By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
Most incumbents retained their positions in Downriver elections Nov. 7, with the Melvindale mayoral race an exception, with challenger and former City Councilmember Nicole (Barnes) Shkira unseating Mayor Wheeler Marsee.
Allen Park incumbent City Councilmember Dan Loyd, who was not on the ballot due to a technicality, lost his write-in campaign.
ALLEN PARK
Incumbent Mayor Gail McLeod was re-elected with 3,247 votes (65 percent) to challenger and current City Councilmember Felice “Tony” Lalli’s 1,748 votes (35 percent).
McLeod said she was excited and honored to be re-elected.
“I appreciate and am humbled by the confidence and trust our voters have shown in me,” she said. “I realize the importance of ensuring that we remain fiscally responsible while making improvements to our infrastructure, stimulating economic development and meeting our obligations to our residents and employees. I will continue to work tirelessly toward these objectives.”
Current City Clerk Michael Mizzi, who was unopposed, was re-elected. Frank Liberati, who ran unopposed, was elected City Treasurer.
All incumbent council members on the ballot were re-elected, with the exception of Loyd.
For the six city council seats, challenger Timothy Estheimer came in first, with 3,546 votes, followed by challenger Nancy Knick with 3,148 votes, incumbent Matthew Valerius with 3,128 votes, incumbent Dennis Marcos with 2,895 votes, and incumbent Gary Schlack, with 2,038 votes. Not elected were Dan Loyd, who received 1,696 write-in votes, and Ed Wurtzbacher, who received 174 write-votes. Voters voted for up to six candidates.
The city saw a 21.71 percent turnout as 5,139 of 23,670 registered voters cast ballots in the election.
MELVINDALE
Former City Councilmember Nicole (Barnes) Shkira defeated incumbent Mayor Wheeler Marsee in a tight race amid allegations of campaign improprieties.
Complaints about Shkira’s alleged violations were forwarded to the Michigan Attorney General for review. There has been no response from the office at this time.
Shkira received 751 votes (51 percent) to Marsee’s 709 votes (48 percent). There were 5 unspecified write-in mayoral votes.
Marsee thanked the residents of Melvindale for giving him the opportunity to represent the city for the past four years.
“I believe this city is bouncing back,” he said. “My only drive was to make Melvindale a better place. The library and civic center are going to be amazing. We received $29 million in grants and loan forgiveness.”
Diana Zarazua ran unopposed for city clerk. There was no candidate on the ballot for treasurer, so the city council may fill the position with an appointee.
For the six city council seats, five of the six incumbents ran and were re-elected. Long-time councilmember Steve Densmore, who recently became the Ypsilanti fire chief, did not seek another term.
Incumbent Joe Jackson received the most votes, 818, followed by challenger Saleim Abuali with 750 votes, and incumbents Stanley Filipowski with 746 votes, Julie Rauser with 688 votes, P. Scott Frederick with 671 votes and Dawn Cartrette with 663 votes. Not elected were challengers Diann Rink with 636 votes and Rene Nemeth Marlow with 565 votes. Voters voted for up to six candidates.
The city saw a 17 percent turnout as 1,486 of 8,724 registered voters cast ballots in the election.
RIVERVIEW
Incumbent Mayor Andrew Swift won re-election in a tight race with 1,614 votes (52 percent) to City Councilmember Chuck Norton’s 1,459 votes (47 percent).
Norton was philosophical.
“I thought we may have pulled it off, but, unfortunately, we were 156 (votes) short,” he said.
In the city council race for three of the six seats — which staggers the city council turnover — incumbent Suzanne O’Neil came in second with 1,575 votes, with challengers Brian Webb the highest vote-getter, with 1785 votes and David Pray the third highest with 1,280 votes.
Not elected to the council were past Councilmember Elmer Trombley, with 1,031 votes, and challengers Nicole Clark with 1,028 votes and Heather Smiley with 980 votes. Voters voted for up to three candidates.
The Riverview Community School District’s sinking fund millage renewal was approved by a 72 percent margin, with 2,167 voters in favor and 844 voters opposed.
The city saw a 32.29 percent turnout as 3,125 of 9,677 registered voters cast ballots in the election.