Adams Township supervisor, clerk ousted in recall election

Corey Murray, Hillsdale Daily News
·2 min read
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A steady flow of voters trickled through the Adams Township Hall on Knowles Road Tuesday to cast their votes.
A steady flow of voters trickled through the Adams Township Hall on Knowles Road Tuesday to cast their votes.

ADAMS TWP. — Voters in Adams Township turned out in force Tuesday, May 2, to weigh in on a recall bid against the township supervisor and clerk, who gained national media attention over election integrity concerns since October 2021.

Challengers Randy Johnson and Suzy Roberts won decisive victories against Supervisor Mark Nichols and Clerk Stephanie Scott, respectively, according to unofficial election results.

Johnson garnered 394 votes to Nichols' 222, and Roberts nearly doubled Scott’s support; 406 Adams Township voters cast a ballot for Roberts while Scott had 214 votes.

Johnson and Roberts will finish out partial terms ending Nov. 20, 2024.

Nichols and Scott were joined by supporters Tuesday across the parking lot from the Adams Township Hall, making themselves available to speak with voters and answer any questions they may have directly.

Embattled Adams Township Supervisor Mark Nichols and Township Clerk Stephanie Scott stood across the parking lot from the Adams Township Hall on Election Day to answer voters' questions.
Embattled Adams Township Supervisor Mark Nichols and Township Clerk Stephanie Scott stood across the parking lot from the Adams Township Hall on Election Day to answer voters' questions.

Adams Township resident Gail McClanahan filed recall language in May 2022 against the duo which stated that in October 2021 Scott was stripped of her ability to administer elections in Adams Township by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

More: Search warrant executed at township hall, election equipment confiscated

More: Adams Township clerk, supervisor to face challengers in recall bid

The SOS stated at the time that Scott did not allow preventive maintenance on voting equipment and stated in emails that Scott was unwilling to complete required certifications of Public Accuracy Testing of voting machines.

That controversy escalated when Scott was given until Oct. 27, 2021, to turn over the township’s ballot tabulator after it was discovered it was missing. She did not comply with the demand, resulting in the Michigan State Police obtaining a search warrant to seize the device from Adams Township Hall in early November 2021.

Michigan State Police Troopers exit the Adams Township Hall with a tablet device seized during the execution of a search warrant in the fall of 2021.
Michigan State Police Troopers exit the Adams Township Hall with a tablet device seized during the execution of a search warrant in the fall of 2021.

Hillsdale County Clerk Marney Kast’s office was then tasked with administering elections in Adams Township and her office later seized other election materials including ballots from the November 2020 presidential election from the Adams Township Hall out of “security concerns.”

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In the recall language filed against Nichols, McClanahan stated that on Feb. 14 Nichols voted against spending $5,500 for a new ballot tabulator to replace the equipment seized by the MSP as part of its criminal investigation.

Nichols has publicly supported Scott’s actions, stating he felt Scott was following the law in what she had done by safeguarding Adams Township voting equipment and materials.

The only other election issue decided May 2 was a sinking fund millage renewal for Hillsdale Community Schools which passed 35 votes to 26.

— Contact Reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Adams Township supervisor, clerk ousted in recall election