Clinton Township’s first new supervisor in more than two decades pledged Wednesday to work on the township’s communications, expand recreational opportunities and connect with residents and neighborhoods.
Democrat Paul Gieleghem, the township’s current treasurer, defeated Republican challenger Vicki Wolber with 52% of the vote in Tuesday’s election to Wolber’s 48%, according to unofficial results. He will succeed longtime Supervisor Bob Cannon, who is retiring this year after leading Michigan’s most populous township for more than two decades.
“I think the first key is to communicate better, so that we as a township reach out to make sure that everybody feels like they’re part of Clinton Township as a community,” he said, adding that he wants to make sure that are there “quarters left.”
Meanwhile, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido, who is running for re-election, said he wants to reduce juvenile recidivism and plans to continue diverting people with substance abuse problems from prison and providing them with services. Lucido defeated Democratic challenger Christina Hines 57% to 43%, according to unofficial results.
Gieleghem and Lucido’s election were just two of many local races in Macomb County on Tuesday. Sheriff Anthony Wickersham, a Democrat, also won re-election with 52% of the vote, as did Clerk Anthony Forlini, according to unofficial results. County Board Mark Hackel was not up for re-election this year, but all the other county council-wide representatives were and they won their races.
Ten of the 13 seats on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners were also contested Tuesday. All incumbent commissioners won re-election to the board, except for District 11 Commissioner Gus Ghanam, a Republican, who lost to Democrat Lisa Wojno 47%-53%. Republicans lost one seat but will control the board 8-5.
In Sterling Heights, meanwhile, a proposed .95 millage to fund a variety of initiatives, from parks to tree planting, narrowly passed with a 50.6% yes vote, according to final, unofficial reports.
Supervisor election for Clinton Township
Gieleghem, the parish treasurer, is a former state representative and county commissioner. He said he is still processing the results of the election.
“But I mean obviously I’m very happy to have the opportunity to serve my community as a supervisor,” he said.
Gieleghem said he has “a history of service” and has tried to “put a lot of energy into serving as a very effective treasurer.” As a supervisor, he wants to survey the residents about what they need, what they want to see in their parks and about other issues.
He applauded the township’s senior center and its parks and recreation programs, but said “a lot of people don’t feel connected” to those amenities. He said he wants to offer this type of service throughout the parish.
“We want to make sure we’re making park improvements everywhere, not just here at the Civic Center,” he said.
Roads are another priority for Gieleghem. He said the primary way to repair neighborhood streets in Michigan townships is through special assessments — which are levies of a property tax for road improvements. He said he wants to lower the cost residents pay for road repairs.
election of prosecutors
Lucidowho was first elected attorney general four years ago, defeated Hines, a former assistant attorney general. Lucido said his win confirms that “the work that we do here is positive and that people actually appreciate the things that we do.”
Lucido’s next term begins on January 1. He said he wants to lower the rate of juvenile recidivism, which is when youth who have previously been arrested commit a crime again.
“We believe that if you don’t stop a problem in youth, it creates a bigger problem when they’re adults,” he said.
Lucido said he also wants to focus on specialty courts, such as veterans court and drug court. He said these courts are ways to divert people from the criminal system. Lucido noted that he is getting ready for the Macomb County Jail expansion. The county is building a new Central Intake and Assessment Centre, which will change how the county handles inmates with mental illness and drug issues.
A county investigation found in 2022 that Lucido had made inappropriate sexual comments toward Macomb County employees, used race as a factor in assignment decisions and used county staff for “campaign-like activities.” He has denied the allegations, and he told The News that the people who made those complaints did not follow the complaints procedure.
Clinton Township resident Carol Dennis, 74, voted for Lucido for prosecutor.
“I think he’s more conservative and won’t get caught up in this woke thing,” said Dennis, an independent who is conservative. She thinks that if someone has committed a crime, they should not “get a free pass”.
Sheriff race
Wickersham said in a text message that he is honored to be elected to a fourth term as sheriff.
“The citizens of Macomb County can rest assured that they will have a sheriff who will keep them safe and is honest and dedicated,” he said.
He previously said his office has “a couple of big projects and I’d like to be there to see them through.” One of these is the Central Intake and Assessment Center, an estimated $228 million project expected to be completed by mid-2027.
Sterling Heights resident James Perlaki, 64, voted for Wickersham for sheriff. He said Wickersham has “done a good job” and that he has “no reason to believe he can’t continue to do the job.”
Dennis, the Clinton Township independent voter who is conservative, said she voted for Wickersham. She said her brother-in-law is a former police chief and “he had good things to say in support of Wickersham.”
Sterling Heights millage
In Sterling Heights, residents narrowly approved a proposed millage called “Pathway to Play and Preservation,” with 50.6% voting yes. Millage will fund a pickleball complex; trails through a nature reserve in the northwest quadrant of the city; pavement replacement; the preservation of open space; and replanting trees in neighborhoods.
Sterling Heights resident Erika Baartmans said she voted for the millage.
“I know it’s a little extra money in our tax dollars,” she said of the new millage, “but I feel like beautification and like having trails and places — I feel like it just brings up the value in the city.”
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