Airriess, Kucera Win Clawson City Council Seats

Clawson City Councilman Howie Airriess was re-elected and longtime resident Gregory Kucera Jr. earned a spot on City Council in Tuesday's elections.

The two candidates defeated Brady DiAntonio and Todd Shattuck for the two open seats on City Council.

Airress won 39 percent of the vote, and Kucera captured 38 percent.

Jessica Black, who ran unopposed for the school board seat, easily won that race, and Mayor Penny Luebs, who ran unopposed, was re-elected as Clawson's mayor.

Stay tuned for reaction and more from Clawson Patch.

Here's how the day unfolded at the polls:

8 p.m.— The polls have closed. Candidates and city officials are gathered at City Hall awaiting the results.

7:55 p.m.— Poll workers at the City Hall precinct workers said they received 110 ballots today.

6:25 p.m.— Jordan Wroby, 24, is the youngest voter we've interviewed today. Wroby said she was familiar with the candidates she voted for because of their roles in the community.

Voting "is part of your duty as an American citizen," Wroby said after voting at Kenwood. "The only way you can make things change is by being an active participant in the process."

5:50 p.m.— Schalm poll workers report an increase in voter traffic after 5 p.m. So far, the precinct has received 323 ballots, both absentee and walk-ins combined. Voter Lori Horton told us what she looked for in a City Council candidate.

"Open-mindedness, willing to work with the community and work collaboratively with the city," Horton said.

1:40 p.m.— City Clerk Machele Kukuk said there was an 8 percent voter turnout at midday.

"It seems down to me," Kukuk said, adding that the uncontested races likely played a role in this.

Kukuk said the results will be available on the City of Clawson website and the Oakland County Elections website. The clerk's office will also project the results on a screen at City Hall tonight. Kukuk said counting the votes could take longer because of the write-in candidates, but she hopes to have all the results by 9 p.m.

1:20 p.m.— Voter traffic at Hunter Community Center was pretty steady at this time. About 10 voters walked in during the 20 minutes we were on site. The precinct had a total of 159 ballots including both walk-ins and absentee.

Judy and Bob Kavanagh stopped to chat with the Clawson Patch after casting their vote.

"I went with the (City Council candidates) I thought were the most well-rounded," Mrs. Kavanagh said. "Those who were focused on all the issues in Clawson and not just the park."

Mr. Kavanagh said he was shocked there was only one candidate for the school board seat, Jessica Back. However, he said serving on the school board can be a tough position. (Back is a write-in candidate.)

"A lot people aren't well-versed in some of the necessary knowledge," Mr. Kavanagh said. "A lot of people may not feel qualified."

Marilyn Shier said she was familiar with the candidates she voted for, though she wouldn't disclose their names.

Shier said she looks for candidates "who care about the city, are loyal, have a good personality and character."

11:35 a.m.— Poll chairwoman Joyce Ross said there were 23 walk-in voters at the .

"It's pretty slow," Ross said. "I think it's the uncontested races."

11:15 a.m.— The precinct reports 24 walk-in voters and poll workers say traffic has been scattered. 

Steven Sparks, 57, voted at Clawson High School. Sparks said he based his vote on the candidate whose lifestyle and experiences matched his beliefs. He said leadership and community involvement were factors in his decision.

"You can equate that to how they'd be on the City Council," Sparks said.

9:25 a.m.— Voter Mary Talbot has just submitted her ballot at the Kenwood precinct. Talbot said she based her vote on the information she learned about the City Council candidates through the media and campaigning.

"It's our right to vote," Talbot said after casting her ballot.

9:15 a.m.— Kenwood Elementary School has had 28 walk-ins and precinct workers say traffic has been scattered since the polls opened. The precinct has received 120 absentee ballots.

8:45 a.m.— has had eight walk-in voters. City Clerk Machele Kukuk told the Clawson Patch she expects an 18-20 percent voter turnout today.

"It's raining, so it might be less," Kukuk said. "But if the rain clears up, we might get more."

In the last city election in 2009, there was a 24 percent voter turnout. However, there was also a millage proposal and a contested mayoral race on the ballot, Deputy City Clerk Mike Smith said.

8:20 a.m.— Poll workers at have had 19 walk-in voters and received 80 absentee ballots. Precinct chairman Jerry Jones said turnout is low but he expects it to pick up at lunch and dinnertime.

"It's a little on the slow side I'd say," Jones said.

7:50 a.m.— About eight voters have showed up at . Poll workers say the early morning voter turnout is low. Lois Curcio, the precinct chairwoman at Hunter, said she doesn't expect high voter turnout this year since both the mayoral and school board candidates are running unopposed. The precinct has received 94 absentee ballots so far. 

7 a.m.— The polls open. It's a rainy, 50-degree morning.