Ferndale Elections 2012: Voters Elect 'BOLD' Slate to School Board

Residents in Ferndale went to the polls Tuesday to choose representatives who will serve on the Ferndale Board of Education, Oakland County Board of Commissioners and in the Michigan House.

The races are in addition to the presidential contest and a slew of state ballot proposals and decisions on and county-level offices.

Ferndale had a total voter turnout of 63.66 percent, with 10,399 ballots cast, according to the Ferndale City Clerk's office.

These results are unofficial until confirmed by the Oakland County clerk.

Ellen Cogen Lipton, Democrat

*18 of 27 precincts reporting

**32 of 42 precincts reporting

More election coverage

• Barack Obama Re-Elected President
• Michigan Election 2012: Stabenow Gives Victory Speech
• Oakland County Taps Wireless Technology to Expedite Election Results
• Did You Vote Tuesday? Prove It!

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What happened at the polls

12:25 a.m.: With all 10 precincts reporting, unofficial results from Oakland County show a win for Ferndale school board candidates Amy Butters, Jim O'Donnell, Kevin Deegan-Krause and Raylon Leaks-May.

Butters and O'Donnell got the most votes and were elected to six-year terms, while Deegan-Krause and Leaks-May were elected to four-year terms.

Read more on the school board election results here.

9:48 p.m.: Early, unofficial results with five out of 10 precincts reporting show (in order) Amy Butters, Jim O'Donnell, Kevin Deegan-Krause and Raylon Leaks-May taking the lead so far in the Ferndale school board race; followed by Katrina Collins, Keith Warnick, Jim Pfleger and Bradford Parks.

9:30 p.m.: Some Ferndale residents were still waiting to vote at University High School as of 9 p.m., according to a report on WXYZ.

Ferndale City Clerk Cherilynn Tallman could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening but said earlier that the city will evaluate any problems after the election and "make any possible changes to increase efficiency," she said.

Were you among those waiting to vote at UHS? Tell us in the comments section below.

8 p.m.: The polls have closed. Check back here on Ferndale Patch throughout the night for the latest news and results.

7:14 p.m.: Ferndale City Clerk Cherilynn Tallman said Tuesday evening that "lines are long, as expected."

"Our inspectors are working diligently to get voters through the process," she said.

Tallman said voters for the most part have been "very patient and understanding."

"As always, when the election is over the Clerk’s office and the rest of election staff will evaluate and make any possible changes to increase efficiency," she said. "One of the biggest problems facing election officials is finding enough inspectors to work the polls. I encourage anyone with strong computer skills and a good understanding of process to call their municipal clerk and sign up to be a precinct inspector."

7 p.m.: There's one hour left to get to the polls. As a reminder, anyone who is in line to vote by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Not sure on your polling location? Check out the City Clerk's web site for the map. 

6 p.m.: At LGBT community center Affirmations on Tuesday afternoon, a 100-day hunger strike was wrapping up and volunteers were busy phone-banking.

Today marked the last day of an 100-day hunger strike that began in Ferndale this summer at the LGBT center.

The effort aimed to bring light to the issues most affecting LGBT residents in Michigan and protest what they called Michigan’s "extreme anti-equality environment" with a 100-day strike exactly 100 days before the election.

Volunteers have been taking turns serving 24-hour hunger strike shifts in a makeshift living room set up near the front windows at Affirmations.

Cass Varner, communications director at Affirmations, was temporarily filling in for executive director David Garcia in the hunger-strike on Tuesday afternoon.

"I have really seen some awareness happen, especially within the city of Ferndale and the community in general," she said. "I really think it was helpful for us to have such a visual presence leading up to the election." 

5:17 p.m.: As the after-work rush begins on Tuesday, residents are reporting varying wait times at polling locations around town.

Some voters found little to no wait time at the Kulick Center late Tuesday afternoon, while voters at Ferndale High School and Taft waited up to two hours.

