August 6, 2014
Michigan

Voters keep Nugent in county race

By Chris Aldridge, Tribune Staff Writer | Huron Daily Tribune | August 6, 2014 | www.michigansthumb.com

BAD AXE – Republican incumbent John Nugent said he sat with his wife at his Port Austin home, periodically checking election results on the county website.

“It looked encouraging from the start, but you never know,” Nugent said.

With 557 votes, Nugent secured his third consecutive term as county commissioner for district seven, representing Dwight, Hume, Lake, Lincoln, Pte. Aux Barques and Port Austin townships.

Nugent took 66 percent of the votes, edging out Republican challenger Craig Lehrke of Lincoln Township. Lehrke was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Nugent said a two-thirds majority vote was “a sigh of relief, but it means I still have work to do.”

He said he had mixed feelings heading into the primary.

“It’s hard to know if you’re on the right track,” he said. “A vote like that tells me my position is appreciated and supported. It reassured me.”

Moving forward, Nugent said he will continue to hold the same position toward wind energy he has in the past, regarding “proper setbacks” for wind turbines from the shoreline and ensuring protection for landowners.

“If there’s been one issue that’s brought to my attention more than any other, it’s setbacks from the lakes,” he said. “I don’t want to see (wind turbines) in the lake or within three miles of the shorelines. It will reduce the number in Huron County, but it’s important to protect all landowners.”

Nugent also served as city manager of Bad Axe for 14 years.

A total of 843 registered voters in Dwight, Hume, Lake, Lincoln, Pte. Aux Barques and Port Austin townships took to the polls on Tuesday to decide the district seven county commission primary.

There are 26,213 registered voters in Huron County, according to the county clerk’s office.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/08/06/voters-keep-nugent-in-county-race/