For a small, wealthy town, Grosse Pointe Shores has a surprisingly spirited political climate, with several key issues — such as whether to become wholly a part of Macomb County — on the front burner.
Nonetheless, I did a double take — and thought for sure a mistake had been made — when I saw Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh report that Grosse Pointe Shores posted a 100 percent voter turnout in Tuesday’s city elections.
As it turns out, the 100 percent figure only applied to Precinct 1, the tiny portion of the city that lies within Macomb County. That section, prior to 2009 cityhood, was known as Lake Township.
When you add in the two precincts that lie within Wayne County, the Grosse Pointe Shores turnout plummets to 58 percent, which was still probably one of the highest participation rates in the state on Tuesday.
In any event, let me offer a salute to the voters of Precinct 1, all 61 of them, for showing up at the polls. They favored Mayor James Cooper over his challenger by a 23 to 13 margin. And in an unusual council race with nine candidates seeking six seats — and only incumbent in the bunch — they gave the sixth and final spot to Kay Felt, with 16 votes, four more than her closest competitor.
Overall, the final results showed Cooper losing the mayor’s race to Ted Kedzierski. Felt had a better showing, finishing second in the council contest.
Nothing new, in the past Lake twp would have the polls open at 7am and close at 11am, with 100% turn out.