By David Fleet and Susan Bromley

An incumbent out. An incumbent remains.

Tuesday’s primary election will pave the way to familiar faces, some in new places.

Current Atlas Township Clerk Tere Onica won the Republican nomination for supervisor for the November general election with 651 votes, or 50 percent of the votes cast, defeating incumbent two-term supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones, who tallied 587 votes, or 45 percent.

“I’m honored to be elected supervisor,” said Onica on Wednesday morning. “I’ve been asked by many township residents and those at the county level over the last two years to run for supervisor.”

Onica, 57, had been township clerk for 16 years before running for supervisor.

“Roads are going to be one of the top priorities in the next few years, including addressing the rural speed limits in the township,” she said. “I hope to put together a five-year budget and road plan. I will also provide a packet of information a week in advance for the township meetings.”

Kautman-Jones was first elected township supervisor in 2008 defeating incumbent Paul Amman.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of the township for eight years,” said Kautman-Jones, after the election. “I’ll remain active in the community as part of the chamber of commerce, library and other areas, that part won’t change for me.”

During her time in office Kautman-Jones, 61, helped spearhead an effort to

help improve emergency medical response within the township for residents. She also helped residents battle ET Rover over a proposed pipeline through the township.

“No one at the state or county level could help residents fight at the federal level,” she said. “I really appreciate (Congressman) Dan Kildee and his office to point me in the right direction.”

In February 2015, a deal with an existing pipeline operator halted the ET Rover pipeline project in Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Genesee, Shiawassee and Lapeer counties.

In the November election newcomer Katie Vick who was unopposed in Tuesday’s election will be on the Republican ticket for clerk. Incumbent Ann Marie Moore also ran unopposed and will seek a fourth term as township treasurer.

Also on Tuesday, incumbent Atlas Township Trustee Barry June received 750 votes and seek his fifth term in the November election. Incumbent Patrick Major snagged 606 votes to also win a spot on the November ballot defeating challengers Amy Cummings with 524 votes and Nicolas Brooks with 469 votes.

Voter turnout in the township was at 30 percent as 1,843 cast ballots of 6,125 registered in Atlas Township.

“That is good for a primary, ” said Onica. “Normally, we have a 20-25 percent turnout, while the rest of the county will see 18-20 percent. Primary (elections) are not popular due to the rule that the voter cannot cross party vote.”

Less than one in every four registered voters in Brandon Township decided the fate of a proposed school millage, as well as the next supervisor and treasurer of the township.

On Tuesday, 2,898 of a total 12,055 registered voters in Brandon Township, 24 percent, showed up to cast ballots in the primary election.

“That’s normal for a primary, it just seemed less because we had a big turnout at the March presidential primary,” said Karen McArthur, township elections coordinator. “In that one, we had more than 4,000 voters.”

In the most recent election, the building and site sinking fund tax levy for the Brandon School District was shot down by voters with 1,778 no votes, 60.77 percent, to 1,148 yes votes, or 39.23 percent (see story, page 5).

Voters also determined that Kathy Thurman will be reelected as supervisor. The Republican incumbent received 1,238 votes, or 58.40 percent, defeating Republican challenger and current Trustee Jayson Rumball, who received 881 votes, or 41.56 percent.

“I’m pleased that the voters chose me to be township supervisor for another four years, pending the November election,” said Thurman, who is seeking her third term and has no Democrat challenger on the fall ballot. “I’m ready to work with a new board and continue serving our wonderful community.”

Terri Darnall will also likely join Thurman on that board. The incumbent Republican treasurer received 1,245 votes, 63.62 percent, compared to 711 votes, or 36.33 percent for Susan Hollingshead. There is also no Democrat seeking the treasurer seat in November.

Republican Clerk Candee Allen will also have no competition in November, nor did she in this primary, where she received 1,785 votes.

In November, there will be four trustee seats up for election, and five candidates. On the Republican side of Tuesday’s ballot, incumbent Dana DePalma received 1,436 votes, or 27.27 percent, followed by Robert Marshall, with 1,310 votes, 24.88 percent; Liz Waters with 1,301 votes, 24.71 percent; and Kris Kordella, 1,206 votes, 22.90 percent. On the Democrat side, Patty Salter received 368 votes, or 96.84 percent as the sole trustee candidate representing that party.

For the Detroit Zoo millage, 1,430 township voters were in favor, while 1,184 were opposed, passing the measure by a 49 percent to 41 percent margin. Ten percent of township voters that turned out didn’t vote on the issue.