COUNTY COMMISSION: McGuinness makes it to Democratic ballot in November as write-in

  Another write-in candidate earned enough votes to appear on the November ballot, Oakland County elections canvassers have determined.

  Oakland County Democratic Party Chairman Mike McGuinness will be on the Nov. 2 ballot against Oakland County Commissioner John Scott, R-Waterford, in District 5.
  McGuinness filed as a write-in for the August primary when no Democrats filed to run against Scott by last May's filing deadline.
  Under a complicated formula, McGuinness needed 113 write-in votes in the Aug. 3 primary to make it on the November ballot as a Democrat.
  He received 272, says Oakland County Director of Elections Joe Rozell.
  "He met the threshold," Rozell said. "He will appear on the November ballot."
  By comparison, Scott received 3,199 votes in the Aug. 3 Republican primary over challenger James McCarthy, who had 1,585 votes.
  The county commission district represents the eastern half of Waterford Township, Lake Angelus, Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake and the northern part of West Bloomfield Township.
  The addition of McGuinness to the November ballot means Democrats will be fielding a full slate of candidates for the 25 county commission seats up for election this year.
  There's currently a 12-12 split between Republicans and Democrats on the county commission with one vacancy created in June when Republican Jeff Potter died unexpectedly.
  In that seat, Republicans also had to file as write-ins for the Aug. 3 primary to make it on November's ballot under the GOP banner in the District 8 county commission seat.
  County canvassers determined last Thursday that Phillip J. Weipert of South Lyon will appear as the Republican candidate on the Nov. 2 ballot in the county commission district representing South Lyon, Lyon Township, Wixom, Walled Lake and part of Novi.
  The canvass shows Weipert had 1,580 votes to 812 for Patricia Sue Maida of South Lyon, 295 for Joseph E. Shigley of New Hudson, 281 for Frank Patrick Christopher of Walled Lake, 37 for Sean Walsh of Novi, and 16 for Adam Chalmers of South Lyon.
Weipert needed 296 write-in votes in order to appear on the November ballot as the Republican candidate.
He will face Democrat Michele Berry of Wixom, who had 1,298 votes in the uncontested Democratic primary.
Contact staff writer Charles Crumm at 248-745-4649, charlie.crumm@oakpress.com or follow him on Twitter @crummc. More election information is at 2010electioninoaklandcounty.blogspot.com.