Drain commissioner prevails

Published 6:07 pm Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Berrien County Drain Commissioner Roger H. Zilke retained his position in Tuesday’s primary over two Republican challengers.

Zilke polled 7,198 to 5,800 for Christopher J. Quattrin and 1,860 for Rich Hurst.

Berrien County Commissioner Mamie L. Yarbrough of Benton Harbor tallied 365 to Steven D. McCoy’s 170 for the District 4 Democratic nomination.

Catherine Thieneman of St. Joseph, with 1,021, bested David J. Yardley, 480, for the District 5 Republican nomination.

All three countywide ballot proposals succeeded by wide margins.

A .2-mill increase to .45 for four years for 911 emergency services was adopted, 13,897 yes to 5,576 no.

Renewal of .35 mill for four years for law enforcement and public safety passed 14,411 yes to 5,002 no.

Renewal of financial support for seven senior centers — .30 mill for four years — won, 15,385 yes to 4,137 no.

With Niles Charter Township balloting complete, former treasurer James Stover, with 872, ousted Supervisor Jim Kidwell, 544, in the GOP primary.

Former Niles city administrator Terry Eull won the Republican clerk nomination with 1,167 ballots. Incumbent Marge Durm-Hiatt did not seek re-election.

Treasurer James Ringler, 640, lost to Republican newcomer John H. Engel, 675.

Four Republicans nominated to face Democratic incumbent Gary Conover (275) for trustee are: incumbents Dick Noble (794) and Richard Cooper (679) and newcomers Christine Vella (651) and Herschel Hoese (606), trailed by Patricia Legatt (547), incumbent August Kuehn (355), Dan Songer (331) and Ron Winningham (299).

Democrats nominated Darwin Finley, Aaron Mills, John Mishler and Harry D. Thibault for five positions on the township parks board.

About 17 percent of Berrien County’s 124,267 registered voters participated.