Cotter beats Alwood to win 99th GOP race

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Republican Kevin Cotter won the primary election for the 99th district Republican state legislature representative, beating his opponent Chrstine Alwood 56.86 percent to 43.11 percent.

Cotter said winning the primary feels good, but is only the first step in his campaign.

“I’ve got a great team of supporters,” he said. “It’s just the beginning.”

Cotter said he must now prepare for the general election on Nov. 2.

“We will extend our reach out to voters who generally vote in the general election,” he said.

Cotter said his main focus is turning the economy around.

“In the past I have not pursued political office,” he said. “I made the decision to run for this seat back in November, motivated out of frustration.”

He plans on helping to build and strengthen small businesses in the 99th district.

Cotter said he and his wife are planning on starting a family soon and want to help create a stable economy in Michigan.

“We’re really concerned about what it might look like 18 to 20 years down the line when our kids are making the decision as to where they’re going to settle down,” Cotter said. “I’d like them to have the option of staying in Michigan if they choose to.”

On the other side of the ticket, Democrat Toni Sessoms won the primary, receiving 43.79 percent of the Democratic vote, with Peter Gallinat and Carl Hamann receiving 20.91 percent and 35.31 percent respectively.

Cotter and Sessoms will face off in the general elections later this year on November 2.

“We’re going to stick to our principles and continue to run a very clean campaign,” Cotter said.

Road millage fails

The proposal for a 2-mill tax increase has been squashed by Isabella County voters 63.11 percent to 36.89 percent.

The proposed millage would have had a lifespan of 8 years and would have raised about $869,000 in revenue for the city of Mount Pleasant if approved.

That money would have been put towards road projects and repair, said Tony Casali, Isabella County Road Commission manager during a presentation to the Mount Pleasant City Commission on July 12.

Library millage fails

The Chippewa River  District Library Millage failed on a vote of 1624 to 1251.