Traverse City Record-Eagle

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August 8, 2012

Sheriff Bensley wins GT primary

TRAVERSE CITY — Grand Traverse Sheriff Tom Bensley cleared the first hurdle.

Bensley, initially elected to the sheriff's post in 2008, handily beat Republican challenger Kevin Sandvig in Tuesday's primary. He'll face Traverse City Police Department Sgt. Joe McCarthy, a Democrat, in the November general election.

"It's very encouraging that the people in the county gave me this kind of support," Bensley said. "I hope that they're voting on my record, that they're looking at me and what's happened here."

In Leelanau County, former Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Mike Borkovich beat Suttons Bay Police Chief Del Moore and Mark Walter for the sheriff's post. All three are Republicans, and no Democrats filed to run.

"I'm very, very humbled and very flattered to be put into this position," Borkovich said. "It's a huge honor to represent the people of Leelanau County."

Republican Ted Schendel, son of former Benzie County prosecutor O. Paul Schendel, trounced fellow Republicans David Casey and Blair Moss in Benzie County. He will face Custer Courville Carland, an independent, in November.

"This election was about the good people of Benzie County, and they came through," Schendel said. "I'm very pleased with the results."

Antrim County Sheriff Dan Bean, a Republican, was unopposed in Tuesday's primary and won't face a challenger in November.

Results were unavailable for the Kalkaska County sheriff's race as of press time.

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