Dead Candidate Could Win Popular Vote in Macomb Race

It’s possible that a dead man may win the popular vote in a Republican primary race for a seat on the Macomb County Commissioner, but the votes won’t be tallied.

Joe Peters, 55, of Warren was found dead inside his St. Clair Shores ice cream store Saturday, the Detroit Free Press reports. He was seeking the GOP nomination for the 1st District seat currently held by Toni Moceri, who is not seeking re-election.

Foul play is not suspected, St. Clair Shores police said.

Peters’ death occurred too late to remove his name from the Aug. 5 primary ballot, but votes for him won’t be tallied. Unless there’s a write-in campaign, the GOP nod will go to Joseph Kozar of Warren.

Early voters who may have voted for Peters on an absentee ballot may go to their city clerk offices and have their ballot declared a “spoiled ballot,” and cast a replacement  ballot, Roger Cardamone, Macomb County chief elections clerk, told The Macomb Daily.

Three Democrats also want to represent the 1st District – Bill Barnwell, Andrew Duzyj and Jeremy Fisher – in a race The Macomb Daily said is the hottest of the 13 county commissioner primary races on the ballot.

In June, another GOP candidate, Mark Czerwinski, 26, of Harrison Township, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was seeking the 10th District seat that includes Harrison Township and part of St. Clair Shores.

An autopsy was performed to determine how Peters died, but results won’t be available for several weeks. St. Clair Shores police said initial indications are that he either died of natural causes or due to an accident.

“He was in absolute, perfect health,” Dean Berry a friend and political ally, told The Macomb Daily.