This week, thousands of voters from southwest Michigan cast their votes in dozens of different races, including a recall election in Ontwa Township in Cass County.

Citizens of Ontwa Township successfully recalled four of the five current officials. Supervisor John Brielmaier, clerk Paula Ralph and trustees Nathan Brosseau and Norman Krupp will be replaced by four non-partisan candidates, John Bossler, Teri McNaughton, Leon Gilliam and Mike Mroczek were voted to replace the recalled officials.

The majority of voters chose not to recall Ontwa Township treasurer Meryl Christensen, who defeated non-partisan candidate Danelle Searfoss by just 60 votes.

A group of Ontwa Township citizens filed to recall the five officials because of their positions on a proposed wastewater treatment plant. The residents believed the plant would be detrimental to the environment, among other concerns.

Of course it is always important for citizens to exercise their right to vote, but in the case of a recall election, it is especially important that voters weigh in on the decision. Throughout the duration of the wastewater treatment plant conundrum, it seemed as though we received a large amount of feedback in the form of letters and comments from readers, and all meetings were very highly attended, so I was surprised to see that less than 28 percent of the voters took the time to voice their opinions on the matter.

Nonetheless, voters did show up to cast their ballots, and four elected officials were replaced. If not for the ability to have recall elections, constituents would have had to wait another two years until the officials’ terms had expired.

Regardless of the number of people who participated in the vote, this recall election was the epitome of democracy at work. Select citizens of Ontwa Township were concerned about an issue, and they spoke up and made their government listen. These people recognized that their voices were not being heard by their elected officials, so they spread the message loud and clear to the rest of the Ontwa Township community.

How great is it that we live in a country where we are given the tools to solve our problems, regardless of our stature in the government? If you ask me, the biggest lesson to be learned from this recall election is that regardless of time spent in a political position or the ranking of a politician, the power really lies in the people who vote those people into office.

If nothing else, this should serve as a reminder to all elected officials that loyalty to their constituents should not stop once the votes are counted; the same voters who get officials into their seats can just as easily get them out of them.

Ambrosia Neldon is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7713, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com.