By Jim Bloch
A decade-and-a-half of Pauline Repp as mayor was enough for the voters of Port Huron.
They elected longtime council member Anita Ashford as mayor on Nov. 5 in a near landslide, 6,005-4,965, over Repp. Ashford received nearly 54 percent of the vote; Repp received 44.54 percent of the vote.
Voters retained Sherry Archibald and Teri Lamb on the city council and voted in newcomer Barbara Payton, which meant the ouster of incumbent Bob Mosurak. Archibald received 4,552 votes or 17.58 percent of the total; Payton finished second with 3,701 votes or 14.29 percent; Lamb received 3,535 votes or 13.65 percent.
Out of the running were Brian Farquhar with 2,940 votes, 11.35 percent; Mosurak with 2,736 votes or 10.56 percent; John Middleton with 2,633 votes or 10.17 percent of the vote; Jason Helig with 2,570 votes or 9.92 percent; Holden Gauthier with 1,655 votes or 6.39 percent; and Richard Carlyle at 1, 091 or 4.21 percent.
To a certain degree, the council races in 2022 foreshadowed Ashford’s win. At that time, Repp fended off challenger David J. Whitmore in a landslide, 5,226-3,291. But Ashford attracted significantly more votes, 5,515, in her council race.
Ashford, Archibald, Lamb and Payton will be sworn-in and seated before the city council’s regular meeting Nov. 11.
In races throughout the county, no write-in candidates prevailed. For more detailed results, including noncompetitive races, visit https://app.enhancedvoting.com/results/public/st.-clair-county-mi/elections/November2024GeneralElection.
City of St. Clair
The only competitive race was in the Third Ward, where voters returned incumbent Erin Gottler with 401 votes or 29 percent and elected newcomer William Westrick II with 410 votes or 30 percent. That left former councilman Bill Klieman out of the running with 310 votes or 23 percent. Incumbent Jon Watt was also knocked out, attracting the fewest number of votes of the four candidates at 218 or 16 percent of the vote.
Memphis
In the city of Memphis, Tammy J Wehrum outpointed Kurt D. Marter for mayor.
Ken Dunbar, Rodona M. Harper, and Jason Sopha won council seats, leaving Christopher Manczuk, Sr.; Kenneth Reilly, and Lawrence Wilson out of luck.
St. Clair Township
Republicans Ryan D. Barck, Mike Boulier, William J Karas and Evan Donald Rood each garnered 21-22 percent of the vote to earn trustee seats, leaving Democrat Jared F. Shirkey out in the cold with 10.61 percent of the vote.
Port Huron Township
Republicans Donald B Dudas, Dawn M. Fulk, Patrick Pringle and John L. Reno Jr. each attracted about 21 percent of the vote in winning seats on the board of trustees, leaving Democrat Stephen F. Riehl outside looking in, with 14 percent of the vote.
Kenockee Township
Voters elected Tod Molesworth as supervisor in a landslide over Ron Medere, 999-394.
East China Township
Gisela Horn, Republican, swamped Nicole Hart, a Democrat, in the race for treasurer, 1,473-886.
Cottrellville Township
Lisa MacKenzie and Kris Rients overwhelmed Democrat Tom Kaufman in the race for two seats on the board.
Columbus Township
Voters elected Stan Dudek Jr. and Jared Greenia to the board of trustees over Michael Haught.
Clay Township
Voters elected Republicans Mark Borchardt, Maureen Boury, Brian Campbell and Jon DeBoyer to the board, each receiving close to 20 percent of the vote, leaving David Mark Sluka, a Democrat, on the outside.
China Township
Residents elected Republicans Ronald R. Beier; Lauren Martin; Edward Neiman; and Dan Turke as trustees, all of whom outpointed Democrat Barbara Golan. Each Republican received about 22 percent of the vote; Golan won 10 percent.
St. Clair County Board of Commissioners
Democrats failed up and down the ballot in St. Clair County, but Lisa Beedon, the Democrat in the race for the District 3 seat, beat Republican Cliff Schrader, 4,323-3,929.
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Voters elected Marcia Robbins and Penelope G. Peck to six-year terms on the community college board, and turned back the bid of Mukund Wankhede.
Robert T. Mitchell won in a landslide over Patrick Yanik for a seat to fill the partial term on the board which ends Dec. 31, 2026.
East China School District
Voters elected Jessica Becker, Karen Cedar and Lindsay Chopp in a close race that left Holly Tatman out of luck.
Marysville Public Schools
Amanda Kettlewell Busch, Nicole M. Winston, Kirk M. Smith won the three four-year seats over Catherine Vermeersch and Jen Settel.
Port Huron Area Schools
Laurie L. Oldford and Matt Ruiz, each with about 38 percent of the vote, out-distanced Gary Lokers, Jr. for the two open seats.
Proposals
There were a number of proposals in a variety of communities:
Almont Community Schools
Voters refused to approve a Sinking Fund Millage Proposal, 389-285.
China Township
Voters turned down a new Millage for Road and Ditch Improvement and Maintenance, 1,137-1,025.
East China Schools
ECSD voters dramatically sunk the Sinking Fund Millage Proposal, 10,712-6,178.
Kenockee Township
Residents did not approve an amendment to Opt into Production and/or Sale of Marihuana in the Township.
Memphis Community Schools
Voters passed the bond proposal.
Lynn Township
Voters renewed the township’s Road Millage.
Marysville Public Schools
Voters turned back the School Improvement Bond Proposition.
City of Yale
Voters approved a continuation of Millage Increase for Law Enforcement Purposes; a proposal for the Renewal of Millage for Street Improvements; and a proposal for the Renewal of Millage for Sidewalk Improvements.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
