Macomb Township

Dunn defeats incumbent Grabow for supervisor seat

By Robert Guttersohn
C & G Staff Writer

Trustee Dino Bucci broke the news to his fellow incumbents, their family members and supporters awaiting the results of the Aug. 7 primary election inside The Burning Tree Golf and Country Club.

“In elections, there are winners and losers,” he said, after talking on his cell phone with an official from the clerk’s office. “Well, we all won.”

The country club erupted into cheers at the news that current Trustee Janet Dunn had defeated incumbent Supervisor Mark Grabow and Charles Missig for the supervisor position and that Clerk Michael Koehs defeated Cathy Imbronone for the clerk position.

Dunn had 2,599 votes while Grabow had 2,084 and supervisor candidate Charles Missig had 1,935, according to unofficial results from the township clerk’s office.

Koehs had 3,696 votes for the clerk’s position, while Imbronone had 2,913.

The votes are not official until the county clerk certifies them.

“It certainly does feel good that the people elected not to listen to all the slanderous and libelous talk those people put out there,” Koehs said.

“Unfortunately we did not attain our goal today,” Imbronone posted on her campaign’s Facebook page. “Although I did not win the election, I do know that I have won the respect of several thousand residents who agreed with me that it was time for change.”

Grabow and Missig could not be reached for comment.

“I feel wonderful, very happy,” Dunn said afterward.

Dunn said in the past when she was nervous about something or had something on her mind, she would bake as therapy. She said she was so nervous the day before the election that she baked all day.

“I made little bitty muffins, then I made cookies and took them around this afternoon,” Dunn said. “So, yeah, I was nervous.”

After Bucci told the room that Dunn had defeated Grabow, Dunn grasped her hands around her mouth in disbelief. Amid hugs and handshakes, supporters addressed her as “Supervisor Dunn,” a title Dunn said she’ll have time to get used to.

Although the Aug. 7 election vote was just a primary, there are no Democratic opponents for all township positions on the ballot for the November general election. That means the winners of the primary are winners by default in the general election. They will not take office until January, 2013.

The campaigns for the supervisor and clerk positions became heated after a lawsuit claiming Koehs and Dunn had committed election fraud was filed.

Grabow, Missig and Imbronone pounced on the political opportunity, calling for an investigation into the claims and for their opponents to step down.

“I think the voters out there realize that nothing was true,” Dunn said. “People that know me, knew that wasn’t true. I think by doing that, they hurt themselves more than they hurt me, but it still feels bad when you have your name dragged through the mud.”

In addition, all three incumbent trustees running for reelection won Aug. 7.

“All I can say is, four years ago I was so devastated when (former township supervisor) John Brennan lost,” Trustee Nancy Nevers said. “This is the best. The whole slate, with all the hit pieces they put out on us, you know there is justice.”

To Bucci, the vote was a clear message from the residents of Macomb.

“I think the people of the township indicated to us that we are doing good job,” Bucci said. “Tonight, it validates what we’ve been doing for the last four years.”

Clifford Freitas, a lifelong Macomb resident, will join the board as a trustee next year.

He said he is still “numb” to the fact that he won.

“I’m little shocked, but excited, happy, ready to get to work,” Freitas said.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Robert Guttersohn at rguttersohn@candgnews.com or at (586)218-5006.