When Jim Curran went to bed Tuesday night, the results were not final in the election for the District 11 Republican nomination for Berrien County Commissioner.

Curran, the incumbent, was leading 364 to 138 over challenger Rick Briand when 11 p.m. rolled around.

All the precincts were in, but the absentee ballots still needed to be counted.

Despite this, Curran fell asleep easily.

“If you know me, you know when I am tired I go right to sleep,” he said. “I did not lose any sleep looking at those numbers before I went to bed. I slept very well.”

Curran awoke to find his lead not only held up, it grew when the absentee ballots were added up.

Curran won the election by a vote of 559 to 186.

“When I looked at the numbers this morning I was pretty happy about it,” he said. “I was a little disappointed with the turnout, but happy with the result.”

Curran has been on the commission since 2012.

He will have a good chance of retaining his seat in the November election, since no Democrat filed to run. The only threat would be from write-in candidates, which typically do not fare as well as party candidates.

“I am ready to serve another two years,” Curran said.

The final precinct numbers looked like this, according to Election Magic.

• Bertrand No. 1A: Curran 94, Briand 33

• Niles Charter No. 1: Currant 67, Briand 24

• Niles Charter No. 3: Curran 50, Briand 24

• Niles Charter No. 4: Curran 43, Briand 17

• Niles Charter No. 5: Curran 110, Briand 40

Curran received 195 votes via absentee ballot, while Briand got 48.

 

Fifth District Judge

In the race for judge in the county’s fifth district, Donna Howard and Stephen Smith advanced to the November election.

Howard received 5,359 votes, while Smith had 4,883 votes and Brian Sauer 3,315. Sauer was eliminated.