Scott Wirtz of Fenwick won a three-man race over Kenneth Thompson of Orleans and Chad Murphy of Orleans in Tuesday’s primary election for the Republican candidate for Ionia County Commissioner District 5. Wirtz won the election with 248 votes (47 percent) against 123 votes (23 percent) for Thompson and 115 (22 percent) for Murphy.

Tonda Rich of Belding successfully fended off challenger James Lower of Ionia in her bid to be the Republican candidate for Ionia County Clerk in Tuesday’s primary election. Rich finished with 2,457 of 4,543 total votes (54 percent) to win the election against Lower, and with no Democratic challenger, Rich’s re-election bid for another four years was secured as Tuesday night came to an end.

Ionia County Undersheriff Dale Miller of Lake Odessa successfully won Tuesday’s primary election against write-in candidate Curt Read of Fenwick, landing himself on the Republican ticket for the general election in November.

Results from contested elections and proposals for the Aug. 7, 2012, Primary Election.

Three challengers are hoping to win the open District 5 seat on the Ionia County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 7 primary election.

As Ionia County Sheriff Dwain Dennis prepares to step down from his post after 14 years, a pair of Republican candidates are squaring off in the Aug. 7 primary election. Dale Miller, 55, of Lake Odessa, and Curt Read, 61, of Fenwick, are each hoping to secure the Republican nomination for Ionia County sheriff. The winner will face off against Democrat Gordy Douglas of Orleans in the Nov. 6 general election.

Two candidates are competing for Ionia County drain commissioner in the Aug. 7 primary election. Incumbent John Bush, 68, of Belding, is seeking another term in office against challenger David Daniels, 44, of Lake Odessa. Both candidates are Republicans.

The position of Ionia County clerk will be decided between incumbent Ionia County Clerk Tonda Rich and current Ionia County Commissioner James Lower in the Aug. 7 primary election. Both candidates are running on the Republican ballot and with no candidate running on the Democratic ticket, the winner of the primary election will win the four-year term.

The Daily News provided questionnaires to candidates in Montcalm County and surrounding area for contested races only.

The election filing deadline has passed and the candidates are finalized for Ionia and Montcalm counties. The filing deadline was May 15 via the county clerk’s office.