Charles Downing tops Anna Kanitz in Macon Township trustee race

MACON TWP. — Charles Downing defeated Anna Kanitz 110-83 in Tuesday’s special election to fill a vacancy on the Macon Township Board.

Downing, a regional sales manager for Truck Hero of Ann Arbor who owns a family grain farm, supports funding maintenance and repair of township roads and is against the Mustang Mile solar energy project.

Kanitz had also indicated during the campaign that she hesitated about using so much farm ground for a large solar project.

The seat was left vacant by Beth Loesch's resignation July 5, 2022, after a petition to recall her was circulated. Challengers to a Macon Township trustee and the supervisor won in a November 2022 recall election spurred by the incumbents' support for the large-scale Mustang Mile solar energy project. Independent Joe Rine beat Republican incumbent Ed Clark in the trustee race, and independent candidate Dean Montrief defeated Republican incumbent Lee Wagner in the supervisor race.

Wagner was recalled for his support in May 2022 of a special land-use permit to construct Mustang Mile. Clark also was recalled.

The township board was not able to come to an agreement on an appointment to fill the vacancy left by Loesch last year. The Lenawee County Election Commission had a special meeting but agreed it did not have adequate time to interview and make the appointment. The election law requires that a special election be held not less than 70 days after the deadline for submitting nominees if the next election date is the even year general November election. This Tuesday vote was that special election.

Downing will complete the term, which ends Nov. 20, 2024.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Charles Downing tops Anna Kanitz in Macon Township trustee race