Tag Archives: Election Results

Unofficial Primary Election Results for Kentwood and Wyoming

August 8, 20243-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kent County, Politics, We The People, West MichiganElection Results, Kent County Election Results, Kentwood Election Results, WKTV We the People, Wyoming Election ResultsCris Greer

By Cris Greer and Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editors

Below are the unofficial Aug. 6 Primary results for the Kentwood and Wyoming area. For the Aug. 6 Primary and Nov. 5 General Election, WKTV’s We The People program extended an invitation to all local Kentwood and Wyoming candidates. Participating candidate results are listed here.

Kent County Sports and Entertainment Facilities Proposal

YES (65,909 votes, 53.63%)
NO (56,976 votes, 46.37%)

Shall Kent County increase the rate at which the excise tax is levied on all persons engaged in the business of providing rooms for lodging purposes to guests staying less than 30 consecutive days under Public Act 263 of 1974 as amended from 5% to 8% of the total charge for accommodations to be used for allowable uses including financing of the acquisition, construction, improvement, enlargement, repair, or maintenance of stadiums, arenas, sports complexes, and aquariums starting January 1, 2025 and terminating on the same day as the county ordinance enacted under Public Act 263 of 1974 as amended.

Kent County Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage

YES (70,313 votes, 59.04%)
NO (48,787 votes, 40.96%)

Shall Kent County levy 0.25 of one mill, which equals 25 cents per $1,000 of the taxable value on all real and personal property subject to taxation, for the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2030, inclusive, for the purpose of planning, evaluating, and providing services to persons through age 5 and their parents for early childhood development, and services to improve quality of childcare and to increase public information regarding available childcare? The amount raised by the levy in the first calendar year is estimated at $8,794,547.

In Kent County there are 31 local authorities that capture and use, for authorized purposes, tax increment revenues from property taxes levied by the County. Such capture could include a portion of this millage levy. The 31 tax increment authorities in Kent County, capturing a portion of this tax levy, include but are not limited to the following:

Ada Township – Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Bowne Township – Downtown Development Authority
Byron Township – Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Cascade Charter Township – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Cedar Springs, City of – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Grand Rapids, City of – Downtown Development Authority, Monroe North-Tax Increment Finance Authority, Smart Zone Local Development Finance Authority, Corridor Improvement Finance Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Grand Rapids Township – Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Grandville, City of – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Kent City, Village of – Downtown Development Authority
Kentwood, City of – Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Lowell, City of – Downtown Development Authority
Rockford, City of – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Sparta, Village of – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Walker, City of – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Wyoming, City of – Brownfield Redevelopment Authority

State Representative, House District 83 Seat

The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Michigan State Legislature. Alongside the Michigan State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Michigan state government and works alongside the governor of Michigan to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Michigan House of Representatives include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

John Fitzgerald – Incumbent Candidate, State Representative, House District 83 (4,915 votes, no opposition)

Tommy Brann – Candidate, State Representative, House District 83 (4,835 votes, no opposition)

*Will face each other in the General Election Nov. 5.

Wyoming Council Member At-Large Seat

The Wyoming Mayor and City Council are an active, elected body of government responsible for legislation and policy-making for the City. The Mayor and three at-large Council Members are elected by all voters; three ward Council Members represent and are elected by voters in specific geographical districts. Together, they adopt City ordinances, appoint members to boards and commissions, and approve an annual City budget.

Sheldon DeKryger (3,455 votes, 46.92%), Robert Kilgo (2,665 votes, 36.19%), Rick Pilieci (1,159 votes, 15.74%).

*DeKryger advances to the General Election Nov. 5.

Kent County Board of Commissioners Seat

The Kent County Board of Commissioners is the chief legislative and policy-making body of Kent County Government. Commissioners are elected to 2-year terms from districts that are roughly equal in population. A chair and vice-chair are elected at the first meeting of each new year by the Commissioners. The chair appoints each Commissioner to one of two standing committees: the Finance and Physical Resources Committee or the Legislative and Human Resources Committee.

Sonia Riley (D) – Candidate, Kent County Commissioner District 7 (2,226 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5)

Chris Herweyer (D) – Candidate, Kent County Commissioner District 8 (2,233 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5)

Michelle McCloud (D) – Incumbent Candidate, Kent County Commissioner District 13 (2,710 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5)

Nancy L. Morales (D) – Candidate, Kent County Commissioner District 20 (927 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5)

Derek Anderson (R) – Candidate, Kent County Commissioner District 20 9 (404 votes, 69.90%), David Lee Boelkes (R) (168 votes, 29.07%). (Anderson advances to the General Election vs. Nancy L. Morales on Nov. 5)

Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds Seat

The Kent County Clerk’s Office has three major functions: to manage County elections; to manage vital County records; and to process and maintain all Circuit Court files. In Kent County, the Clerk is also the Register of Deeds. The Clerk is also the Clerk of the Board of Commissioners, and statutorily serves on numerous County boards and commissions.

Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) – Incumbent Candidate, Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds (56,374 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5)

Scott Urbanowski (D) – Candidate, Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds (54,512 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5 vs. Posthumus Lyons)

WKTV to feature Democracy Now! live election coverage

November 8, 20163-bottom, PoliticsAmy Goodman, Democracy Now!, election night, Election Results, Elections, Juan Gonzalez, presidential, presidential race, WKTVJoanne

Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez from Democracy Now! Photo courtesy of Democracy Now! by Steve J. Sherman

For its election coverage, WKTV will host a live broadcast of the independent news program Democracy Now! Tuesday Nov. 8, on WKTV Government Channel 26.

The five-hour broadcast will start at 5 p.m. and will feature Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez who will be co-hosts for the special election night coverage.

The program will include real-time results from presidential, gubernatorial and congressional races as well as state and ballot initiatives from around the country.

The co-hosts will look at what the election results mean for war and peace, climate change, income inequality, racial and economic justice, LGBTQ rights and the global issues.

Democracy Now!’s election night special will feature unique interviews and perspectives. The program will include the voices of activists, analysts and grassroots leaders discussing how the movements on ground will go forward following this historic election.

For more information, visit democracynow.org.

Final result: Ponstein takes 7th District Republican Primary; Allen to face Mast for 12th District

August 2, 20163-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Crime Prevention, Election, Politics12th district, 7th district, august 2 primary election, Election Results, Kent County City CommissionJoanne

WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well informed and more involved in local matters.

Kent County Commissioner Stan Ponstein was the first to announce his victory over challenger and former Kent County Undersheriff Jon Hess last night via Facebook.

Ponstein posted “Thank you Grandville and Wyoming voters, my work for you will continue.”

For most of the night, with only half of the 13 precincts for the 7th District Kent County Commission seat reporting, Jon Hess was ahead by 50 votes. It was just before midnight when all the precincts had reported that it showed Ponstein beating out Hess for the Republican spot on the November 8 ballot, 1108 to 963.

Poinsettia’s work to keep his Kent County Commission seat is not over yet as he faces Democratic challenger Logan Arkema in the Nov. 8 general election.

The Democratic candidate for the 12th District Kent County Commission seat also was decided with Christian Allen, 166 votes, beating out Peter Hickey, who had 155 votes, and Albert S. Abbasse, who had 133 votes. Allen will face off against Republican incumbent Harold Mast in the Nov. 8 election.

All 19 Kent County Commission seats will be up for election on Nov. 8. Several of the seats had uncontested races for both the Republican and Democrat spots. For the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, the remaining Kent County Commission seats up for the general election are: District 8 Republican incumbent Harold Voorhees and Democratic challenger Franklin Cornielle; District 9 Republican incumbent Matt Kallman and Democratic challenger Keith F. Courtade; District 13 Republican Jessica Ann Tyson and Democratic Betsy Melton (District 13 incumbent Dick Vander Molen is not seeking re-election).

All election numbers are from the Kent County Election Returns.

Stelma wins Sheriff race in Primary

August 2, 20163-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Election, Hard News, Politics, Upcoming Eventsaugust 2 primary elections, Election Results, Kent County SheriffJoanne

WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well informed and more involved in local matters.

With more than a 20,000-vote lead, current Kent County Sheriff Lawrence Stelma secured his spot yesterday as the Republican candidate for the sheriff position in the November general election.

Stelma beat out three Republican challengers in yesterday’s primary election. He received 27,382 votes with the next closest candidates being Timothy Lewis with 6,539 and John Stedman with 6,464. Stacey Browe received 3,830 votes.

Stelma will face off against Democrat challenger Michael B. Scruggs in the Nov. 8 general election.

The remaining Kent County offices had uncontested races for both Republicans and Democrats. Those vying for spots in the November general election are Republican Chris Beck and Democrat Alida Bryant for prosecuting attorney; Republican Lisa Posthumus Lyons and Democrat Chris Reader for clerk/register of deeds; Republican Ken Parrish and Democrat Jody Betten for Treasurer and Republican Ken Yonker and Democrat Rachel Hood for Drain Commissioner.

For the 17th Circuit Court Judge, Curt Benson had the largest number of votes with 18,867. Joe Rossi had 16,923 and Thomas Murray, Jr. had 12,107. The two top vote getters, Benson and Rossi, will face off in the general election.