By Bill O'Brien
ACME — Acme voters stood behind a township board bruised, battered, but unbowed by years of development battles that featured illegal efforts to oust them from office.
All six incumbent township board members won re-election Tuesday — some by wide margins — as Acme voters embraced a board that survived a 2007 recall drive that stemmed from development disputes along M-72 involving a Meijer store.
Victorious board members were grateful, but not necessarily surprised they prevailed, despite being branded by some as an anti-growth board.
“I’d gone door-to-door enough and I knew that there were a lot of people that were thinking like we’re thinking,” incumbent Supervisor Wayne Kladder said. “I’m pleased to have the support of the people of Acme Township.”
Voters said they supported the current board’s approach to growth and development, which Kladder described as “trying to build a community that people want to live in.”
“I think the current board is working very hard to maintain the style of life my family and I would like to see in Acme,” said Beth Whiting.
Acme resident Kevin Bozung echoed those comments.
“I voted for all the incumbents,” he said. “They’re resistant to this huge development plan.”
Kladder, a retired school teacher and former township trustee who was appointed supervisor last year after Bill Kurtz resigned, picked up 747 votes to easily defeat challenger Noelle Knopf, who finished with 477 votes. Knopf was a two-term township clerk from 1996 through 2004.
But some voters didn’t support the current board.
“I voted for change,” said Willem Drogt. “I just moved in and a Meijer would be great to have.”
Resident Dennis Hoxsie, a fruit grower and former township treasurer, said he supported some incumbents, but also wanted to see different views on the board, particularly from the township’s agricultural community.
“I was not uncomfortable with the folks that were there, but I don’t necessarily think it was that representative of the township,” he said.
Incumbent Dorothy Dunville, elected clerk in 2004, picked up 787 votes, while challenger Pam Lewis received 450 votes.
The treasurer’s race was for an open seat, since former Treasurer Bill Boltres stepped down and his wife, the deputy clerk, filled out the term. Candidate Linda Lou Wikle, a township planning commissioner who owns an insurance agency, picked up 640 votes and defeated Nancy Edwardson, who received 501 votes.
Incumbent trustee winners included Paul Scott, a corrections sergeant at the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Department, who received 746 votes, while business owner Frank Zarafonitis was the top vote-getter with 751 votes. Incumbent Ron Hardin received 743 votes, while Erick Takayama picked up 691 votes.
Finishing outside the top four trustee seats were Doug White with 601 votes, and Tyler Veliquette, with 523.
