By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac's state Rep. Neal Nitz, R-Baroda, in Tuesday's primary election received the Republican nomination for a third term in the state Legislature's District 78 over Bill Baber and Bruce Hipshear.
Cass County totals were: Nitz, 624; Baber, 543; and Hipshear, 89.
Nitz won Dowagiac, 151 to 133 and 16. Baber carried the city's First Ward by a single ballot, 26-25.
Baber, a Berrien Springs businessman, was endorsed by sheriffs Joe Underwood of Cass County and Paul Bailey of Berrien County.
"I am grateful for the support of southwest Michigan residents in re-electing me to be their representative for a third term," Nitz said in a statement. "I want to thank the many volunteers who donated their time and resources to my campaign. I will continue to serve southwest Michigan residents in Lansing and work hard to implement initiatives that will create more jobs and bring economic vitality to the state.
"We overcame some difficult challenges in this election cycle, however, we continued to work hard and implement creative ideas on the campaign trail that helped voters get to know me and my dedication to representing their needs in Lansing.
"I will continue to move Michigan in a new direction by expanding agriculture production and channeling our resources to alternative energy production. Michigan's economic growth and development is our top priority as we continue to propose legislation that will attract innovative business and job providers," Nitz said.
In the Nov. 7 general election Nitz, who attended Southwestern Michigan College, faces Niles businesswoman and Lake Michigan College board member Judy Truesdell.
The Democratic nominee this afternoon at her new campaign headquarters at 207 N. Second St. in Niles will unveil her jobs plan to fight outsourcing, prepare workers for jobs of the future and to jump start Michigan's economy.
With all returns in by midnight in Cass County, Republican Dick DeVos captured 3,004 votes for governor.
Democratic incumbent Jennifer M. Granholm showed 2,176.
In the U.S. Senate race, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, with 1,481, outpolled the Rev. Keith Butler's 1,309, although the former Detroit City Councilman was the GOP's Lincoln Day speaker earlier this year.
Dowagiac preferred Bouchard, 146 to 129 for Butler.
Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow recorded 2,066 votes.
For Congress, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, tallied 2,954. Democrat Kim Clark of Three Oaks received 1,925.
State Sen. Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, garnered 2,889 votes for the GOP nod. Democrat Valerie Janowski got 1,949.
State Rep. Rick Shaffer, R-Three Rivers, rolled up 1,778 votes, to 1,180 for Democratic nominee Ed Pawlowski.
For Republican precinct delegate, County Clerk-Register Barb Wilson got 116 and Jerry Ostrowski was named on 30 ballots.
For Democratic precinct delegate, the top vote-getters were JoAnn Wood, 46, and Valerie Janowski, 39.
Granholm was the top Democratic vote-getter in the city with 232, compared to 220 for Stabenow, 208 for Janowski and Truesdell and 207 for Clark.