A no-party candidate unseated the apparent Republican winner in Otisco Township, a trustee replaced the treasurer in Crystal Township, and a former Planning Commission member replaced the appointed treasurer in Douglass Township.

Here’s a look at some of the most newsworthy events in local communities after Tuesday’s election.

TOWN OF OTISCO

One of Tuesday’s biggest election upsets locally was the supervisor race in Ionia County’s Otisco Township.

Bruce Feuerstein

Bruce Feuerstein, 62, ran as a non-affiliated candidate against Kristie Warner-Walls, 65, who is not only a Republican but also vice chair of the Ionia County Republican Party.

Warner-Walls, who is a retired production accounting manager/controller, most recently from Mersen in Greenville, previously won a hotly contested primary election in August with 271 votes over challenger Joseph Pennock, who received 221 votes, a difference of 50 votes.

However, Feuerstein, the former owner of Johnson-Feuerstein Funeral Home in Belding, won Tuesday’s general election with 782 votes to Warner-Walls’ 572 votes.

“I’d just like to thank everyone who voted for me, all the people who offered encouragement to run and everyone who helped with the campaign,” Feuerstein said. “I look forward to working with the other board members to achieve what is best for the people of Otisco Township.”

Warner-Walls was gracious in defeat.

“I would like to extend my congratulations and best wishes to Bruce Feuerstein,” she said. “I think he is a strong conservative and I expect his influence to help guide the city of Otisco in the right direction. If I hadn’t already been on the ballot, I would have voted for him.”

Feuerstein will succeed Supervisor Desmond Pike, who did not run for re-election.

Also in Otisco Township, James Conley ran for a township board trustee position, but write-in results were not yet available from the Ionia County Clerk’s office Thursday. Conley previously ran in a five-way Republican race for two trustee seats on the community board in the August primary election, finishing third behind incumbent Joe Borek and Stephanie Wireman, both of whom appeared on Tuesday’s ballot.

The Otisco City Council is scheduled to meet at 7:00 PM on November 12th.

CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP

A supervisor kept his seat, but a trustee ousted the treasurer and two new trustees were elected in Montcalm County’s Crystal Township.

Curt McCracken

Supervisor Curt McCracken, 63, a Republican, easily held on to his seat from Democratic challenger and Town Board Trustee Sarah Daily, 51, with McCracken receiving 986 votes, or more than 68 percent , to the Daily’s 451 votes, or 31%. McCracken has been supervisor for the past six years.

However, Trustee Alisha Little, 50, a Republican, unseated Treasurer Nancy Johnson (age not given), a Democrat, with Little receiving 951 votes, or 67 percent, to 461 votes. of Johnson, or 32.6%.

“I am truly grateful for the confidence you have placed in me by electing me as your treasurer,” Little told the Daily News in a message to his constituents. “It is truly an honor to serve our community in this capacity. I am committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility and the continued growth of our township. I look forward to working together for the benefit of the city. I could not be more grateful for this opportunity.”

Johnson had only kind words for Little, saying, “I wish her the best of luck in her new position and congratulations.”

Also in Crystal Township, Republicans Vera Bogart, 66, and David Wight (age not provided) were elected trustees with 1,059 votes and 966 votes, or 43.6 percent and nearly 40 percent, respectively , while Democratic candidate Sherry Kutt (age not provided) received 404 votes, or 16.6%.

Bogart and Wight will fill Daily and Little’s trustee seats on the community board.

The Crystal Township Board is scheduled to meet at 7:00 PM on November 13th.

DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP

In Douglass Township, Montcalm County, the Republican candidate for treasurer was easily elected.

Becky Sowles

Becky Sowles, 54, received 827 votes, or nearly 69 percent, while no-party candidate Kristi Cordray, 45, received 373 votes, or 31 percent. After Amy Laper resigned as treasurer in May, the community board appointed Cordray as treasurer, despite the fact that Sowles, a former member of the township’s Planning Commission, had already filed for the position.

“Thanks to everyone who supported me,” Sowles said. “I will do my best to try to bring compromise and peace to our commune.”

Also in Douglass Township, Republican trustees Ken Bunting and Eric Tester were easily re-elected with 935 votes and 911 votes, or 44 percent and 43 percent, respectively, while Richard Enness, a candidate with no party affiliation, received 271 votes, or close. 13%.

The Douglass City Council is scheduled to meet at 7:00 pm on November 20th.

Township of Easton

In Ionia County’s Easton Township, the appointed Republican supervisor was easily elected over a non-party candidate.

Jonathan Dineheart

Jonathan Dinehart, 50, was appointed supervisor in April to fill the remainder of the term vacated by Bill Patton, who resigned early.

Dinehart, a real estate broker and majority owner of Live Local Realty Inc. of Ionia and Peninsula Properties Realty Inc. of Traverse City, received 1,095 votes to challenger Milo Schafer, 71, a farmer, who received 524 votes.

“I appreciate the support and trust that the people of Easton Township have blessed me with through this election process,” Dineheart said. “Volunteering so much of my time to so many local councils and organizations made me wonder if anyone really cares about these efforts. The election results convinced me that these efforts were worth it.

“I look forward to working with my fellow council members to effectively manage the township and provide quality and competent service to those in the community and those who deal with the town,” Dineheart added. “Having been local supervisor for over six months, I am well positioned to navigate the months and years ahead. Infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges will continue to be a focus, as will improving safety and security at City Hall. I will also prioritize the voting process, supporting the modernization of the town hall for those who use it to vote. I plan to take a fresh look at the existing common ordinances and update them to modern times as many have not been updated for over 25 years.

“Easton Township is a great place to live and I look forward to hearing from community members and seeking their input to make Easton Township even better than it already is,” he said.

Easton Township Council is scheduled to meet at 7:00 pm on November 12th.

OTHER TOWNSHIP RACES

In other notable races, Montcalm County Eureka Supervisor Kristen Lower, 32, was easily re-elected with 1,514 votes, or 73 percent, over non-affiliated candidate Duane Putnam, 74, who received 548 votes or 26.5%.

Putnam was also a nominee for a trustee seat, but received only 29 nomination votes. Another candidate, Paul Ruwersma, received 89 votes. Jeremy Austin, Shayne Becher and Tim Johnson all appeared on the ballot and were elected to three open trustee seats in Eureka Township with 1,585 votes for Austin and 1,555 votes each for Becher and Johnson.

In Maple Valley Township in Montcalm County, Clerk Andi Knapp, 51, a Republican, was easily re-elected with 772 votes, or 77.5 percent, over no candidate Penny Bassett (age not provided) , which received 223 votes or 22%. In the same township, Republican incumbents Tim Thornhill and Lee Frandsen were re-elected with 773 and 749 votes, or 42 percent, and nearly 41 percent, respectively, over Democratic challenger Ann Scoby Petersen, who received 310 votes, or almost 17%.

In Montcalm County’s Pine Township, Republicans Darcy Krause and Rodney Palmer were easily elected to two trustee seats with 707 and 639 votes, or 42.5 percent and 38 percent, respectively, over Democratic candidate Chris Johnson, which received 315 votes, or almost 19%.

In Ionia County’s Portland Township, Republican candidates Mark Simon (an incumbent) and Timothy Kerekes were easily elected with 1,580 and 1,396 votes, respectively, while no-party candidate Kevin DiPiazza received 450 votes .

In the Kent County town of Oakfield, incumbent Treasurer Betsy Koett, 60, a Republican, was easily re-elected treasurer with 2,742 votes, or nearly 70 percent, over Democratic challenger Christopher Crocker, who received 1,161 votes, or 30%