By Bruce Rolfe
Currently, the Climax-Scotts School District will welcome three new School Board members, but a close vote total for one seat may extend the time needed to determine a final vote total.
Unofficial vote counts from the November 3 General Election in Kalamazoo County and Calhoun County, where there are some C-S School District registered voters, show Kevin Langs (978 votes), Tiffanie Richardson Myers (724) and Amanda Eyre (681) winning three, four-year terms on the C-S School Board.
However incumbent Terri VandeGiessen (679) fell just two votes behind Eyre (681).
Dominic Bushouse (592) and Garrett Meade (472) were also seeking a seat on the school board but fell short.
The results reported on Election Night are unofficial and will not become final until the Board of County Canvassers completes its canvass and certifies the election.
Kalamazoo County Chief Deputy Clerk and Register of Deeds John Curran said the Kalamazoo County Board of Canvassers began the process to certify the election November 5. He said the process typically takes several days,
depending on what issues need to be addressed. State law requires the Board to complete its canvass by November 17, although Curran said the Board of Canvassers hopes to finish sooner. Results remain unofficial until certification.
VandeGiessen will have the opportunity to file a petition for a recount after the Board of Canvassers certifies the results.
Curran said a candidate may petition for a recount if they have a good-faith belief that an error in the vote totals affected their reasonable chance of winning. Under MCL 168.866, the petition must be filed within 48 hours after certification of the results.
VandeGiessen said she will wait until the Board of Canvassers finalizes the vote before making a decision if she wants to submit a recount petition.
Curran said there are still ballots that may be eligible to be counted, including military and overseas voter ballots postmarked by Election Day and received by local clerks through Monday, November 9, 2026. Local clerks had until Tuesday, November 10, 2026, to deliver those ballots to the County Clerk and Register of Deeds office. Curran adds additionally, voters whose absentee ballots were rejected due to missing or mismatched signatures had until 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 6, 2026, to correct those deficiencies. These ballots could affect the final vote totals.
When looking at a breakdown of the four precincts C-S School District voters voted in, Langs and Myers were among the top three in all four precincts.
In the Climax Township precinct, Langs (631), Myers (477) and Eyre (466), were the top three vote getters. VandeGiessen had 413 votes.
In the Charleston Township precinct the top three vote totals were secured by Langs (58), Myers (55) and VandeGiessen (47) and Eyre had 39.
In Charter Township of Pavilion Precinct 2, Langs (185), VandeGiessen (135) and Myers 119) were the top three finishers.
In Wakeshma Township Precinct 1, the top three vote totals went to Langs (15) Myers (13) and Meade (10).
According to the C-S School District website VandeGiessen has been on the school board since 7-1-2009.
The terms of Matt Birkam and Steve Wurtzel expire 12/31/2026.
Currently, the Climax-Scotts School District will welcome three new School Board members, but a close vote total for one seat may extend the time needed to determine a final vote total.
Unofficial vote counts from the November 3 General Election in Kalamazoo County and Calhoun County, where there are some C-S School District registered voters, show Kevin Langs (978 votes), Tiffanie Richardson Myers (724) and Amanda Eyre (681) winning three, four-year terms on the C-S School Board.
However incumbent Terri VandeGiessen (679) fell just two votes behind Eyre (681).
Dominic Bushouse (592) and Garrett Meade (472) were also seeking a seat on the school board but fell short.
The results reported on Election Night are unofficial and will not become final until the Board of County Canvassers completes its canvass and certifies the election.
Kalamazoo County Chief Deputy Clerk and Register of Deeds John Curran said the Kalamazoo County Board of Canvassers began the process to certify the election November 5. He said the process typically takes several days,
depending on what issues need to be addressed. State law requires the Board to complete its canvass by November 17, although Curran said the Board of Canvassers hopes to finish sooner. Results remain unofficial until certification.
VandeGiessen will have the opportunity to file a petition for a recount after the Board of Canvassers certifies the results.
Curran said a candidate may petition for a recount if they have a good-faith belief that an error in the vote totals affected their reasonable chance of winning. Under MCL 168.866, the petition must be filed within 48 hours after certification of the results.
VandeGiessen said she will wait until the Board of Canvassers finalizes the vote before making a decision if she wants to submit a recount petition.
Curran said there are still ballots that may be eligible to be counted, including military and overseas voter ballots postmarked by Election Day and received by local clerks through Monday, November 9, 2026. Local clerks had until Tuesday, November 10, 2026, to deliver those ballots to the County Clerk and Register of Deeds office. Curran adds additionally, voters whose absentee ballots were rejected due to missing or mismatched signatures had until 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 6, 2026, to correct those deficiencies. These ballots could affect the final vote totals.
When looking at a breakdown of the four precincts C-S School District voters voted in, Langs and Myers were among the top three in all four precincts.
In the Climax Township precinct, Langs (631), Myers (477) and Eyre (466), were the top three vote getters. VandeGiessen had 413 votes.
In the Charleston Township precinct the top three vote totals were secured by Langs (58), Myers (55) and VandeGiessen (47) and Eyre had 39.
In Charter Township of Pavilion Precinct 2, Langs (185), VandeGiessen (135) and Myers 119) were the top three finishers.
In Wakeshma Township Precinct 1, the top three vote totals went to Langs (15) Myers (13) and Meade (10).
According to the C-S School District website VandeGiessen has been on the school board since 7-1-2009.
The terms of Matt Birkam and Steve Wurtzel expire 12/31/2026.
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