Voters across Michigan's Great Southwest were good to the communities in which they liveTuesday. Every issue before the voters in those communities where renewal votes were sought yesterday passed muster. Only two newly proposed levies in the City of Bridgman and Lake Charter Township for the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport failed, however it passed in every community where it was up for renewal. Here are the results:
- Watervliet City and Township voters clearly like the way things have been going on their tax proposal front. All of the measures before them were approved in the Tuesday Primary Election. The Watervliet City Library Millage was renewed 99 to 17. In Watervliet Township voters approved a Police Protection Renewal 287 to 76…a Public Safety Millage Renewal 256 to 102…a Road Millage Renewal 267-95…and the Watervliet Township District Library Millage Renewal 279 to 87.
- In Sodus Township, the Fire Protection Millage was approved 262-69 and the Sodus Township Library Operating Millage was approved by a margin of 236 to 93. River School-Sodus Township Operating Millage Renewal was passed by a 20 to 9 vote.
- Coloma Charter Township voters gave big wins to both the Public Safety Millage Renewal 451 to 120 and the Road Millage Renewal 449 to 124.
- Royalton Township voters have approved the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport Millage Renewal by a two to one margin in a 603 to 308 tally.
- In Harbor Country, the New Buffalo Township Parks & Recreation Millage Renewal was approved 191 to 79.
- Throughout Berrien County, the three countywide millage renewals (for Law Enforcement & Public Safety, for 911 Emergency System, and for the Senior Centers of the county) all passed by overwhelming nearly 5 to 1 victories.
- In Bridgman and Lake Charter Township the request for support of the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport was defeated. Bridgman voters nixed the new one-tenth mill tax 186 to 127, while Lake Charter Township voters said no to the air support 337 to 250.
- The Bridgman City Library Renewal Millage was approved 250 to 67.
- St. Joseph Charter Township voters have green-lighted the support for SW Michigan Regional Airport 708 to 358…and the Library Service Renewal Millage 847 to 225.
- New Buffalo City voters have okay the City Parks Millage Renewal 95 to 64.
- Voters in Berrien & Pipestone Townships have approved the Eau Claire District Library Millage by a vote of 370 to 190.
- Riverside School – Hagar Township voters gave the nod to the Operating Millage Renewal 56 to 17.
- Baroda Township voters have approved both the Fire Protection/Ambulance Service Millage Renewal and the Library Services Millage Renewal by 295 to 76 for Fire & Ambulance and 229 to 138 for the Library.
- Van Buren County voters approved every single ballot proposal that was presented to them including the county wide Road Millage by a vote of 7274 to 2832 and the Conservation District Millage by a vote of 5568 to 4451.
- St. Joseph City voters approved renewal of the airport millage for SWM Regional Airport by a vote of 514 to 191.
- Lincoln Charter Township voters also approved the airport renewal by a vote of 874 to 546 while also giving overwhelming approval to their Police Operating Millage Renewal 1174 to 255 and their Road Millage Renewal 1157 to 278.
- Niles City Dial-A-Ride will continue to roll thanks to renewal millage approval by a 332 to 157 vote margin.
- Benton Charter Township voters gave the thumbs up to each of two millage renewals, with Police & Fire Renewal winning 1021 to 411 and the airport support voted in 860 to 570.
- Niles Township renewed its Sheriff's Protection Millage by a margin of 733 to 244.
- Buchanan Community Schools Operating Millage was renewed on a 659 to 403 vote.
In the major races of the day, Kim LaSata emerged victorious on the Republican ticket in the four way battle to try to replace State Representative Al Pscholka in the November elections. She topped all comers with 4,856 votes, with Realtor Ryan Arnt in second at 2,957, then Troy Rolling with 899 and Mary Brown with 520. On the Democratic ticket, Marletta Seats was running unopposed for that 79th District State House seat and garnered 2,465 votes to go up again LaSata in the fall.
In the hotly contested chase for the Berrien County Drain Commissioner post, Christopher Quattrin lapped Kevin Gillette 7,322 votes to 5,908.
