Niles Charter Township voters removed the two most visible board members in Tuesday’s Republican primary.

Former treasurer James Stover won the nomination over one-term Supervisor Jim Kidwell, a city police officer, 737-472.

Stover’s successor when he left the area in 1996, Treasurer James Ringler, lost to John Engel, 580-546.

“I feel sorry (Ringler) lost. I was looking forward to working with him,” Stover said Tuesday night. With 69 of 74 precincts, or 93.4 percent tabulated at midnight, countywide turnout fell short of 7 percent.

GOP nominations for four trustee posts are incumbents Dick Noble (684) and Richard Cooper (578) and newcomers Christine Vella (545) and Herschel Hoese (511) to face Democratic incumbent Gary Conover Nov. 6, ousting incumbent August Kuehn (302).

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton advanced in his bid for a 14th term as congressman by winning his rematch with former state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk of Kalamazoo, 10,430-5,052 in Berrien County.

All three Berrien County-wide proposals passed by wide margins, including public safety and senior center renewals and a new 911 proposal.

R. McKinley Elliott of Buchanan retained his Board of Commissioners seat over challenger Robert Hoven, 728-635, while former state Rep. Neal Nitz won the Republican nomination in District 8 with 991.

Niles passed Dial-a-Ride, 428 yes to 246 no.

Cass County’s seven precincts were complete for Sharon Tyler’s 78th District House seat, with Dave Pagel of Berrien Springs, chairman of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, opening a commanding lead of 1,025 to 488 for Brian Savage of Baroda (488) and Niles City Councilman David H. Mann (411).

On the Democratic side of the ballot, Cass preferred Jack Arbanas of Buchanan (210) to Gerry Welling of Niles (198).

In Berrien County, there were 4,412 for Pagel, 954 for Savage and 763 for Mann. Arbanas was named on 619 ballots, while Welling garnered 473.

In Cass County’s Milton Township, incumbent Treasurer Linda DeBroka lost the Republican nomination to Susan Flowers, 183-174.

The GOP nod for Milton clerk went to Sue Kronewitter over Larry A. Neumann, 177-174. Milton approved its four-year, one-mill fire proposal, 195 yes to 180 no.

Buchanan Township Supervisor Jane A. Wesner-Mitchell lost by one vote to Eugene Casto, 227-226.

Berrien County backed former congressman Peter Hoekstra for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination to face incumbent Debbie Stabenow over former Niles resident Clark Durant.