Kuhnke, Connors Elected to 22nd Circuit Court

Two nonpartisan countywide races for seats on the 22nd Circuit Court bench were on the Nov. 6 ballot, each for a six-year term. In a race with no incumbents, Carol Kuhnke won with 67,051 votes (54.14%), compared to 55,704 votes (44.98%) for Jim Fink. Kuhnke will be replacing judge Melinda Morris, who is retiring because of state-mandated age limits.

Incumbent Timothy Connors retained his seat, defeating challenger Michael Woodyard with 83,101 votes (75.66%) compared to Woodyard’s 25,432 votes (23.15%). Connors was first appointed to the 22nd Circuit Court in 1997 by then-Gov. John Engler, a Republican, to replace judge Karl Fink – the older brother of Jim Fink. In his three subsequent elections, Connors has been unopposed. Before making the circuit court appointment, Engler had appointed Connors in 1991 to a seat on the 15th District Court in Ann Arbor.

Kuhnke carried just seven out of 24 countywide jurisdictions, but had a large enough plurality in those areas to win. She carried Ann Arbor with 68.1% of the vote.

Connors carried every jurisdiction in the county with a minimum of 72% – the amount of votes he received in August and Northfield Townships.

According to documents filed with the state, Connors raised over $100,000 in campaign contributions. Woodyard’s campaign finance report shows contributions of $7,266.

Other local judicial races were on the ballot, but the incumbents were unopposed: Darlene O’Brien, probate court judge; Cedric Simpson, 14A District Court; and Joseph Burke, 15th District Court.

In the Michigan Supreme Court race, Bridget Mary McCormack – an Ann Arbor resident and University of Michigan law professor – is likely to win one of two contested judgeships for a full eight-year term, according to reports in the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press, and based on results posted on the Michigan Secretary of State’s website.