DELTA COUNTY, Mich. (WZMQ) – Delta County voters made their voices heard at the polls for the November 4th election.
In Gladstone, three City Commission seats are becoming available. Vying for those seats were four candidates—incumbents Joe Thompson and Steve O’Driscoll, along with local business owner Whitney Maloney and retired electrical engineer Mike O’Connor. Thompson and O’Driscoll retained their positions with 29.49% of the vote and 24.22% of the vote, respectively. Maloney will join them on the City Commission, having earned 28.92% of the vote. O’Connor garnered 17.38%.
In Escanaba, three City Council seats appeared on the ballot. However, sitting council members Mark Ammel, Ronald Beauchamp, and Todd Flath ran unopposed. Ammel earned 1,302 votes, Beauchamp earned 1,073, and Flath earned 1,123.
The Escanaba ballot also included a measure to change the way certain city funding is utilized. Since 1965, gas utility proceeds have been restricted to use on capital improvements. The proposal recommended dedicating those funds to reducing unfunded pension liabilities. 50.93% of voters supported the measure, while 49.07% opposed it.
However, the gas utility proposal needed a 3/5ths vote in order to pass. On Wednesday, WZMQ 19 will speak with Escanaba’s city manager about the ballot measure results.
According to results posted to enhancedvoting.com, Delta County saw a voter turnout of 17%. Out of 14,595 registered voters, 2,538 ballots were cast.
