By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Cass County Commissioner Minnie Macon Warren, D-Pokagon Township, the only one of three Democratic incumbents challenged in Tuesday's primary election, outpolled Selina M. Ivens of Dowagiac, 107-50, to gain her party's nomination – to face a Republican write-in Nov. 7.
Four county-level write-in candidates surfaced Monday.
Tuesday's turnout represented 15.82 percent of Cass County's 36,822 registered voters.
While Dowagiac Commissioner John H. Cureton garnered 197 votes unopposed for the GOP nomination, write-in Democrat E. Clark Cobb collected 54 votes to insure a fall race in a district with a strong Democratic base.
Republicans fielded the other three write-in candidates.
Warren will take on GOP write-in Pete J. Siewert in District 12.
Siewert received 30 votes.
Incumbent District 4 Commissioner Alan Ray Northrop, who did not file for re-election in May, returned to the ring and was named on 21 ballots to meet Democratic nominee Bill Steele, 75 votes.
Steele has chaired the county Planning Commission. Newberg Township and eastern Calvin Township comprise District 4.
"Mr. Northrop, like Dowagiac's Gary Weaver some years ago, has frequently been absent from county board meetings because of other priorities during his two terms," Burke H. Webb, Cass County Democratic Executive Committee vice chair, observed Tuesday. "He may well be vulnerable on that ground alone.
"In Mr. Weaver's case, the news media took note of his loss of interest in serving as a county commissioner and reported his absences as they occurred, and when he decided to run for re-election, it was too late to repair the damage he had done to himself," Webb said.
Webb also pointed out that the size of the Republican margin of victory in District 4 has been eroding, from about 130 votes in 2002 to about 60 votes in 2004.
John Hrycko also ran as a Republican write-in in District 1 (115 ballots) for another shot against Democrat Ed Goodman (158).
Hrycko was the unsuccessful GOP candidate who sought to fill the Terri Kitchen vacancy in Silver Creek Township, but a majority of the Republicans and all of the Democrats on the commission threw their support to Goodman.
District 2 – Chairman Robert A. Wagel, R-Wayne Township, racked up 252 votes for the nomination to face Democrat Myron R. Miller, who garnered 127 votes.
District 3 – Incumbent Cathy Goodenough, R-Marcellus, 174 votes.
District 5 – Incumbent Gordon Bickel Sr., R-Porter Township, with 294 votes, will square off against Democratic nominee Ernie Kurdys of Vandalia, 172.
District 6 – Republican Charlie Arnold, 157 votes. Democrat Max Brown, 114 votes. Republican incumbent Jack Teter did not seek a new term.
District 7 – Former Edwardsburg village councilman Harry Stemple, with 125 ballots, outpolled Ontwa Township Deputy Clerk Paula Ralph's 84 for the Republican nomination to take on incumbent David Taylor, D-Edwardsburg, in the general election. Taylor got 87 votes.
District 8 – Incumbent Carl Higley Sr., R-Edwardsburg, received 146 votes. The Democratic nominee, Tony Catanzarite, finished with an even 100.
District 9 – Vice Chairman Ron Francis, R-Cassopolis, who is unopposed, collected 198 votes.
District 10 – Cassopolis businessman Steve Saltzman, a former Dowagiac resident, clinched the Democratic nomination over former village councilwoman Maxine Snipes, 109-64. Saltzman advances to a general election contest with Republican incumbent Dixie Ann File (158 votes).
District 13 – Republican Cheryl A. Fortuna won her party's nod by being named on 169 ballots. Her opponent, Johnie Rodebush, D-Howard Township, earned 143.
District 14 – Incumbent Dale Lowe, R-Niles, 166. Democrat Debbie Ann Johnson, a former commissioner, 142, to set up a general election rematch.
District 15 – The fourth primary race was decided by five votes, with Democrat Dwane G. West besting Paullean D. Washington, 59-54, for the Niles-area seat held by Republican Robert L. Ziliak, named on 180 ballots.
Ballot proposals
Southwestern Michigan College lost its third request for 0.854 of a mill for 15 years, 2,282 yes to 3,293 no in Cass County.
Dowagiac defeated the SMC proposal, 327-317, including 67 yes to 66 no in First Ward, 160 yes to 108 no in Second Ward and 90 yes to 153 no in Third Ward.
Dowagiac strongly supported the E-911 renewal, 432-107, including margins of 93 yes to 36 no in First Ward, 224 yes to 44 no in Second Ward and 115 yes to 27 no in Third Ward.
Overall, the E-911 renewal carried, 4,096-1,462. The $1.90 per month assessment on telephone bills is for three years, 2007-2010, to operate central dispatch from the Emergency Operations Center in Cassopolis.
Marcellus Township approved by a 183 yes to 74 no margin a one-mill, six-year proposal for fire and ambulance service through the Marcellus Area Emergency Services Association.
Porter and Mason townships soundly defeated 516 no to 267 yes a Southeast Public Safety Authority proposal to levy 2.25 mills for seven years to raise $468,014 to purchase equipment and to provide fire and emergency medical services.
Cassopolis Public Schools succeeded, 455 yes to 314 no, in asking voters to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property except principal residences and qualified agricultural property required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance.
Howard Township said a resounding no, 527-194, to 1.25 mills for 2006-2011. The levy would have generated an estimated $193,000 its first year.