Voters favor incumbents during primary balloting

Mayor William R. Wild

Last week, Westland voters narrowed the field of candidates who will go on to compete in the general election on Nov. 2.

More than 10,500 ballots were cast in the Primary Election Aug. 3, with 8,115 of those as absentee ballots, according to the office of City Clerk Richard LeBlanc. The top two candidates for the mayoral office, incumbent William R. Wild and Councilwoman Tasha Green along with the top eight city council candidates, incumbents Jim Hart, Peter Herzberg and James Godbout along with candidates Debra  Fowlkes, Melissa Sampey, David Cox, Antoinette Martin and Sarah Austin will all advance to the General Election when voters will elect a mayor and four city council representatives.

Official votes tallies show Wild with 6,763 votes, or 64.33percent of the total votes cast with Green receiving 2,500 votes or 23.78 percent of the total.  Beier received 1,015 votes, or 9.65 percent while garnered 213 votes or 2.03 percent of the total.

In the city council race, Hart received  4,564 votes or 13.01 percent of the total; Herzberg received  4,499 votes or 12.82 percent of the total while Godbout garnered a total of  4,311 votes or 12.29 percent of the totals. Candidate Fowlkes received a total of 3,280 votes or 9.35 percent; Sampey received 2,660 votes or 7.58 percent; Cox was the choice of  2,523 voters or 7.19 percent; Martin received 2,410 votes or 6.87 percent and Austin received Austin 2,172 votes or 6.19 percent.

Candidate Candi Halton with- 2,002 votes or 5.71 percent; Michael Delph with 1,967 votes or 5.61 percent; Josh Powell with 1,624 votes or 4.63 percent and Jon Haddad with 1,289 votes or 3.67 percent will not move on to the November ballot.

Westland voters also approved a new lower library millage by 52.15 percent.  A total of 5,418 voters cast yes votes on the question while 4,972 said no. The current operating millage was set to expire in 2022 and the 10-year .85 operating millage rate is less than the expiring level. The new rate will become effective with tax year 2022 and end in tax year 2031. This additional millage will raise approximately $1.45 million in the first year and will provide funding for continued library operations, according to library officials.