I’m watching a commercial for Jimmy Dean Sausage, and I couldn’t be happier. This campaign season needed to be over, and thank goodness it is.
All across the country there will be new faces in new places including here in Michigan and around Dexter. The people have spoken on the proposals and we have to now see what that means.
For the most part, last night’s election went as prognosticators expected. A blue wall was reestablished around the Great Lakes as Democrats reasserted their presence in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The 2018 mid-term elections were historic in several ways but perhaps most notably in the sense that more than 100 women were elected to the United States Congress.
Here at home, the Dexter Community School District filled two positions on the School Board. Newcomer Mara Greatorex won a seat with 35.51% of the vote. Dick Lundy maintains a seat with 32.35% narrowly edging out current board member Rob Mitzel’s 31.93%.
A Washtenaw County proposal renewing the millage to fund county parks and recreation facilities was approved 74% to 26%.
The statewide proposal to legalize the recreational use of pot was approved by a margin of 56% to 44%. Michigan becomes the 9th state to legalize marijuana along with Washington DC and Canada. But don’t fire up that blunt just yet. Being a controlled substance, Michigan has to figure out how distribution and exchange will happen. Detection methods have to be developed for the workplace and motorists. It took Colorado two years after voting to legalize pot before it could be legally used for recreation. And if you’re wondering, in the Dexter area 59% of voters were in favor of legalization with 41% opposed.
The political practice of gerrymandering has come to an end in Michigan by a margin of 61% to 39%. Instead of having political districts determined by the political party in charge, a 13-member commission will be formed to make those decisions. Dexter area voters were in favor of the measure by a 70% to 30%.
Michigan’s proposal to expand voter rights was passed 67% to 33%. Voters will be able to register the day of the election and absentee voting has been expanded.
Democrat Donna Lasinski was reelected to represent Dexter and the rest of District 52 in the state house up in Lansing defeating Teir Auito by a margin of 60% to 39%.
Democrats took some of the top spots in Michigan. Gretchen Whitmer is the new governor. Jocelyn Bensen is the new Secretary of State. Debbie Stabenow retained her seat in the U.S. Senate.
While Democrat Gretchen Driskel won Washtenaw County, it will be Republican incumbent Tim Wahlberg who represents Dexter and the rest of District 7 in the U.S. Legislature. Similarly, Democrat Adam Dreher won the county but Republican Lana Theis will represent us in the District 22 Michigan Senate seat.
At the time of this writing, the Michigan Attorney General race is still too tight to officially declare but it looks like Republican Tom Leonard has the edge.
Congratulations go out to Jason Maciejewski and Sue Shink who will represent the Dexter area on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. In a lot of ways, local government has a bigger impact on our daily lives.
You can find who was elected as judge, trustee, regent, and other positions in Washtenaw County at https://electionresults.ewashtenaw.org/electionreporting/nov2018/index.jsp
