Election Day 2011 - Recap.

 Yesterday was election day, my first election day as a political reporter. Sure it was an off year for elections, in the sense that there were no national or statewide elections, but that doesn't mean that there weren't important decisions to be made across Downriver.

Allen Park saw one of, if not the most important elections in the history of the city. Bill Matakas won the mayoral  race, while four new councilmen were elected along with two incumbents. A new treasurer was also elected. A proposal to help the city fund public safety (ie the police and fire departments). There had been a ton of debate on both sides of the issue, but it passed by a healthy margin. A second proposal for the debt reduction of the Allen Park Studio Center (formerly Unity Studios) failed by a large margin. The new mayor and council need to figure out a way to pay off that debt now without the extra money that would have generated, they have a tough road ahead.

Taylor saw Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand face a recall, and after a brutal campaign he prevailed by a large margin and will serve out the rest of his term.

In Lincoln Park, sitting Mayor Frank Vaslo was defeated by Pat Krause. I don't know a lot about the politics of that city, but our LP reporter Alan Burdziak was a bit surprised when the results rolled in.

Melvindale, the other city that I cover saw sweeping changes, as only a single incumbent was re-elected, the city will have a new mayor, clerk, treasurer, and five new council members.

Southgate, Flat Rock, and several other of our communities saw mostly no contests in their elections as most positions ran with just the requisite number of candidates to fill the offices.

Several of us worked in the office from very early in the morning, until around midnight going to polling locations, taking pictures, shooting video and generally updating the website at every opportunity. All in all it was a very fun night last night, and congratulations to all the winners.

Election Day! (Get out and Vote)

   There is nothing more important in the U.S. than election day. Many men have fought and died for American's right to vote, and today is one of those days. I urge all of my American reader's (and that's most of you) to get out and vote.
   Here in the Downriver area, we have many very important races depending on what city you are in. Allen Park, one of the cities I specifically cover has two ballot proposal's, which depending on how they could will shape the city for at least the short term future. Whether they pass or not, will affect the way the city is run, at least for the next couple of years, if not for a lot longer. Allen Park also has candidates running for Mayor, treasurer, and all six City Council seats. Incumbent city clerk Mike Mizzi is the only one that knows for sure he will still have a job in the morning.
   In Taylor, sitting mayor Jeffrey Lamarand is facing a recall vote after just two years in office. Several other of the municipalities that the we cover have millage requests, or key races as well. I'm personally not knowledgeable on every race, it would be impossible to be so, but there is great coverage of all the races on thenewsherald.com.
   My own hometown had only a road millage on the ballot, and I'll be moving out of the town by the end of the month, so I didn't feel it right for me to cast my vote one way or the other to raise taxes, or not fix the roads, when it would not affect me, but I still went and got my ballot, then filed it as a blank one. I feel that strongly that it's important to get that "I Voted" sticker.
   Once again, Downriver, or where ever you may be, I urge you to get out and vote today.