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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Prater to face Diaz in Nov.

By Sue Collins, Heritage Newspapers

PUBLISHED: August 7, 2008

Democrat Wesley Prater will meet Republican Owen Diaz in November in the race for county commissioner representing District 4, comprising Milan and the townships of York and Augusta, as well as portions of Ypsilanti Township.

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According to unofficial results, Prater had more than a 10 percent lead over William Cullen Riney and won more than double the votes than Rick Roe, both of Ypsilanti.

The seat is currently held by Rick's wife Karen Lovejoy Roe who was elected to the Democratic nod for Ypsilanti Township clerk. Rick Roe garnered a respectable amount of votes with 32.5 percent (1,096 votes), while Riney received 21.5 percent (727).

Prater is returning to run for the seat he held from 2001 to 2006 when he lost the election to Lovejoy Roe. She did not seek re-election in order to run for Ypsilanti Township clerk.

Prater was required to resign from his board position with the Washtenaw County Road Commission last month to run for the Board of Commissioners seat.

Tim Kilbarger of York Township was campaigning for Prater at the Milan Senior and Community Activity Center, where Washtenaw County residents were casting their votes.

"He helped me cut through the red tape and get to know the right people when I wanted to purchase a county property for my business," Kilbarger said.

"He didn't know me, but wanted to help promote small businesses and I really appreciated that. He's of retirement age and doesn't need this job. He must really want to do good things for people."

Steve Cummings of Milan voted Republican, but said he wished he could have cast a split ballot to support Prater.

Cummings was the last to vote in Milan, where more than 12 percent of registered voters showed up, reflecting a countywide trend of low voter participation.

Prater will meet Milan's former mayor, Diaz, in the general election, Nov. 4.

Staff Writer Sue G. Collins can be reached at 429-7380 or scollins@heritage.com.