Published: August 06, 2008 01:12 am      

Antrim County sheriff ousted

Leelanau, Otsego incumbents retain seats

BELLAIRE — Sheriff’s races across northwestern Lower Michigan involved a couple of incumbents who hung onto their seats and one who didn’t.

Daniel Bean ousted incumbent Antrim County Sheriff Terry Johnson in Tuesday’s primary election, and won by more than 700 votes. Bean received 2,617 votes, Johnson picked up 1,861 and the third Republican candidate, Rocky Windish, garnered 187 votes.

Bean is the former undersheriff in Antrim County, but was fired by Johnson in February after he announced his intended candidacy for sheriff.

Johnson said the firing was to prevent a violation of a federal law known as the Hatch Act, which puts limits on partisan political activity of federal employees, plus certain state and local public workers who are in programs or departments that receive federal money.

Neither Bean nor Johnson could be reached for comment late Tuesday night.

Incumbent Leelanau County Sheriff Mike Oltersdorf won his bid for re-election with 3,403 votes on the Republican ticket. He was challenged by fellow GOP candidate Mark Walter, who earned 2,023 votes.

“I’m very thankful that the voters see fit to return me to office for another four years. I’m honored,” Oltersdorf said.

He will continue to focus on providing the same level of service to Leelanau County residents, despite tightening budgets, he said.

Walter said he was disappointed.

“I tried and I lost. Maybe I’ll run again,” Walter said.

Another successful incumbent was Otsego County Sheriff James McBride, who beat his primary challenger with more than 72 percent of the votes. McBride received 2,229 votes and his Republican challenger, Kam Ensing, received 858 votes.

“We thought there was a little more initiative for change,” Ensing said

Undersheriff Rory Heckman in Benzie County beat out fellow Republicans Jeff Morse and Damon Wilkes. Heckman received 1,379 votes, while Morse and Wilkes received 648 and 140, respectively, with 12 of 13 precincts reporting.

“It’s the first time I’ve run for office. It’s a humbling experience to put your name on a ballot. But I’ve got another hurdle. We’re not done yet,” Heckman said.

Now he will focus on the November general election, when he will face Democrat Brant Downing.

Undersheriff William Donald Schneider won the race between him and fellow Republican newcomer Donald Sproul by a tally of 3,092 to 1,143 votes for sheriff in Charlevoix County, with 19 of 20 precincts reporting.

In Manistee County, the race between two Republicans for the sheriff’s post was won by incumbent Sheriff Dale Kowalkowski with 2,318 votes, with 21 of 23 precincts reporting. Challenger Kathy Fenstermacher received 537 votes.