cynthia Gerbers (Rep): 473 (100%)
- Write-in: 2 (.42%)
Sheridan Township Clerk
- Marlynn E. Gulembo (Dem): 399 (97%)
- Write-in: 10 (3%)
Sherman Township Clerk
- Kurt D. Lubben (Rep): 409 (100%)
- Write-in: 2 (.49%)
Summit Township Clerk
- Mary Samuels (Rep): 424 (99%)
- Write-in: 5 (1%)
Victory Township Clerk
- Barbara J. Egeler (Rep): 562 (99%)
- Write-in: 7 (1%)
Amber Township Treasurer
- Connie Rathbun-Anderson (Rep): 966 (98%)
- Write-in: 7 (2%)
Branch Township Treasurer
- Ralph Razminas (Rep): 416 (98%)
- Write-in: 10 (2%)
Custer Township Treasurer
- Maxine Martincheck (Rep): 532 (99%)
- Write-in: 7 (1%)
Eden Township Treasurer
- Suzanne Stickney (Rep): 181 (98%)
- Write-in: 3 (2%)
Free Soil Township Treasurer
- Cindy Rybicki (Dem): 306 (99%)
- Write-in: 4 (1%)
Grant Township Treasurer
- Caroline Goodrich (Rep): 212 (46%)
- Kristen Brandt (Dem): 253 (54%)
Hamlin Township Treasurer
- Susan Ptaszenski (Rep): 1,545 (99%)
- Write-in: 15 (1%)
Logan Township Treasurer
- Judith U. VerSluys (Rep): 129 (98%
- Write-in: 2 (2%)
Meade Township Treasurer
- Mary J. Hasenbank (Rep): 71 (99%)
- Write-in: 1 (1%)
Pere Marquette Township Treasurer
- Sara L. McCallum (Rep): 1,057 (99%)
- Write-in: 6 (1%)
Riverton Township Treasurer
- Katherine Shafer (Rep): 441 (98%)
- Write-in: 7 (2%)
Sheridan Township Treasurer
- Jennie Borema (Dem): 342 (98%)
- Write-in: 8 (2%)
Summit Township Treasurer
- Mary L. Bedker (Rep): 425 (99%)
- Write-in: 3 (1%)
Victory Township Treasurer
- Patricia A. Geers (Rep): 569 (99%)
- Write-in: 5 (1%)
Amber Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Richard Glen Alway (Rep): 889 (50%)
- Thomas Alway (Rep): 890 (50%)
- Write-in: 5 (.95%)
Branch Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Shirley Brayton (Rep): 366 (48%)
- Joseph Fiers (Rep): 383: 51%
- Write-in: 10 (1%)
Custer Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- George Allison (Rep): 491 (51%)
- Larry A. Larr (Rep): 461 (48%)
- Write-in: 8 (.83%)
Eden Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Duane Stickney (Rep): 165 (54%)
- Randy Salmon (Dem): 140 (46%)
Free Soil Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Robert Kran (Rep): 297 (50%)
- Kenneth W. Savich (Rep): 289 (49%)
- Write-in: 6 (1%)
Grant Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Brenda Kelly (Rep): 265 (49%)
- Allen Bufka (Dem): 267 (50%)
- Write-in: 6 (1%)
Hamlin Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Johnaine A. Gurzynski (Rep): 1,405 (57%)
- Larry Rees (Dem): 1,048 (43%)
- Write-in: 14 (.57%)
Logan Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Robert Burke (Rep): 124 (50%)
- Laura J. McCumber (Rep): 121 (49%)
- Write-in: 2 (.81%)
Meade Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Jim Metzger (Rep): 55 (46%)
- Mark Vaas (Rep): 61 (51%)
- Write-in: 3 (3%)
Riverton Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Scott A. Dittmer (Rep): 438 (50%)
- Ronald Lundberg (Rep): 436 (50%)
- Write-in: 5 (.57%)
Sheridan Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Jeff Cormany (Dem): 316 (51%)
- Doug Damkoehler (Dem): 293 (47%)
- Write-in: 11 (2%)
Sherman Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Curt Jones (Rep): 355 (55%)
- Lori Cregg (Dem): 286 (45%)
- Write-in: 2 (.31%)
Summit Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Edward L. Chase (Rep): 383 (49%)
- Duane Cooper (Rep): 393 (50%)
- Write-in: 6 (.77)
