11/7/12 - President Barack Obama became only the second Democrat since World War Two to win a second term, winning more than 300 electoral votes to defeat Republican rival Mitt Romney. Locally, the big upset was in the race for Probate Court Judge, as Assistant Prosecutor Miriam Cavanaugh narrowly defeated Attorney-Referee Lori Marran by a margin of just over 3 percent. Otherwise, Livingston County voters retained Republican candidates for most other offices. Senior Trial Attorney Bill Vailliencourt defeated Democratic opponent Matt Evans by a margin of almost 2-to-1 to become the newest Livingston County Prosecutor. Voters also re-elected Republican incumbent candidates for the Livingston County offices of sheriff, clerk, treasurer, register of deeds and drain commissioner. The Livingston County Board of Commissioners will also remain GOP-dominated, albeit with some new faces. One is Republican Kate Lawrence, a former Brighton mayor, who prevailed over Democrat Bruce Schneider for the District 1 seat. Republican William Green prevailed for the District 2 seat on the county board while Republican Gary Childs won the District 9 seat. All other Republican incumbent Commissioners retained their seats on the board and include Dave Domas, Jay Drick, Steve Williams, Carol Griffith and Dennis Dolan. As for local ballot proposals, results show voters in Howell Township once again turned down a water and sewer debt millage proposal and in the City of Brighton, voters rejected a community improvement and infrastructure bond proposal. However, voters in Green Oak Township approved a 1.66 mill, 15 year property tax to repair and improve local roads. According to unofficial election results only one of the three incumbent members of the Howell School Board was re-elected yesterday, while one former board member will be returning. Incumbent Mike Moloney, former board member Mike Yenshaw, and newcomers Deborah McCormick and Stacy Pasini were elected to the four open seats on the board. Incumbent Jan Lobur and School Board President Ann Routt were defeated. In Brighton, the two open seats went to incumbent Treasurer Jay Krause and newcomer Nick Fiani. In the Hartland Consolidated Schools district, incumbents were re-elected to three seats â two that carried full terms and another partial term. In Fowlerville, incumbent Board of Education member Chris Wanczyk and newcomer Carrie Newstead were elected. In the contested Genoa Township trustee race, incumbent Republicans Jean Ledford, Jim Mortenson and Todd Smith were re-elected along with newcomer Linda Rowell. In Howell Township, voters elected Lois Kanniainen and Michael Tipton to the township board, which Tipton says makes them the first Democratic Party trustees on the board since 1958. Incumbent Republicans Dar Howard and Matthew Counts were also re-elected. In the race for the 8th Congressional District, Howell Republican Mike Rogers garnered the most votes over challenger Lance Enderle. In the 42nd State House District, results show local voters re-elected Republican Representative Bill Rogers of Genoa Township over Democrat Shanda Willis and Libertarian James Lewis. Cindy Denby of Handy Township was re-elected to serve as State Representative of the 47th District over Democrat Shawn Lowe Desai. All of the results are considered unofficial until certified by the Livingston County Board of Canvassers. A link for complete unofficial results is posted below. (JM/TD)
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