CASSOPOLIS — Cass Cass County Board of Commissioners voted 9-6 by secret ballot Jan. 6 for Minnie (Macon) Warren, D-Pokagon Township, as 2011 chair.

Warren, beginning her fifth two-year term since being elected in District 12 in 2002, thanked commissioners for their “vote of confidence” after defeating 2009 chairman Robert Wagel, R-Wayne Township.

The 2010 chair, Robert Ziliak, R-Milton Township, announced in December he would not seek a second term.

Goodman tallied an eight-vote majority on the second round, beating Francis and former commissioner Dale Lowe, R-Niles, who returns to the commission after unseating Howard Township Democrat Debbie Johnson in November.

Republicans picked up three seats in the general election, with Edwardsburg Republican Roseann Marchetti ousting Democrat David Taylor in District 7 and Democrat Bill Steele not seeking re-election, so District 4 went to the GOP in the form of former Calvin Township supervisor Dwight “Skip” Dyes.

Rodebush, D-Howard Township, nominated Warren, while Commissioner Carl Higley Sr., R-Ontwa Township, put Wagel’s name in contention.

For vice chair, Commissioner Dixie Ann File, R-Cassopolis, nominated Francis, Commissioner Cathy Goodenough, R-Marcellus, proposed Goodman and Higley gave the nod to Lowe.

Francis finished with four votes — Cobb, Charlie Arnold of Cassopolis, File and himself — and Lowe with two after Higley threw his support to Goodman in the second vote.

Warren completed a 20-year career at Buchanan’s Electro-Voice before opening in April 2004 a Niles manufacturer, Mintec, best-known for hiring convicted felons and giving them a second chance.

Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce honored Warren as its woman of the year.

As she said Sept. 12, “I just do what needs to be done.”

For years the former president of Dowagiac’s NAACP branch organized the Black Family Celebration at Walter Ward Park in Dowagiac.

She was a founder of CASA, Court-Appointed Special Advocates, and has been active with the Community Action Agency.

She raised three children, two daughters and a son.

Clerk-Register Barb Runyon conducted the meeting until a chair could be selected after administering commissioners their oaths of office at the annual reorganizational meeting.