Voters decide on candidates; Posen school millage fails by five votes
by Peter Jakey–Managing Edit
Democrats woke up post-midterm election morning with Cheshire cat smiles on their faces after a blue wave swept the United States. The party took over the House and the Senate, governors’ mansions and will be looking to ride that momentum all the way to the White House in two years.
Victories came in unexpected places in the country and in most of the races that were too close to call Tuesday morning, including the Michigan U.S. Senate seat that went to Abdul El-Sayed. He was the projected winner Wednesday morning by the Associated Press by more than 300,000 votes.
Presque Isle County’s results, while unofficial until the board of canvassers (BOC) certifies the election this week, went Republican across the board, including Cam Cavitt coasting to a third-straight term as 106th District state rep.
While some of the countywide proposals were close, but still passed, the one major stunner Tuesday night was the results of the renewal of the operating millage for Posen Consolidated Schools (PCS) that lost by five votes, 474 to 479. It had been a rubber stamp from supportive Posen area voters for decades.
“Preliminary results show we are down by five votes so we will have to wait until (Thursday) to know for sure,” said PCS superintendent Michelle Wesner. “Posen Schools will plan to add our general operations millage proposal to the May 4th election date, if needed.
Voters were not smiling kindly on tax proposals as another rubber stamp, the Presque Isle County separate tax limitations renewal, struggled to get to the finish line, 3,422 to 3,118.
The Presque Isle County historical millage, that will provide a steady stream of income to the Presque Isle County Historical Museum, Onaway Area Historical Museum (OAHM) and Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum, was extremely close, 3,442 to 3,344 (98 votes).
“We are extremely grateful that the voters in Presque Isle County value our history as much as we do. We will continue to honor our motto, preserving the past for the future!” said Roxann Dean, OAHM financial officer/curator.
“On the behalf of the historic partnership, we are appreciative of the citizens who value history and voted for our support,” said Mike Hughes, Presque Isle County Historic Partnership treasurer. “Now that we have it, everybody get out and visit your museum.”
The recycling millage was renewed, 3,665 to 3,016, with no changes to the tax bill coming. The 911 surcharge renewal coasted to an easy win with overwhelming support, 4,913 to 1,864.
The Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Educational Service District special education millage passed in Presque Isle County, 3,487 to 1,992, as well as in the region by 9,000 votes.
There were a few contested races in the city of Rogers City.
Voters of Rogers City Area Schools had four on the ballot and elected three, starting with the top vote getter, newcomer Brent Muckle (1,640), along with incumbents Thomas Benjamin Catalano (1,464) and Shannon McKinstry (1,205). Newcomer Lisa M. Preuss (1,064) will have to take another crack at it some other day.
City voters went with Kenneth E. Bielas for City Council (914), followed by Timeen Adair (657), who held off former councilman Gary A. Nowak’s (579) bid to return. Mayor Scott McLennan was running unopposed and received 985 votes.
Other results follow:
• Judge of the 89th District Court: Michael J. Ekdahl, 4,467.
• City of Onaway: mayor Michael Benson, 227; city commission Michael Freel, 191; Arthur Nash, 192.
• Village of Millersburg: president Brian J. Whitsitt, 63.
• Village of Posen: president James Bruski, 86; trustees Sherry Ann Romel (76), Audrey G. Andrzejewski (69) and Simon Zolnierek (63).
• Onaway Area Community Schools: Annette L. Porter, six-year term (vote for two), 1,154 — 156 unresolved write-ins; Mitchell C. Winfield, partial term ending 12/31/2030 (vote for two), 1,397 — 73 write-ins; John P. Kaszonyi, partial term ending 12/31/2028 (vote for two), 1,270 — 161 write-ins. Write-ins will be determined when the BOC convenes.
• Posen Consolidated Schools: uncontested board seats Matthew P. Styma (633); Danielle Kowalski (617); and Dennis A. Budnick (549).
• Townships, all partial terms to 12/01/2028: Bearinger Township supervisor Cheryl M. Watt, 207; Bearinger Township clerk Frances Kline, 210; Bearinger Township trustee Emilie, Stawiarski, 208; Case Township treasurer Chuck Lewis, 355; Bismarck Township trustee Joe Schleben, 172; Metz Township, trustee (vote for two) Denise Kowalewsky (112) and Dave Kowalewsky (110); Rogers Township Presque Isle Electric & gas Co-op franchise, 292 to 237; and Moltke Township milage renewal, 114 to 48.
Of the 13,464 registered voters, 54.52 percent (7,341) cast votes.
