Barbara Conley won the race for Leelanau Township Supervisor on Tuesday with approximately 882 votes (58.88%) against incumbent Mike McMillan, who earned 612 votes (40.85%), according to Leelanau County unofficial general election results.
“I am grateful to Leelanau Township voters for this opportunity and will work hard with residents to make Leelanau Township the best it can be,” Conley said.
The term of office for all elected officials is four years, the Michigan Townships Association states. Terms will commence at noon on Nov. 20 following the November general election.
Conley is an active member of the community, currently serving as vice president of the Northport Public School Board of Education (BOE), chair and vice-chair of the Benzie-Leelanau District Board of Health, and as a trustee on the Northport Village Council. However, she said she plans to resign from both the village council and the BOE in order to serve as supervisor.
McMillan, who has held the position of supervisor since being appointed in May 2023, will serve on the township board until the end of his term later this month.
“After 18 months on the job and a host of accomplishments not limited to reducing taxes while reinvesting in critical services, I thought common sense would prevail over partisan politics, apparently I was wrong,” McMillan said. “I wish the board lots of luck.”
Leelanau Township residents also voted in two new trustees to the board that will replace Georgie Murray and Gina Harder, both of whom did not run for election. Elizabeth Schwind received a total of 961 votes and Silvia Gans received 935. Republican candidate Todd Hoogland received 587 votes. There were approximately 15 votes cast as write-ins.
With Gans, Schwind, and Conley elected, the Leelanau Township board will consist of all women, a first in decades, if not, recent memory, for the municipality.
“I look at it as dedicated candidates regardless of gender. Elizabeth Schwind is also a millennial — good for our future,” Conley added.
In addition to residents electing their local township officials, two millages pertaining to the fire/ emergency medical services (EMS) fund and the general fund also passed.
The renewal of extra voted millage for Leelanau Township’s fire/ EMS fund passed with 1,169 votes (82.91%), and approximately 241 (17.09%) against it. The millage will be renewed at 3.10 mills ($3.10 per $1,000 of taxable value) to be levied for a period of four years, 2024 through 2027 inclusive, for the purpose of equipping, operating and maintaining fire protection and emergency medical services including life support services. In the first year of the levy, it is anticipated to raise an estimated $1,835,794.
In addition, the renewal of extra voted millage for the Leelanau Township general fund passed with 1,052 votes (75.79%), as opposed to the 336 (24.21%) votes against it. The millage would be renewed at 0.4828 ($0.4828 per $1,000 of taxable value) to be levied for a period of four years, 2024 through 2027 inclusive, for the purpose of operating the township’s airport, cemeteries, parks and recreation, planning and zoning administration, or other such lawful general fund services. In the first year of the levy, it is anticipated to raise an estimated $276,396.
