The Votes Are In: 2014 Election Results

The Votes Are In: 2014 Election Results
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 5, 2014)
The unofficial election results are in, with good news for marijuana supporters and mixed results for most everyone else.
Proposed Charter Amendments to decriminalize personal amounts of marijuana passed in Huntington Woods (with 69.8% voting yes) and Berkley (with 62.25% voting yes). Pleasant Ridge voters have approved a charter change that states marijuana will be a lowest law enforcement priority. 70.16 % of voters approved the change. Though state and federal laws trump the local ones, the increasing number of cities that pass pro-marijuana legislation can send a message to elected officials about what the public wants.
While the three southern Oakland County communities have given a nod to smoking down, Auburn Hills residents want to do some blazing of their own. At issue there was if the community should ban leaf burning, and 61.64% of residents said no to a ban.

Voters generally supported the Millages before them. Oxford voters turned down a library millage, with 51.76% voting no. Voters in the Holly School District did not approve a sinking fund tax levy.
School Districts approving millages or bonds include Almont Community Schools, Avondale, Lake Orion Community Schools, and Walled Lake Consolidated.
Pleasant Ridge passed a General Operating Millage, with 74.34% of voters in favor. Pleasant Ridge voters also approved a park improvement millage, with an approval rate of 67.57%.
Royal Oak voters also approved an ordinance allowing the city to sell off part of Normandy Oaks and using the funds to improve the rest of the park area. This passed with 75.78% in support.
Cities that passed millages for road improvements include Farmington, Farmington Hills, Royal Oak, and Southfield.

Library millages passed in Pleasant Ridge (80.56% voting in favor), Addison Township (54.63% in favor), Bloomfield (62.88%),
Millages for public safety passed in Rochester Hills (71.31% voting yes), and Oxford Twp (54.20%).
Oakland Twp passed their Fire Millage (76.66%). So did Orion Twp. (54.74%) and Oxford (59.33%).
Novi passed a charter amendment, with 74.49% voting to reduce the current penalty for paying taxes after the due date. It was a 4% late fee. Voters have approved making it 1% with a gradual increase up to 4%.
Michigan voters also said no to wolf hunting, with proposals one and two failing with over 60% against them.
Republicans prevailed at the top of the statewide ticket. Governor Rick Snyder and Lt. Governor Brian Calley won with 50.84% of the vote as of 3am. Ruth Johnson won for Secretary of State. Bill Schuette will remain on duty as Attorney General. Dave Trott will be representing the 11^th Congressional District in Washington. Mike Bishop will represent the 8^th District.
There were victories for Democrats as well. Gary Peters won for State Senate. Brenda Lawrence won for the 14^th Congressional District. Sander Levin won the 9^th Congressional District.
UPDATED: State Board of Education Victors are Pamela Smith and Cassandra Ulbrich, both Democrats. This number has been updated from earlier reports.
In the State Senate, Vincent Gregory (D) will represent the 11^th District, Jim Marleau (R) will represent the 12^th District, Marty Knollenberg (R) will represent the 13^th District, David B. Robertson will represent the 14^th District, Mike Kowall (R) will represent the 15^th District.
In the State House, Michigan voters have elected Jim Townsend (D) for the 26^th, Robert Wittenberg (D) for the 27^th, Tim Greimel (D) for the 29^th, Jeremy Moss (D) for the 35^th, Christine Greig (D) for the 37^th, Kathy Crawford (R) for the 39^th, Michael D. McCready (R) for the 40^th, Martin Howrylak (R) for the 41^st, Jim Tedder (R) for the 43^rd, Jim Runestad (R) for the 44^th, Michael Webber (R) for the 45^th, Bradford C. Jacobsen (R) for the 46^th, and Joseph Graves (R) for the 51^st.
For the Supreme Court, Richard Benstein and Brian Zahra won eight year terms, and David Viviano won a partial term through 2016 as the incumbent.
In Oakland County’s Sixth Circuit Court Lisa Langton won with 65.22% of the votes for a seat that had been kept vacant for years due to budget cuts at the County.

Several School Districts had elections. Here are some of the results from contested races:
Avondale: Sean L. Johnson, Terry Lang, Cynthia Tischer and Sid Lockhart.
Berkley: Mary Jo Israel and Roger Blake.
Clarkston: Elizabeth Egan, Kelli Horst, and Steve Hyer.
Farmington: Jessica Cummings and Terry L. Johnson.
Ferndale: Karen Twomey, Jennifer M. LaTosch, and Nan Kerr-Mueller
Hazel Park: Laura Adkins, Beverly Hinton and Rachel Noth
Huron Valley: Lindsay Cotter, Sean Carlson, and Rebecca Walsh
Novi: Ann Glubzinski, Willy Mena, and Paul D. Cook
Oxford: Joyce Brasington, Mike Schweig, Mark W. Stepek, and Kimberly Shumaker
Pontiac: Brenda Carter, April Hernandez, Caroll Y. Turpin, and William A. Carrington
South Lyon: April McCusker, Anthony Abbate, and RandyClark
Troy: Paula Fleming, and Nancy Philippart
Waterford: Heather Halls and John Paul Torres
West Bloomfield: Stacy Gold Brickman and Cristina Elsen
Statewide election results can be found at http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/14GEN/
NOTE: These are unofficial results which may be subject to change. Also, while we strive for accuracy, mistakes may happen. If you notice any, please contact editor@oc115.com.

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