November 2020 election local results
The line to vote in Tuesday morning at Manchester Township Hall stretched down the block. Voters spaced themselves out and some wore masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the presidential race too close to call nationally, key states, including Michigan are warning that with the record-breaking voter turnout and the large number of absentee ballots to process, it may not be until later today or even Thursday that we know the winner. However, we do know how Manchester voted.
Manchester area precincts voted along the same partisan lines in the presidential race as in 2016 with Republican Trump winning in Bridgewater Township, Freedom Township, Sharon Township and precinct 2, the non-village portion of Manchester Township; and Democrat Biden winning in Manchester Township’s precinct 1, the Village of Manchester.
And we have the results of local races:
Incumbent Democrat Shannon Beeman has retained her seat, beating Republican challenger Ken Siler 51% to 48% in the race for County Commissioner 3rd District. Bridgewater, Freedom, Sharon, and Manchester Township precinct 2 supported Siler over Beeman. The Village of Manchester supported Beeman.
State Representative for the 52nd District, Donna Lasinski, a Democrat, will retain her seat. She defeated her Republican challenger Greg Marquis, 58% to 40%. Bridgewater, Sharon, and the non-village portion of Manchester Township supported Marquis while the Village of Manchester and Freedom Township supported Lasinski. In 2016 the Village of Manchester and Freedom Township also supported Lasinski while the three remaining townships supported her Republican challenger.
Bridgewater Township had an 80% voter turnout rate, up from 76% in 2016. The Bridgewater Township Proposal passed 62% to 37%, imposing an increase of up to .5 mills to to maintain the township’s contracted fire services. The Clinton Community Schools operating millage renewal passed among Clinton School District residents in Bridgewater 316 to 112.
Freedom Township had a 80% voter turnout rate, up from 76% in 2016. Chelsea School District operating millage renewal proposal passed among Chelsea School District residents in Freedom, 114 to 56.
Sharon Township had an 80% voter turnout rate up from 75% in 2016. Chelsea School District operating millage renewal proposal passed among Chelsea School District residents in Sharon, 116 to 87.
Manchester Township has two precincts: precinct 1, the Village and precinct 2, the non-village portion of the township. Both had increased turnout compared to 2016. Precinct 1 had a 72% turnout, up from 67% in 2016. Precinct 2 had a 79% turnout, up from 74% in 2016.
The Village of Manchester re-elected Village President Pat Vailliencourt, with 68% of the votes to challenger Audra Schebella’s 31%. Village president is a non-partisan position so candidates did not have political party affiliation listed on the ballot.
Incumbent Democrat Laurie Carey lost her seat as Manchester Township treasurer to Republican challenger Kim Thompson, 47% to 52%. While Carey did win Manchester Township precinct 1, with 714 to 582 votes, it wasn’t enough to overcome her loss 681 to 985 in precinct 2.
Five candidates were running for four open Manchester Township trustee positions. All three incumbents retained their seats. Incumbent Republican Michael Fusilier received 26.98% of the vote, incumbent Republican Lisa Moutinho received 25.15% of the vote, and incumbent Democrat John Seefeld received 19.44% of the vote. Of the two newcomers, neither with a stated political affiliation, Krista Jarvis edged out Donald Steele, 14.17% to 13.71%.
Five candidates were running for four open seats on the Manchester School Board; all are newcomer non-incumbents. Brandon Woods received 23.93% of the vote, Ryan Novess received 21.56% of the vote, Corey Horky received 19.95% of the vote, and Kody Naylor received 19.57% of the vote, defeating James Stewart who received 14.36% of the vote. School board member is a non-partisan position, so candidates did not have political party affiliation listed on the ballot.
The Clinton Community Schools operating millage renewal passed among Clinton School District residents in Manchester Township, 108 to 61.
Chelsea’s School Proposal passed overall 71% to 28%
The Clinton School Proposal appears to have passed as well.
Both State Proposals have passed statewide and passed in all Manchester-area townships. Proposal 1 makes changes to how revenue in the state’s park-related funds can be spent and Proposal 2 makes it so a search warrant is required to access a person’s electronic data and electronic communications.
The Washtenaw County Proposal passed county-wide and passed in all Manchester-area townships. It authorizes the renewal of a .25 mill to fund the county’s land preservation program.
In addition to voter turnout in general, voting absentee was way up compared to past years because of the new law allowing anyone to vote absentee for any reason and the COVID-19 pandemic. Bridgewater and Manchester Township did not report their absentee and in-person ballots separately, but Freedom Township and Sharon Townships did. Using votes in the presidential race as an indicator, it is obvious that voting by absentee ballot and voting in-person broke down starkly by political party with Democrats favoring absentee voting and Republicans favoring voting in person.
In Freedom Township, 488 residents voted absentee for either Trump or Biden and of those, 66% voted for Biden and 33% voted for Trump. On election day, 510 Freedom Township residents voted in person for either Trump or Biden and of those, 26% voted for Biden and 72% voted for Trump.
In Sharon Township, 675 residents voted absentee for either Trump or Biden and of those 60% voted for Biden and 39% voted for Trump. On election day, 615 Sharon Township residents voted in person for either Trump or Biden and of those 20% voted for Biden and 79% voted for Trump.
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