Locally, this year’s Aug. 6 Primary Election results determined the Republican nominees for the District 1, 2, and 7 Leelanau County commissioner seats on the Nov. 5 ballot, and authorized the renewal of the county roads and highways maintenance and repair millage, the early childhood services millage, and the senior citizens services millage.
At the time of publication, the Primary Election results had not been certified by the Leelanau County Board of Canvassers. However, all precincts had reported their results as of Wednesday at 2:15 a.m. The Elections Canvassers Board will begin canvassing the election results and approving ballot containers at 8:55 a.m. today.
Voters in Solon and Kasson townships determined that incumbent District 7 Commissioner Melinda Lautner will not be up for reelection as the Republican candidate in November. Instead, they chose a new candidate, Steve Yoder, who currently serves as a Solon Township trustee. Yoder’s current term as Solon Township trustee expires in January.
According to the unofficial election results linked from leelanau.gov, Yoder received 61.13% of the votes with 401 votes and Lautner received 36.74% with 241 votes. A third candidate, Amedee DeCruydt, received just 14 votes, or 2.13%.
“I’m overwhelmed by the amount of support I’ve received, and very encouraged with the voters who came out after getting their trust. It’s very humbling, in that sense. If I get elected in November, I plan to implement a commonsense approach to government that involves listening to everybody,” Yoder said.
Yoder will face Tim Dowd, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for the District 7 commissioner seat, on November election ballot.
Lautner has served as District 7 Commissioner since she was elected in 1994. When Yoder announced his candidacy in February, it marked the first time in Lautner’s 30-year career in which she was challenged for the seat by another Republican. Lautner could not be reached for comment on the unofficial election results.
The Republican candidacy for District 1 county commissioner seat was contested as well. District 1 includes Elmwood Township and a portion of the city of Traverse City. The unoffi cial election results show that Tim McCalley edged out Deborah Allen for the nomination. McCalley received 56.1% of 426 votes, or 239 votes, while Allen received 43.66%, or 186. One person voted for a write-in candidate.
“It was a nice ‘wake up’ call for me, but we’re only at halftime,” McCalley said. “I would like to thank those who gave me help and advice, including my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ; my wife, Tina; Jennifer, Gary, Jim, Jeanie and Tom, Kary, Bill, another Jim, Melinda, Chris, and many, many more who helped me in one way or another.”
As McCalley said, he still needs to face the Democratic candidate for the position, Rick Robbins, in November. Robbins previously served as District 1 commissioner from 2020-2022 as a Republican. He was replaced by Jamie Kramer, who resigned from the position herself in late July.
Allen, who previously served as Leelanau County administrator from December 2022 to April 2024, seemed to accept the loss graciously and said that she was thankful that she could continue serving people in the district in her new role as interim assistant city manager in Traverse City.
“When I went into this election, I was in a different place and had not yet accepted the position with the city. I feel blessed that I can continue serving the community, and I wish Tim the best in the November election,” Allen said.
Incumbent District 2 Commissioner Jim O’Rourke announced that he was not running for re-election. Fellow Republicans Mark Walter and Forrest “Bud” Welch ran against each other for the party’s nomination on the Aug. 6 ballot. Walter pulled ahead with exactly 69% of 529 votes, or 365 votes, compared to Welch’s 164 votes.
Walter attributed his success in part to being a familiar face. He previously served as county commissioner from 2002 to 2008 before stepping down and unsuccessfully running for county sheriff.
“I’m pleased with my results and appreciate the people who came out for me, but the real work starts now,” Walter said. “I have another candidate that I’m running against in November, so I still need to see a lot of people and do some more campaigning.”
Indeed, Walter will be up against Democratic candidate Scott Perry on the Nov. 5 election ballot. The winner will serve as District 2 commissioner, which covers Bingham Township and a portion of Elmwood Township, for a fouryear term.
“Congratulations to Mark Walter. I will fully support him in his campaign for District 2 commissioner in the November general election,” Welch said.
