UPDATE: Election 2015: Lacey Township Primary Results

by Patricia A. Miller

Mayor Gary Quinn and his running mate Tim McDonald have won the hotly contested Republican primary after a tumultuous campaign season.

Quinn was the top vote getter, with 27.39 percent, or 996 votes. McDonald was second with 23.29 percent, or 847 votes.

Thomas Crowell was third with 19.55 percent, or 711 votes. His running mate Eric Schubiger received 17.85 percent or 649 votes.

James K. Le Tellier, who ran on his own, received 11.74 percent, or 427 votes.

Former Township Committeewoman Helen Delacruz ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

It was no secret this year that Quinn did not want to run with Township Committeeman Mark Dykoff. It was Dykoff’s turn to be mayor. But Dykoff lost his turn after he punched former Township Committeeman David Most in the face at a Republican Club picnic in Gille Park in September 2014.

Dykoff was issued a summons for simple assault. The matter was eventually heard in Manchester Township Municipal Court, where Most agreed to drop the charges if Dykoff publicly apologized to him.

Quinn has said other factions in the Republican Club tried to pack the club membership earlier this year in an effort to oust him from running in the primary.

The faction included Dykoff, Board of Education member Eric Schubiger and newly-elected school board member David Bidwell, who bought in more than 40 new members for the meeting. Club members eventually decided to let five members run as individuals, rather than endorsing anyone.