Goodrich-Election day has come and gone, and, for the most part, the face of the Goodrich Village Council remains the same.
Incumbents Ed York and Rick Horton held on to their respective positions of Village Council president and council member, soundly defeating challengers Diane Fredericks, Gregory Tankersley and Norm Bass.
The lone newcomer will be Patricia Wartella, replacing Rod Pierson following his decision to not seek another term.
‘Mr. Horton and I are very pleased,? said York. ‘It was a decisive victory.
‘I feel that it shows the people are pleased with the direction we’re trying to take the village. We kept our promise (of lowering spending) and we had a lot of trust there that we would continue doing what we do.?
‘I’d just like (residents) to know that we want to say ‘thank you? and we will continue to do the best job that we can,? said York.
York added he is anxious to work with Wartella to create the best possible situation for residents.
Wartella said she also is anxious to get to work on the council.
‘I’m pleased that people had confidence in me and showed it at the polls,? said Wartella, adding she has already thought of some changes she’s like to implement. ‘I’d like to review the spending that the village does. Hopefully we can cut taxes without cutting of services. Everybody wants to see their taxes go down even more.?
Wartella added that she would like to weigh heavily the opinions of residents who come to meetings with concerns and questions creating what she described as an ‘open forum.?
‘I’m out to represent the residents, they voted me in and I’m working for them,? said Wartella.
York added he hopes to move beyond the division that surrounds elections, working with all the residents of the village.
‘We work for all the people,? said York,? not just the ones that voted for us.?
While village residents voted in favor of incumbent council members, voters throughout Atlas, Brandon and Groveland townships heavily favored Dick DeVos and other GOP candidates. Despite Democratic victories throughout the state and the re-election of Democratic governor Jennifer Granholm, Atlas residents favored DeVos with nearly 53 percent of the vote.
While Brandon residents also voted primarily for the republican candidate’they favored DeVos with 57 percent of the vote? Groveland residents delivered even more GOP votes with over 59 percent of voters going republican.