Hoffman prevails; will face Venie in August for commission seat

Voters in Highland Township and a few other Oakland County communities saw no reason to get rid of Commissioner Robert Hoffman (R-Highland) when they went to the polls on Tuesday, May 3.

Hoffman, who was appointed to his seat earlier this year after Bill Bullard, Jr. took the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds position following Ruth Johnson’s election as Michigan Secretary of State, received a total of 1,098 votes in last week’s special primary election for the 2nd District Oakland County Board of Commissioners seat, representing 49.06 percent of the vote, according to unofficial tallies. Of those 1,098 votes, 302 were cast by absentee ballot.

Republican challengers Carolyn Belaen and Brian Howe received 388 votes (17.34 percent) and 746 votes (33.33 percent), respectively, according to unofficial figures. Belaen garnered 108 absentee ballot votes, while Howe received 236.

Hoffman carried all but two precincts in the district that includes Highland Township, as well as Springfield, Holly and Rose townships, and the Village of Holly. Howe won Highland’s 4th and 8th precincts, unofficial results show.

A total of 2,238 voters cast their ballots in last week’s primary race.

“I’m very pleased with the outcome of the election,” Hoffman said, adding that he “had two opponents who are both my friends. Brian’s a good guy and Carolyn is a good person.”

“I like to believe that I won because of the experience and all the work I’ve done in these communities,” Hoffman said. “As far as August goes, we’ll campaign like we did for the primary. I had two good opponents. They are good people. It’s an honor and a privilege to be a county commissioner.”

Hoffman also credited “the great support” he received during the campaign from people who were working to get him through the primary process.

Hoffman, 60, will face Democrat Mark Venie in an Aug. 2 special general election for the county board seat. County commissioners serve two-year terms and are paid $32,093 annually.