Election results for Birmingham, Bloomfield

By Lisa Brody

While few voters came out in Birmingham on Tuesday, November 7, those who did supported a new senior millage for NEXT and defeated a proposal to permit recreational and medical marijuana sales, and those living in the Bloomfield Hills Schools district overwhelmingly approved a renewal of the schools' sinking fund millage. City commissioners in both Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills ran unopposed, while three library board candidates were voted onto the board of Baldwin Public Library.

Although on election night there were some problems with the Oakland County clerk's election reporting site, eventually final return numbers were posted that did not change any of the outcomes reported earlier on election night.

Birmingham

In Birmingham, residents returned Clinton Baller, Brad Host and Therese Longe to the city commission, along with newcomer Anthony Long. There were four open seats on the commission and four candidates running for a four-year term.

Host, who blanketed the city with campaign signs despite it being an uncontested election, received 3,033 votes for 27.78 percent; Longe received 2,841 votes, 26.02 percent; newcomer Long collected 2,597 votes, for 23.79 percent; and 2,380 voters voted for Baller, 21.8 percent.

Birmingham city commissioners serve four-year terms. Commissioners meet twice each month, on the second and fourth Monday nights at 7:30 at city hall. Commissioners are paid $5 per meeting.

The new commissioners will be sworn in on Monday, November 13, at 7:30 p.m.

There were four candidates for three open library seats on the Baldwin Public Library board, with incumbents Karen Gilbert Rock and Jennifer Wheeler returned to the board by voters, along with candidate Wendy Friedman. Rock received 2,777 votes, for 28.02 percent, with Wheeler close behind, with 2,743 votes, 27.68 percent. Friedman had 2,546 votes, 265.69 percent; and Curtios Trimble had 1,826 votes for 18.42 percent.

A senior millage proposition to support 0.33 mills for three years to provide funding for the new senior and community center for NEXT and to provide for future improvements after the city of Birmingham purchased the Birmingham YMCA building, received strong approval by residents, 69 percent to 31 percent, with 3,492 voters approving the proposal and 1,566 voting against.

However, a ballot ordinance amendment to change the Birmingham prohibition against marijuana sales in the city and permit one medical marijuana facility and one recreational marijuana establishment in specifically zoned areas of the city was soundly defeated by voters, 73 percent to 27 percent, with 3,726 voting against the ballot amendment and 1,340 voting in favor..

Bloomfield Hills

Five candidates, including incumbents Bradley J. Baxter (487 votes), Alice Buckley (480 votes), Susan McCarthy (497 votes) and Lauren G. Fisher, (490 votes) were returned to the city commission for another two-year term, along with new candidate David W. Fisher (480 votes).

Bloomfield Hills city commissioners serve two-year terms. They meet once each month, on the second Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at city hall. Commissioners are paid $5 per meeting.

The new commissioners will be sworn in next Tuesday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m.

Bloomfield Hills Schools

Voters living in the Bloomfield Hills Schools district provided a huge boost for the district, with most precincts in, with those approving it giving it 67.92 percent or 5,925 yes votes to 2,798 voting no, approving a request for a three-year, $3.38 million a year sinking fund millage, to replace the current one, for the school years 2024 through 2026, inclusive.

Sinking fund millage dollars are to be used for safety, security and technology upgrades, which Bloomfield Hills is planning to use to continue to use for improvements, construction or repair of school buildings, school security improvements, the acquisition or upgrading of technology, the acquisition of student transportation vehicles and equipment, and other pertinent needs.