Dems take 8 of 9 seats on Genesee County Board of Commissioners

GENESEE COUNTY, MI — Republicans came close in several races but lost ground overall to Democrats in the election for county Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Voters returned incumbent commissioners Bryant Nolden, D-Flint; Charles Winfrey, D-Flint; Ellen Ellenburg, D-Burton, Domonique Clemons, D-Flint Twp., James Avery, D-Grand Blanc; and Shaun Shumaker, R-Fenton Twp., to the county board, according to unofficial results from the county Clerk’s Office.

Also elected Tuesday were former Commissioner Martin L. Cousineau, D-Thetford Twp., former Flint City Council member Dale Weighill, and Michelle Davis of northeastern Genesee County.

Davis’ victory was the closest of the contests with just 87 votes separating her from Republican Sue Hopper in District 9, which includes Forest, Richfield and Genesee townships as well as the city of Davison.

Tuesday’s election casualties included current Commissioner Meredith Davis, R-Flushing Twp., who lost her seat to Weighill by a margin of 11,434 to 9,946.

In other races, Nolden defeated Republican challenger Steven M. Cousino 11,094 to 1,523 in District 1 while Winfrey bested Republican challenger Lynette Robinson, 10,020 to 2,296 in District 2.

Ellenburg won more than 51% of votes in District 3, defeating Nicolas Goyette, a former Davison school board member, by a 9,346 to 8,811 margin.

Clemons, the chairman of the county commission, defeated Republican Amy Miller in District 4, receiving 9,730 votes compared to 8,661 for the challenger.

In District 5, Avery, who was appointed to the commission in January to replace former Commissioner Mark Young, earned another two-year term, defeating Republican Amy Miller 11,164 to 10,229.

Shumaker received 67.8% of votes cast in District 6, defeating Kurt Chapelle, who ran without party affiliation and received 32.1% of the vote.

Cousineau won over Lynn Culver, his Republican opponent in District 7 by a margin of 9,755 to 8,729.

County commissioners are the governing board and policy-making body of county government. Their duties include developing and approving county policies and the county budget.

Read more at The Flint Journal:

Neeley, Weaver and Flint voters waiting for results in race for mayor

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Your guide to every proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot in Genesee County

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