LOCAL MICHIGAN RACES
Top township jobs up for election in Bedford
11/6/2016Voters in Bedford Township will decide on a host of races Tuesday, including supervisor and township trustee.
Supervisor Greg Stewart was defeated in the August primary by Republican Paul Pirrone. He squares off with Democrat Larry O’Dell for the right to hold the highest office at township hall.
Mr. O’Dell has been a township trustee for 12 years, and Mr. Pirrone was elected trustee in 2012. They are not permitted to run for multiple positions, and will relinquish their trustee seats.
Republicans Nancy Tienvieri and Rick Steiner are up for re-election as trustees. Republicans Michelle Bork and TC Clements, and Democrat Greg Robinson round out the field of five running for four seats.
Ms. Bork received 1,946 votes in the primary, the most of any candidate. Ms. Tienvieri received 1,837, Mr. Steiner received 1,826, Mr. Clements received 1,563, and Mr. Robinson received 1,219.
Five candidates are also vying for four seats on the Bedford school board: Jenna Biggs, Diana Janney, Ron Koch, Greg Manger, and Mike Smith.
● Elsewhere in Monroe County, voters will consider a five-year, 0.85-mill levy for Monroe County Community College for building maintenance and improvements. The owner of a $100,000 home in the county would pay an additional $42.50 a year.
Many of the college’s facilities are in need of renovations, including the East and West Technology Buildings, Campbell Learning Resource Center, and Warrick Student Services/Administration Building. MCCC officials have blamed decreasing property values and cuts in state funding for reduced revenue.
● Monroe County Sheriff Dale Malone, a Democrat, is challenged by Republican David Uhl, the village manager of Dundee.
● In Luna Pier, Kurt McLennan is challenging Mayor David Davison for his job.
● Also in Luna Pier, the city is seeking voters to approve a four-year, 2-mill tax for police protection. If approved, it would raise $97,000 annually.
● In Monroe County’s Ash Township, voters will be asked to approve a new 1-mill tax to pay for road maintenance. It would collect $268,173 a year.
Lenawee County
The village of Blissfield is seeking a 0.40-mill bond issue to raise $355,000 pay for the cost of reconstructing a pedestrian bridge over the River Raisin between Ellis Park and Clara Bachmayer Playground.
The request would not exceed 15 years and would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $40 annually.
There also are a host of county commissioner races in Monroe and Lenawee counties.
Contact Jay Skebba at: jskebba@theblade.com, 419-376-9414, or on Twitter @JaySkebbaBlade.