"I was #789 at 4:30pm after getting in line at 2:30pm and that is absolutely inexcusable and ridiculous," Jean wrote on Ferndale Patch's Facebook page. "How many people will not be able to vote because they don't have 2 hours to take off work?"

Wrote another reader, Erika: "I voted--Voter 987 -- an hour and 45 minutes arriving at 3:20.... Line is waaaaaay worse now. I still am thankful for the right to vote!! But we should always strive to make the process better."

Tell us about your experience at the polls in the comments section below or post on our Facebook page.

4:14 p.m.: If you're headed to vote on your way home from work tonight, you can preview your ballot at the PDF attached to this article or enter your name here to find your ballot.

Polls will remain open to all residents in line by 8 p.m.

Do you have photos, wait times or other election stories to share? Email jessica.schrader@patch.com or post a comment below!

2:27 p.m.: There was a steady stream of voters at Ferndale polling locations on Tuesday afternoon, with wait-time estimates of 45 minutes to two-and-a-half hours being reported by residents.

At University High School on Tuesday afternoon, Ferndale resident Argola Windham said she had just waited more than two hours to vote.

"But it was worth it," she said, adding that she especially wanted to vote on the state proposals and the school board race.

School board candidate Kevin Deegan-Krause, who voted this morning with his children, was campaigning for the BOLD slate outside UHS Tuesday afternoon.

"The lines are long but people don't seem to mind, which is really nice," he said.

As for the school board race, Deegan-Krause said he and the other CLEAR-endorsed candidates have "done everything we could've done."

"We've knocked on 12,000 doors," he said.

Current school board trustee Darcey McLaughlin, who is not seeking re-election, was outside UHS supporting the CBE-endorsed candidates. "Turnout is great," she said.

12:32 p.m.: At the Kulick Community Center, the wait time was around 45 minutes late this morning.

Ferndale school board incumbent candidate Katrina Collins was campaigning in front of the center for all of the CBE-endorsed school board candidates.

"I think it's been great," Collins said of the turnout so far. "It's a big election and there's a lot to vote on."

Kate Baker, former Ferndale city council member, was holding a sign in support of the CLEAR-endorsed school board candidates in front of the Kulick Center.

"I think it's great that we have our local school board race on such a prominent ballot and I'm excited to see so many of my neighbors out voting," Baker said.

She said the parking lot at Kulick has been full all day. "The turnout has been amazing," she said.

Grant Johnston, co-owner of the Woodward Avenue Brewers, said he was voter number 502 around 11:30 a.m. He said being a business owner isn't the most important issue when he votes but instead he is focused on issues like human rights.

"I'm more about advancing society than I am about advancing my bank account," he said. "We're all here for a very short amount of time."

10 a.m.: Residents shared their wait times and voter numbers at the polls this morning on Ferndale Patch's Facebook page. 

"I was number 109," wrote Josh. "LONG lines but everyone seemed relatively cheerful."

Another reader, Kurt, said he was number 52 at Harding Administration Center and waited about 45 minutes after he arrived at 7 a.m. "By the time I left, the line was wrapping around the hallway," he wrote.

April said her husband was number 139 at Ferndale High School and he arrived by 7 a.m.

"Line at high school is super long, but people are hanging out, being patient!"

Patch reader Frank got to his precinct by 6:25 a.m. to avoid long lines and was voter number five. "By the time I left (7:10) I would estimate maybe 100 people waiting," he wrote.

"I'm excited by these long lines!!!" wrote Helen. "Yea! Get out and vote!"

What was your voter number? How were the lines? Tell us in the comments section below!

9:15 a.m.: What goes better with your “I Voted” sticker than … a doughnut?

Tim Hortons Café and Bake Shop is offering a coupon for a free doughnut with the purchase of a beverage all day Tuesday in honor of election day.

Simply print the coupon from the Tim Hortons website (or see the coupon in this article).

7 a.m.: The polls are officially open.