After losing in the Aug. 5 primary three local candidates say they’re going to move forward with a write in campaign in the Nov. 4 general election.
Incumbents Paul Amman, Atlas Township supervisor, and Linda Owen, Brandon Township treasurer, along with newcomer Robert Renchik, vying for Groveland Township treasurer, will seek office in November.
All three lost close races in August.
In Atlas Township, Shirley Kautman-Jones eked past Amman with 649 votes to 624, while in Brandon Township challenger for treasurer Tyrone Beltrano received 1,037 votes, edging out Owen, who had 1,011 votes. In Groveland Township, Trustee David Ax received 260 votes over Renchick with 176 votes.
Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson said write-in candidates face an even bigger uphill battle in a general election.
‘It’s harder when you have more people voting in a presidential election and you have to get to four times as many people and ask them to write your name in and get it spelled right,? she said.
She also noted that in Oakland County, 30 percent of voters are Democrats, another 30 percent are Republicans, and 40 percent are independent voters. People often vote a straight ticket and those voters are lost to write-in candidates.
‘It doesn’t happen often that a write-in candidate is elected, but this is a great country,? Johnson said. ‘The foundation is democracy, and democracy allows write-ins.?