UNDATED (WKZO-AM) — It was a big night for incumbents and for Democrats in Kalamazoo and throughout the region as some voters went to the polls to pick the finalists for the November election.
In some races, the final decision was made because the winner has no opposition on the fall ballot.
That was the case in the Barry County Sheriff’s race, where incumbent Dar Leaf won the Republican primary. There was no one in the Democratic primary, so he will be unopposed in November.
Kalamazoo County Sheriff Rick Fuller and Prosecutor Jeff Getting held off challengers and will appear on the November ballot. Fuller will be challenged by County Commissioner Jeff Heppler and Getting by Donald Smith.
Drain Commissioner Patricia Crowley was unopposed Tuesday and will be in November.
Republican Treasurer Mary Balkema will be challenged by Democrat Sunny Sahu, who beat his primary opponent by just a few hundred votes.
In township races, many of the candidates were unopposed. Some of the races had so few candidates that there were write-in races. There were also ties in the races for Texas Township Clerk and Richland Township trustee, and just a one-vote difference in the race for Schoolcraft clerk and Prairie Ronde trustee.
Those may be settled in the final canvas, or in a recount, if requested by one of the candidates. If not they may be drawing lots.
Van Buren County Sgt. Daniel Abbott won a four-way Republican primary race to replace Van Buren County Sheriff Dale Gribler, who is retiring. He will be challenged by Robert Overheul, who ran unopposed for the Democratic spot on the November ballot.
Another wide-open race was for the House seat currently held by Aric Nesbitt of Lawton who was term-limited. The November race will be between Republican Beth Griffin and Democrat Annie Brown.
In Allegan County, incumbent Mary Whiteford, who won the 80th House seat in a special election after Cindy Gamrat was expelled from the House following a sex scandal, will now get a chance to run for a term of her own. She will be challenged by Democrat John Andrysiak.
Voters in the Martin School District approved a millage question. Voters in Branch County rejected a millage for a new jail. Wakeshma Township approved an extra mil for fire protection and voters in Comstock township renewed their senior millage.
Voter turnout in Kalamazoo county was on the low end of expectations at less than 15 percent.
