The contest for the First Ward seat on the Macomb City Council supported the old adage: every vote counts. Unofficial results show Justin Schuch defeated incumbent Mike Wayland by just a single vote, 100-to-99.
The election must still be canvassed before results become official.
Also in Macomb, Don Wynn earned nearly 54% of the vote to triumph in the three-way contest for an at-large seat on the Macomb City Council.
Wynn, who currently represents Ward Three, defeated incumbent at-large council member Tammie Leigh Brown-Edwards, who received nearly 35% of the vote, and WIU student AJ Bauser, who received nearly 12%.
Brown-Edwards and two others tried unsuccessfully to knock Wynn, Bauser, and one other candidate, Byron Oden, off the ballot. Wynn believes that played a role in his victory.
“I think there were a lot of people kind of perturbed at the way the whole election cycle started off,” Wynn said.
Wynn said he is comfortable with the city’s direction and its efforts to improve roads and build a new water plant.
Oden, who ultimately faced write-in candidate Jeffrey Hall for the Ward Three seat being vacated by Wynn, said he’s prepared to listen to people and learn as he joins the city council.
“I’m really excited and I’m looking forward to serving our community,” Oden said.
Dave Dorsett won the other city council seat up for election. He will represent Ward Four after defeating write-in candidate Sterling Saddler. Dorsett will replace Thomas Koch, who did not run for another term.
Also at city hall, Interim City Clerk Renee Lotz won her bid for a full four-year term in office, defeating Kate Michael-Mattsey, 1,057-to-491.
And Mayor Mike Inman turned aside a challenge from write-in candidate Kristen-Diane LJ Pollock to win a fourth term in office.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity. I can’t underscore that enough,” Inman said.
“Grateful for the confidence the community has entrusted in me. Grateful to be the mayor of my hometown.”
School board race
Incumbent Emily Sutton easily topped the field as seven candidates ran for three seats up for election this year.
Sutton earned 1,256 votes. She will be joined on the board by newcomers Robin Severs (836 votes) and Kristin Terry (827 votes).
Rebekah Buchanan finished just out of the running with 801, followed by incumbent Stephen Gray with 786, and challengers David Grove (414) and James Fowler (410).
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