By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News

Silver Creek Township voters on Tuesday approved 127 yes to 81 no a one-mill police and fire millage proposal for five years, 2010-2014.

Approval of the levy provides an estimated $210,087 in 2010.

In Dowagiac’s school election, incumbent Larry Seurynck and newcomer Julia Smith received four-year terms on the Board of Education.

Smith had garnered 467, to 383 for Seurynck.

Dowagiac’s 18-mill non-homestead property millage renewal was leading 401 yes to 172 no with five of six precincts tallied.

The millage, which expired with the 2009 levy, means $4,525,263 to the district.

The second incumbent, William J. Lawrence, did not pursue re-election after three terms.

Seurynck, who operates Wood Fire Italian Trattoria, won his third term.

In 2006, Seurynck won re-election over Corinne Hoyt and the late Bill Harrington.

Smith, a Cassopolis graduate who lives on McKenzie Street, is the daughter of a teacher.

For the past five years she has been assistant judicial secretary to Cass County Circuit Judge Michael E. Dodge.

Serving on school board would be a “totally new experience,” she said after filing in February.

She has been attending board meetings, including Monday evening’s annual school improvement workshop.

She and her husband, Everett, Cass County Fair’s first Backyard Chef, have two children, one in high school and one in elementary school.

Julia has always been involved in schools at the PTO and committee level.

Now that she’s at the point where her kids are older, “I was encouraged to run,” she said.
“The schools are facing challenging times and, as a parent, I think I can help them work toward solutions. I’m very interested in schools.”

With all the manufacturing jobs lost locally and across Michigan, students need to be educated for jobs that will replace them, Smith said.

She was a church secretary for 10 years and obtained a medical assistant degree from Michiana College in South Bend, Ind., working in that field for 5 1/2 years.

She attended Southwestern Michigan College to study office administration before joining Circuit Court, where she assists Karen Moran.

In Edwardsburg, incumbents Michael Gordon and Douglas Hall also will continue on school board, with Gordon outpolling Hall, 384-372.

Edwardsburg voters faced a similar 18-mill request which in that district represents $1,594,604. It won, 350 yes to 103 no.

Marcellus Community Schools had two seats available, but only one candidate – Tim Henry, named on 336 ballots.

Marcellus voters appeared to be passing both proposals placed before them: I, leading 243 yes to 171 no with returns from two of three precincts, 1.25 mill for five years to raise $195,000 for building repair; and II, the non-homestead millage for $22,719.
Cassopolis had no school board positions decided May 4.