Former Mayor and State Rep Jack Kirksey led the way, defeating Governor Grahnholm's personal friend Maureen Miller Brosnan.  They're actually more than friends.  Brosnan has worked as a Granholm campaign spokesperson and a political appointee to MDOT.  

According to the good folks with the Wayne 11 GOP, Kirksey's effort was supported by a strong television, direct mail, phone bank, and election day GOTV effort with a surprising amount of grassroots volunteers.  It looks like Kirksey successfully tied Brosnan to Gov. Granholm and the unpopular tax increases passed by Michigan Democrats.  

And it looks like businessman Dennis Wright, in his first run for elected office, defeated former city councilman and 2006 Democratic State Rep Candidate Brian Duggan by racking up 65% of the vote.  Duggan lost to State Rep John Pastor by the same margin last year.  

Former State Senator Laura Toy led all candidates in the City Council race, and will be President of the Livonia City Council.  Three GOP backed incumbents were re-elected to the council, surviving a challenge by Democrat and UAW backed trial lawyer Eric Stempian.

There were votes for "change" all over the board.  You can check out results close to you by checking out one of these links:

Lansing area results

West Michigan area results

Wayne County results

Oakland County results

Macomb County results

Livingston County results

Should also give a quick shout to Thomas Gagne who came up a little short in his Mayoral campaign in Ferndale.  He ran one heck of a race and almost pulled off a monster upset.  

I spoke with him earlier this week to gauge his feelings and his plans and he and his wife are going to take some well deserved R & R the next few days but then he'll be back on his blog reminding us that Everyone Takes Their Turn.