Stockford wins second term, voter turnout 'better than expected'
HILLSDALE — Tuesday’s midterm election voter turnout was bigger than expected, according to local clerks and election workers.
18,787 registered voters out of 37,486 took to the ballot box Tuesday for a 50.12-percent turnout compared to the 26.70-percent turnout for the Aug. 2 primary elections.
Hillsdale County Clerk Marney Kast and her staff were gearing up to tally results late Tuesday night in their office at the Hillsdale County Courthouse and Kast was doubtful the county would have unofficial results before midnight.
By 1 a.m. Wednesday, 23 of 26 precincts had reported in but Kast said she had not heard of any issues delaying results.
As of Wednesday morning, the results were in with decisive victories — and a few defeats — in key local races.
74.66-percent of those who turned out voted straight ticket Republican in the staunch conservative county while 23.86-percent voted straight ticket Democrat.
Those figures were on average, according to “America First” Hillsdale County Republican Party Secretary Jon Smith who told The Hillsdale Daily News early Tuesday morning that 75-percent of Hillsdale County votes conservative.
Smith sat just outside the demarcation line at the Hillsdale Community Library campaigning for Joshua Paladino who ultimately won a seat on the Hillsdale City Council to represent the people of Ward 4.
Hillsdale mayoral race
Incumbent Mayor Adam Stockford won a landslide victory over political newcomer Rondee Butcher, gathering 1,840 votes to Butcher’s 365 votes.
“I am truly honored and humbled in the city of Hillsdale’s confidence in me,” Stockford stated in a text message to The Hillsdale Daily News early Wednesday. “I’m proud to serve another term for my friends and neighbors.”
Stockford touted the city’s infrastructure projects that have been completed during his tenure as mayor and said he wanted a second-term to continue guiding the city towards economic growth, financial stability and improved infrastructure.
Unlike Stockford, Butcher has never been involved in local politics, but decided to run for office to make a difference in the town she calls home.
Butcher took to social media early Wednesday to congratulate Stockford on his victory and thank her supporters.
Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners
The five candidates on Tuesday’s ballot for county commissioner seats all ran unopposed with four of the five seeking re-election to the county’s top legislative seats.
In the county’s 2nd District, political newcomer Steve Lanius — endorsed early on by the “America First” Hillsdale County Republican Party faction — ousted incumbent Kathy Schmidt in the Aug. 2 primary runoff.
Commissioner Doug Ingles, who represents the people of the county’s 1st District, chose to run for re-election to continue the ongoing renovations of county maintained buildings and facilities. Renovations to the historic county courthouse have already tallied in excess of $5 million and the commissioners just took receipt of a court's space needs study to determine how best to proceed with renovations to the interior of the facility.
More:Courts space needs study received, ‘no option is inexpensive’
Commissioners Brad Benzing and Brent Leininger — 4th and 5th District commissioners — are in the midst of re-working the county’s ambulance contract.
Lanius will take office Jan. 1.
Hillsdale City Council
In Hillsdale’s Ward 3, newcomer Gary Wolfram narrowly beat out Cindy Merritt to replace Councilman Bill Zeiser in January, garnering 325 votes to Merritt’s 296.
Wolfram — a professor of economics at Hillsdale College — is looking to use his experience as the former Deputy State Treasurer for Taxation and Economic Policy under former Governor John Engler and as the Senior Economist to the Republican Senate in Michigan to make a difference locally.
He often discussed state revenue sharing with local units of government and how that funding has diminished since the 2008 recession, leading to many issues at the local level of government.
In Ward 4, Joshua Paladino edged out Penny Swan to replace outgoing Councilman Ray Briner in January 2023.
Paladino drew criticism earlier this summer for a proposed book ban at the Hillsdale Community Library where he served as the board’s secretary.
More:‘Controversial books’ at center of another lengthy Hillsdale Community library meeting
Swan was critical of Paladino’s proposal, leading to an intense runoff and a heated exchange of accusations and claims during a Meet the Candidate forum in October.
Paladino was endorsed by the “America First” faction of the Hillsdale County Republican Party and is an active member of the party. Swan was also involved at the local party, but parted ways just prior to the Aug. 2 primary race when a growing rift in the local party led to a split with two factions claiming control.
Councilman Greg Stuchell, Ward 1, and Councilman Will Morrisey, Ward 2, were both re-elected for another term in unopposed races.
Contested village races
In the village of Montgomery, Richard Beem beat out David Stevens by 16 votes and will be seated at an upcoming meeting of the village board in mid-November.
In North Adams, former trustee John Castle lost a decisive race to incumbent Village President Richard Beach.
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Millages
The North Adams-Jerome sinking fund millage renewal passed by almost 200 votes and an operating millage for the Pittsford Area Schools passed.
In Reading, voters approved an operating millage renewal but turned down a separate proposal to increase the operating millage. Superintendent Martin DuBois was not available for comment Wednesday morning.
Cumulative results
For a complete list of results from Tuesday’s midterm election, visit co.hillsdale.mi.us.
— Corey Murray is a staff writer for The Hillsdale Daily News who can be reached at cmurray@hillsdale.net. Follow him on Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Stockford wins second term, voter turnout 'better than expected'
