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Charlevoix County voters approve fire, EMS and county millages
By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com
More than one-third of Charlevoix County voters cast ballots in Tuesday's primary election, approving every local millage proposal on the ballot while delivering a closely watched Democratic U.S. Senate primary victory to Abdul El-Sayed.
According to unofficial election results, 35.4% of Charlevoix County's registered voters participated in the Aug. 4 primary.
Boyne City's turnout closely mirrored the countywide participation rate. A total of 1,178 of the city's 3,352 registered voters cast ballots, representing just over 35% turnout.
The closest major race in Charlevoix County came in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, where Abdul El-Sayed edged Haley Stevens by just 53 votes. El-Sayed received 1,982 votes, compared with Stevens' 1,929 votes. El-Sayed also won the statewide Democratic nomination. He will face Republican Mike Rogers in the Nov. 3 general election. (See story below with a link to updated results.)
Voters also selected nominees in several other races that will appear on the November ballot. In Michigan's 1st Congressional District, Republican incumbent Jack Bergman will face Democrat Callie Barr. In the 37th State Senate District, Republican incumbent John Damoose will face Democrat Kate Gallup. In the 107th State House District, Republican Parker Fairbairn will face Democrat Melissa Perron.
Voters also approved all four countywide millage proposals.
The Charlevoix County Transit millage renewal passed with 5,880 yes votes to 2,276 no votes. The Charlevoix County Parks millage renewal was approved 5,954 to 2,219, while the Charlevoix County Veterans millage renewal passed by an even wider margin, 6,837 to 1,364.
Voters also approved the county's separate tax limitation proposal, with 4,941 voting in favor and 2,865 opposed. This proposal provides five-year limitations of 4.7 mills for the County of Charlevoix, 1.0 mills for townships, and 0.2 mills for intermediate school districts.
Support for local public safety funding also remained strong, with voters approving every fire and EMS millage proposal on the ballot.
In Boyne Valley Township, voters renewed the Fire/Rescue Department millage by a vote of 289-49.
Hudson Township voters approved the Fire and EMS millage, 137-52.
Melrose Township voters approved all three public safety proposals, renewing the fire operating millage 306-66, renewing the fire sinking fund millage 255-95 and approving the ambulance millage 270-80.
Peaine Township voters renewed the Emergency Medical Services millage by a vote of 118-19.
The Lake Charlevoix Emergency Medical Service Authority's ambulance operating millage proposal also passed comfortably, receiving 2,239 yes votes and 590 no votes from voters in the City of Charlevoix and the townships of Charlevoix, Hayes, Marion and Norwood.
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