By Sue Moore
Kalamazoo County went heavily blue for Democrats in some mid-term races last Tuesday, including rejection of Republican State Senator Margaret O’Brien’s bid for a second term. She lost to Democrat Sean McCann.
In contrast, the voters stayed with Republican state representatives in the 61st and 63rd districts, handing Brandt Iden his seat for a third term. Matt Hall won an overwhelming victory in the 63rd.
Further down the ballot, two elections that meant a lot locally were for Vicksburg’s Village Council and Schoolcraft’s school board. Rick Holmes, Carl Keller and Julie Merrill beat Denny Olson and Ron Smith for Vicksburg council four-year terms. In Schoolcraft, Darby Fetzer and Rachel Phelps edged out Michael Rochholz and Wade Rutkoskie for six-year school board terms.
John Gisler retained his seat on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners but will be one of just three Republicans on the 11-member board that went overwhelmingly for Democrats.
In Wakeshma Township, the request for a 10-year road repair millage passed convincingly with 354 yes votes vs. 191 no votes.
Following are the actual vote counts:
Dist. 8, County Board
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| John Gisler | Republican Party | 6,043 |
| Cody Dekker | Democratic Party | 4,249 |
| Write-in | Nonpartisan | 3 |
Vicksburg Village Council
| Candidate | Votes |
| Rick Holmes | 632 |
| Carl E. Keller | 569 |
| Julie Merrill | 680 |
| Denny Olson | 459 |
| Ronald D. Smith | 423 |
| Write-in | 17 |
Schoolcraft School Board
| Candidate | Votes | |
| Darby Fetzer | 1,111 | |
| Rachel Phelps | 1,143 | |
| Michael Rochholz | 1,034 | |
| Wade Rutkoskie | 1,042 | |
| Write-in | 19 | |
61st State Rep District
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Brandt Iden | Republican Party | 24,009 |
| Alberta Griffin | Democratic Party | 22,725 |
| Write-in | Nonpartisan | 164 |
63rd State Rep District
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Matt Hall | Republican Party | 22,709 |
| Jennifer Aniano | Democratic Party | 15,807 |
| Ronald Hawkins | Libertarian Party | 1,059 |
| John Anthony La Pietra | Green Party | 557 |
| Write-in | Nonpartisan | 40 |
20th State Sen District
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Margaret O’Brien | Republican Party | 48,197 |
| Sean McCann | Democratic Party | 60,523 |
| Lorence Wenke | Libertarian Party | 5,273 |
| Write-in | Nonpartisan | 171 |
6th Congressional District
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Fred Upton | Republican Party | 147,314 |
| Matt Longjohn | Democratic Party | 134,069 |
| Stephen J. Young | U. S. Taxpayers Party | 11,923 |
| Write-in | Nonpartisan | 193 |