BY MATT MACKINDER
Clarkston News Editor

Three Clarkston City Council spots were up for election last Tuesday, November 2, but as of press time, the results were not finalized.
A total of 322 votes were cast between in-person and absentee ballots.
“Because of the tight race and the disproportionately large number of write-ins, the Oakland County election supervisor advised us – and we agreed – to utilize their certified Board of Canvassers to confirm and count the many, many iterations of hand-written write-in votes,” said Clarkston City Manager Jonathan Smith. “This might take a few days, but it ensures that the final counts have been certified to be 100 percent accurate. In the meantime, your understanding and patience is sincerely appreciated.”
Smith disclosed that of the city’s 793 registered voters, 322 voted, or 40.61 percent. Of the 322 that voted, 158 voted in person and 164 voted via an absentee ballot.
The final counts for the three candidates that were printed on the ballot include 188 for incumbent Gary Casey, 156 for Steve McLean, and 132 for Paul Angelini.
What remains to be certified by the county are the 450 total write-in votes that were cast for candidates Bruce Fuller, Chris Moore, and Laura Rodgers.
Smith added that election day was a team effort from start to finish.
“For a small, local election, the November 2 election had more than its fair share of challenges for our election workers,” said Smith. “I extend my sincere thanks to Clerk Jennifer Speagle and workers Evelyn Bihl, Cara Catallo, and Toni Smith for an excellent job on this very long, trying day.”
McLean ran for city council in the 2020 election but did not gain a seat.
In an October 26, 2021 Facebook post, McLean pitched his game plan if he was to be elected.
“Walking our village neighborhoods after work today,” McLean said. “Met some great people at the annual Middle Lake Chili Cookoff and tried to go through the rest of the neighborhood tonight. The biggest message I heard was, ‘Where does our money go?’ As a councilman, I promise to be honest and transparent and to promote fiscal responsibility. I want to know where all my taxes are going, too.”
This election was Angelini’s first time running for a council seat.
Casey has been a councilmember since June 2020 when he and Ed Bonser were approved to fill seats vacated by the resignations of David Marsh and Scott Reynolds. Casey, Fuller, and Rodgers were publicly endorsed by Clarkston Mayor Eric Haven.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The results were confirmed after the Nov. 10 edition went to print. Elected were Casey, Fuller, and Rodgers. More in next week’s Clarkston News.