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Polling-place signs at Waterford Oaks County Park. (Peg McNichol\/MediaNews Group)<\/p>\nPolls are open until 8 p.m. today for local elections in many Oakland County communities that ask voters to decide everything from vacating a street to changing a city charter, with bond and millage issues in between.<\/p>\n
In Pontiac, more campaign volunteers stood outside Pontiac High School than the trickle of voters heading into the building to cast a ballot.<\/p>\n
Polling-place signs at Waterford Oaks County Park. (Peg McNichol\/MediaNews Group)<\/p>\n
Councilman William Carrington, the only council member running unopposed for reelection, stood at a table piled with campaign literature, disposable cups and containers of free coffee, encouraging people to vote. He said he\u2019d heard that nearly 5,000 people had cast ballots during early voting for the mayoral and council seats as well as the library board and Pontiac School District\u2019s request for a renew of a five-year 0.79 millage that, if approved, would generate an estimated $3.1 million in its first year.<\/p>\n
At Waterford Oaks County Park, where more than 800 District 10 voters had the Pontiac School District millage question to decide, only one voter had cast a ballot by 8:30 a.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks like it\u2019s gonna be a long day,\u201d said one poll worker.<\/p>\n
Jon Badarak, 46, took his daughter Dottie, 8, to the polls in South Lyon to cast his ballot. He showed her his ballot, explaining that the mayor and three city council members were on the ballot.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it was gonna be quiet because there\u2019s nothing perceived as important or big on the ballot,\u201d he said, adding that as a father of two \u2014 Dottie is in 3rd grade and another daughter is in middle school \u2014 it\u2019s important to vote for the $350 million school bond proposal. Officials say the money is needed to make critical building repairs and expand the Early Childhood Center. District officials said this bond will not cause a tax increase for residents.<\/p>\n
Badarak explained the bond to his daughter by listing some of the improvements that will be funded, such as playground equipment. He has voted in elections since he turned 18.<\/p>\n
\u201cHad the school part not been relevant, the candidates should have been,\u201d he said, adding that he didn\u2019t vote for the candidates this time because they were uncontested.<\/p>\n
For details on elections in your community, see theoaklandpress.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n This story will be updated as the day progresses.<\/p>\n