By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Dowagiac Daily News
NILES – In a close race residents of Niles Township accepted a levy of one mill for four years to continue the township's contract with the Berrien County Sheriff's Department for their police patrol of Niles Township.
The unofficial final totals were 3,038 for the tax levy and 2,890 against.
At 10:30 p.m., U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph spoke to his supporters at Berrien Hills.
Totals for the Upton/Cooney race with all 688 precincts reporting were 46,003 for Upton and 28,527 for Cooney.
In Cass County, Upton beat Cooney, 14,232 to 8,146.
"Things are looking pretty good," Upton said. "It's a school night and I am sending them home. It's not official, but we are breathing a sigh of relief. I am pretty happy. My wife Amey and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary tomorrow. What a nice way to celebrate as we go into the wee hours."
"We really need to work together … and put partisanship aside and be ready to tackle" the country's problems, he added.
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat, also retained his seat. In Berrien County he received 40,491 votes to his opponent Jack Hoogendyk Jr., who received 31,917.
In Cass County, Levin received 12,136 and Hoogendyk 9,610.