Another election with fewer voters

Another year, another decrease in Battle Creek's voter turnout.

Just 8.4 percent of the city's 38,206 registered voters decided who will serve as their city commissioners for the next two years, according to unofficial results. That's down from a 9.9 percent turnout in the 2013 election and 12.9 percent in 2011.

The highest turnout was in Ward 5, where 11 percent of voters participated. Commissioner Dave Walters was unopposed. Ward 3 also saw double-digit participation, with 10 percent of voters hitting the polls and ultimately choosing newcomer Kate Flores over incumbent Dean Newsome.

Ward 2 saw the lowest turnout, despite Vice Mayor Lynn Ward Gray facing a challenger.

Faris wins in at-large race, Newsome unseated by Flores

Twelve candidates sought a seat on the nine-person commission Tuesday night, with three seats unopposed. All but one of the incumbents, Commissioner Jeff Domenico, ran again. Kaytee Faris took over the at-large seat that was vacated by Walters, who ran in Ward 5 this year. Newsome's loss Tuesday night made him the lone incumbent to fail to hold onto a seat.

Election results for the Battle Creek area

Local voter turnout for commission elections has steadily decreased since 2009, when 12.9 percent of voters hit the polls. Within wards, rates have been as high as 27.4 percent in 2009 in Ward 5.

At-large

Along with Faris, voters chose incumbents Andy Helmboldt, Mark Behnke and Susan Baldwin to fill the commission's three at-large seats. Helmboldt again was the top vote-getter, followed by Faris. Baldwin came in third and Behnke came in fourth. Rob Rumsey did not make the top four, receiving 1,047 votes.

Turnout:

• 2015: 8.4%
• 2013: 9.9%
• 2011: 12.9%
• 2009: 17.5%
• 2007: 14%

Ward 1

Mayor Deb Owens was unopposed in her Ward 1 re-election bid, winning 87 percent of the vote.

Before the 2013 election, Ward 1 had seen double-digit participation rates. The ward, which includes Urbandale, the Fort Custer Industrial Park and the numbered streets in the Lakeview area, had 7,257 registered voters this election.

Turnout:

• 2015: 7.1% 
• 2013: 8.5% 
• 2011: 10.3% 
• 2009: 14.3% 
• 2007: 11.9%

Ward 2

Gray easily held onto her Ward 2 seat Tuesday night, winning 81 percent of the votes in her race against Leonard Davidson. There were 9,448 registered voters in the ward for this week's election.

Ward 2, which includes the Washington Heights area, downtown and a small portion of the Post Addition, tends to have the lowest turnout rate. It is the only ward that has not reached double-digit turnout rates during any of the five elections since 2007.

Turnout:

• 2015: 3.6%
• 2013: 4.6%
• 2011: 5.5%
• 2009: 8.6%
• 2007: 7%

Ward 3

Ward 3 again has a new representative, with Flores receiving 61 percent of the votes to unseat Newsome.

The ward had 7,347 voters this election. It includes areas of the city's northeast side and the Post Addition.

Turnout:

• 2015: 10%
• 2013: 10.9%
• 2011: 11.9%
• 2009: 15.9%
• 2007: 12.6%

Ward 4

Commissioner Mike Sherzer was unopposed in his Ward 4 re-election bid. He was picked by 80 percent of voters who cast ballots in the ward.

Ward 4 includes much of the Lakeview area east of Goguac Lake. It had 10,147 registered voters this week.

Turnout:

• 2015: 7.9%
• 2013: 12.8%
• 2011: 12.3%
• 2009: 18.7%
• 2007: 14.5%

Ward 5

Walters was unopposed in Ward 5. He received 82 percent of the votes cast in the ward race.

Ward 5 includes the rural southwestern portions of Battle Creek and the Beckley Road area. It tends to have among the highest turnout rates in local elections.

Turnout:

• 2015: 11%
• 2013: 12.5%
• 2011: 21.9%
• 2009: 27.4%
• 2007: 21.8%

Contact Jennifer Bowman at 269-966-0589 or jbowman@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow her on Twitter: @jenn_bowman