Victory Township Trustee
(2 positions)
- Robert W. Kesling (Rep): 491 (48%)
- Jerome Papes (Rep): 522 (51%)
- Write-in: 9 (.88%)
Pere Marquette Township Trustee
(4 positions)
- Andrew Kmetz (Rep): 864 (22%)
- James T. Nordlund (Rep): 931 (24%)
- Paul Piper (Rep): 933 (24%)
- Henry E. Rasmussen (Rep): 745 (19%
- Ron Soberalski: 444 (11%)
West Shore Community College Board of Trustees
(3 positions)
- Bruce C. Smith: 7,705 (34%)
- Richard M. Wilson Jr.: 6,827 (30%)
- Sherry J. Wyman: 7,938 (35%)
- Write-in: 154 (.68%)
West Shore Community College Board of Trustees
(1 position)
- James Barker: 8,713 (99%)
- Write-in: 103 (1%)
City of Ludington Mayor
- Gary E. Castonia: 741 (22%)
- Kaye Holman: 1,230 (36%)
- Ron Martin: 174 (5%)
- Cheri Stibitz-Rozell: 1,222 (36%)
- Write-in: 12 (.36%)
City of Ludington Treasurer
- Linda J. Rogers: 2,568 (99%)
- Write-in: 25 (1%)
City of Ludington Councilor-at-Large
- David S. Buskirk: 1,222 (39%)
- Brandy Henderson: 1,899 (60%)
- Write-in: 19 (1%)
City of Ludington Councilor, First Ward
- Dick Rathsack: 439 (99%)
- Write-in: 4 (1%)
City of Ludington Councilor, Third Ward
- Les Johnson: 406 (72%)
- Tom Rotta: 159 (28%)
- Write-in: 2 (.35%)
City of Ludington Councilor, Fifth Ward
- Nick Tykoski: 389 (99%)
- Write-in: 5 (1%)
City of Ludington Councilor, Fourth Ward
- Mike Krauch: 296 (99%)
- Write-in: 5 (1%)
City of Scottville Commissioner-at-Large
(1 position)
- Connie Duncil: 222 (55%)
- Edward Hahn: 177 (44%)
- Write-in: 5 (1%)
City of Scottville Commissioner-at-Large
(2 positions)
- Sally Jo Cole: 265 (48%)
- Bruce F. Krieger: 285 (51%)
- Write-in: 5 (1%)
City of Scottville Commissioner, First Ward
(1 position)
- Nick Cilman: 78 (38%)
- Sue Petipren: 127 (62%)
- Write-in: 1 (.49%)
City of Scottville Commissioner, Second Ward
(1 position)
- Tom Donald: 167 (98%)
- Write-in: 3 (2%)
City of Scottville Commissioner, First Ward
(1 position)
- Leon J. Begue: 182 (96%)
- Write-in: 7 (4%)
Village of Fountain President
- Kenneth C. Budzynski: 60 (98%)
- Write-in: 1 (2%)
Village of Free Soil President
- David B. Morley Sr.: 51 (96%)
- Write-in: 2 (4%)
Village of Custer President
- Lyle Reene: 92 (98%)
- Write-in: 7 (4%)
Village of Custer Clerk
- Margaret Griswold: 96 (99%)
- Write-in: 1 (1%)
Village of Fountain Clerk
- Suzanne Oberliesen: 58 (100%)
Village of Free Soil Clerk
- Jennifer Nemitz: 53 (98%)
- Write-in: 1 (2%)
Village of Custer Treasurer
- Write-in: 4 (100%)
Village of Fountain Treasurer
- Write-in: 5 (100%)
Village of Free Soil Treasurer
- Keith M. Nemitz: 52 (98%)
- Write-in: 1 (2%)
Village of Custer Trustee
(3 positions)
- Lon Reader: 74 (35%)
- Ernie Shaughnessy: 69 (33%)
- Mark Tellie: 68 (32%)
Village of Fountain Trustee
(3 positions)
- Jodi L. Budzynski: 40 (29%)
- Scott A. Fenner: 49 (36%)
- Jackson Charles Quick: 47 (34%)
Ludington Area Schools Board of Education
(2 positions)
- Stephanie Reed: 5,398 (54%)
- Joshua Snyder: 4,571 (46%)
Mason County Central Schools Board of Education
(3 positions)
- James Schulte: 2,049 (49%)
- John D. Wagner: 2,008 (48%)
Mason County Eastern Schools Board of Education
(4 positions)
- Robert L. Baunoch: 1,049 (23%)
- Paul Drewry: 1,062 (24%)
- Mark Mickevich: 1,236 (28%)
- Ed Miller: 1,111 (25%)
Mason County Rural Fire Authority 1 mill for 1 year:
- Yes: 5,113 (77%)
- No: 1,501 (23%)
Mason County Eastern Schools Bonded Indebtedness Proposal:
- Yes; 1,407 (67%)
- No: 679 (32%)