By Bruce Rolfe
Locally, the November 3 General Election featured a tie, multiple contested races and a handful of uncontested races.
There was 67 percent voter turnout in Kalamazoo County according to the Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds website.
Determining who will win a Village of Augusta trustee seat and whether a close race in the Climax-Scotts School Board race changes, may take days.
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.
The Kalamazoo County Board of Canvassers began its work November 5. 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 Kalamazoo County Chief Deputy Clerk and Register of Deeds John Curran said the County hoped to finish sooner.
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 have until Tuesday, November 10, 2026, to deliver those ballots to the County Clerk’s office. Curran adds, 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.
In the Village of Augusta election, five candidates were running for three, four-year seats, however there was a tie for one of the seats.
Incumbent Kim Carlton received 181 votes, incumbent Andy Ackley received 131 votes and Kelsey Kooiker and Randy Padgett each received 118 votes.
In the Climax-Scotts Board of Education election six candidates were running for three, four-year seats.
The unofficial vote totals show Kevin Langs (978), Tiffanie Richardson Myers (724) and Amanda Eyre (681) as the top three. However incumbent Terri VandeGiessen received 679 votes, just two votes behind Eyre.
Curran said in the Augusta Village Council race, if the race remains tied following the canvass, the County will follow the procedure outlined in MCL 168.851, which provides for resolving a tie by drawing lots.
Under this process, the Board of County Canvassers establishes a date for the drawing, and the affected candidates are notified. The County Clerk then conducts the drawing using folded slips of paper marked “elected” and “not elected.” The candidate who draws “elected” is determined to be the winner.
At this point, Curran said the County will allow the canvassing process to conclude and all eligible ballots to be accounted for before determining whether a drawing is necessary.
Village of Augusta
Ann Daly was also on the ballot for Augusta Village trustee and received 110 votes.
Climax Village Council
Running uncontested and winning four-year terms on the Climax Village Council was Joshua Fleisher (204 votes), Mark E. Waterhouse (199) and David Dell (195).
The terms of Joline Chaney and Carolyn Chaney and partial term of Ben Moore expire.
G-A School Board
Running unopposed and winning four-year terms on the G-A School Board is Christy Corsi (1751), Sarah Davidson (1659), Diana Shoup (1670) and Laura Wilks (1711), all incumbents.
Athens School Board
Incumbent Judi Henckel (1043), incumbent John Knowles (1025), Karlee Wheeler (995) and incumbent Jeffrey A. Penick (853) won four-year seats on the Athens School Board.
Also running was Wendy Converse (823) and incumbent Hilary Setlak (752).
Sam Wheeler, with 1194 votes, won a partial term ending December 31, 2028. Percy Dervan (351) was also running for the partial term seat.
Village Of Athens
All candidates were running unopposed in the Athens Village Council races.
Martin Preston received 340 votes in the Village President race, Bonnie J. Conant received 346 votes for the Village Clerk, K. Anita Shoup received 345 votes for the Village Treasurer position and Jerry Qualls (278) and Robin H. Shoup (299) were elected to village trustee positions.
Locally, the November 3 General Election featured a tie, multiple contested races and a handful of uncontested races.
There was 67 percent voter turnout in Kalamazoo County according to the Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds website.
Determining who will win a Village of Augusta trustee seat and whether a close race in the Climax-Scotts School Board race changes, may take days.
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.
The Kalamazoo County Board of Canvassers began its work November 5. 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 Kalamazoo County Chief Deputy Clerk and Register of Deeds John Curran said the County hoped to finish sooner.
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 have until Tuesday, November 10, 2026, to deliver those ballots to the County Clerk’s office. Curran adds, 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.
In the Village of Augusta election, five candidates were running for three, four-year seats, however there was a tie for one of the seats.
Incumbent Kim Carlton received 181 votes, incumbent Andy Ackley received 131 votes and Kelsey Kooiker and Randy Padgett each received 118 votes.
In the Climax-Scotts Board of Education election six candidates were running for three, four-year seats.
The unofficial vote totals show Kevin Langs (978), Tiffanie Richardson Myers (724) and Amanda Eyre (681) as the top three. However incumbent Terri VandeGiessen received 679 votes, just two votes behind Eyre.
Curran said in the Augusta Village Council race, if the race remains tied following the canvass, the County will follow the procedure outlined in MCL 168.851, which provides for resolving a tie by drawing lots.
Under this process, the Board of County Canvassers establishes a date for the drawing, and the affected candidates are notified. The County Clerk then conducts the drawing using folded slips of paper marked “elected” and “not elected.” The candidate who draws “elected” is determined to be the winner.
At this point, Curran said the County will allow the canvassing process to conclude and all eligible ballots to be accounted for before determining whether a drawing is necessary.
Village of Augusta
Ann Daly was also on the ballot for Augusta Village trustee and received 110 votes.
Climax Village Council
Running uncontested and winning four-year terms on the Climax Village Council was Joshua Fleisher (204 votes), Mark E. Waterhouse (199) and David Dell (195).
The terms of Joline Chaney and Carolyn Chaney and partial term of Ben Moore expire.
G-A School Board
Running unopposed and winning four-year terms on the G-A School Board is Christy Corsi (1751), Sarah Davidson (1659), Diana Shoup (1670) and Laura Wilks (1711), all incumbents.
Athens School Board
Incumbent Judi Henckel (1043), incumbent John Knowles (1025), Karlee Wheeler (995) and incumbent Jeffrey A. Penick (853) won four-year seats on the Athens School Board.
Also running was Wendy Converse (823) and incumbent Hilary Setlak (752).
Sam Wheeler, with 1194 votes, won a partial term ending December 31, 2028. Percy Dervan (351) was also running for the partial term seat.
Village Of Athens
All candidates were running unopposed in the Athens Village Council races.
Martin Preston received 340 votes in the Village President race, Bonnie J. Conant received 346 votes for the Village Clerk, K. Anita Shoup received 345 votes for the Village Treasurer position and Jerry Qualls (278) and Robin H. Shoup (299) were elected to village trustee positions.
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