Bloomfield Township Primary: Devine Is Out, Other Incumbents Hold On [UPDATED]

Updated. BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI — Treasurer Dan Devine will be a lame-duck official after Tuesday's primary election, where Republican challenger Brian Kepes, a current member of the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees, won easily with 59 percent of the vote and all precincts counted.

Republican Supervisor Leo Savoie also held off challenger Dave Thomas, 53 percent to 47 percent.

In the treasurer's race, Republican incumbent Janet M.Roncelli defeated her challenger, Susie Kern, by a margin of 59 percent to 49 percent.

The top four vote-getters in the eight-way primary for four township trustee positions were

Republicans who got the nod in an eight-way race for four township trustee positions were incumbent David P. Buckley with 4,022 votes, Michael Schostak with 3,820 votes, incumbent Neal Barnett with 3,573 votes and Dani Walsh with 3,424 votes.

Two ballot measures, one for public safety and the other for road maintenance, won easy approval.

In countywide races, Democrat Vicky Barnett, of Farmington Hills, received 52,543 votes — 78 percent of the total — for the right to challenge Republican County Executive L. Brooks Patterson on the November ballot.

In the District 12 county commissioner Republican primary, incumbent Shelley Goodman Taub held off a challenge by Chuck Moss, 51 percent to 48 percent. Taub got 4,354 votes, while Moss had 4,100.

In the District 13 Republican primary, Michelle Dinardo, of Farmington Hills, defeated Max Rohtbart, of West Bloomfield, by a margin of 53 percent to 47 percent. Dinardo received 1,540 votes, compared to 1,368 for Rohtbart. Dinardo will challenge Democrat Marcia Gershenson, of Bloomfield Hills, in November

Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown won her Democratic primary easily, defeating challenger Michael D. Smith, 82 percent to 18 percent, with 54,920 and 12,319 votes, respectively.

Brown will square off against Bill Bullard Jr., the winner of the Republican primary, in the Nov. 8 general election. Bullard, of Highland Township, defeated Tina Barton, of Royal Oak, by a margin of 54 percent to 46 percent. Bullard collected 42,997 votes, and Barton had 36,627.

Our earlier report: Voters in Bloomfield Township will decide several contentious races in Tuesday’s Republican primary. No Democrats are seeking township office.

In the Republican primary for township supervisor, incumbent Leo Savoie is opposed by Dave Thomas. Both men live in Bloomfield Hills.

Also in the Republican primary, Susie Kern, of Bloomfield Village, is challenging incumbent Clerk Janet M. Roncelli, of Bloomfield HIlls.

Incumbent treasurer Dan Devine is challenged by Brian E. Kepes. Both men live in Bloomfield Hills.

Eight Bloomfield Hills residents are running for four seats on the Board of Trustees. Incumbents Neal Barnett, David P. Buckley and Corinne Khederian are opposed by Jeffrey Axt, Kirk R. Brannock, Geoff Hockman, Michael Schostak and Dani Walsh.

In countywide races, Democrats Vicki Barnett, of Farmington Hills, and Mark Danowski, of Davisburg, are vying for the right to challenge incumbent County Executive L. Brooks Patterson in November.

Both Republicans and Democrats have races in the primary for county clerk/register of deeds. Republicans are Tina Barton, of Royal Oak, and Bill Bullard Jr., of Highland Township. On the Democratic side, candidates are incumbent Lisa Brown, of West Bloomfield, and Michael D. Smith, of Union Lake.

Ballot Measures

Two ballot measures go before Bloomfield Township voters. One is for the renewal of the levy of 1.9935 mills for 10 years. The levy will generates about $6.7 million the first year, based on current property values, to support fire, police and public safety protection.

Voters will also be asked to renew up to .7115 mills for 10 years to finance continued road maintenance. It is estimated that this proposal would result in the authorization to collect nearly $2.4 million the first year it is collected and levied.

County Races

Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills residents will vote in two county commissioner contests.

In District 12, Chuck Moss, of Birmingham, is challenging Shelley Goodman Taub, of Bloomfield Hills, in the Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat Charles Gaba, of Bloomfield Hills, in November. Voters in Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham vote in this contest.

In District 13, two Republicans — Michelle Dinardo, of Farmington Hills, and Max Rohtbart, of West Bloomfield — are vying for the right to challenge incumbent Democrat Marcia Gershenson, of Bloomfield Hills, in November. Voters in West Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Township and the City of Farmington Hills decide this race.

Election Information

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote has answers to frequently asked elections questions, including finding your polling location and viewing a sample ballot.

For more on Oakland County races, click here.

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