Incumbents in, Russell likely out in Volo

Volo will have a new village president for the first time in its history and it appears that a familiar face will leave the board after serving 22 years.

With all five precincts reporting, unofficial totals showed village Trustee Stephen Henley leading the race for village president with 171 votes over challenger Zach Steffens with 148 votes. Burnell Russell, who has served as the only village president since the community was incorporated in 1993, did not run for re-election to that post, but instead ran for village trustee.

For trustee, incumbents Mike Wagner with 245 votes, Kurt Johnson with 229 votes and Dustin Heuser with 184 votes were ahead in the race for three seats on the village board. Russell was trailing with 132 votes, which apparently ends his long tenure with village government. The unofficial total did not include mail or early votes.

Henley will replace Russell, 86, who decided to not seek re-election as village president, saying it was time for a change.

The key issues for all the candidates was bringing Lake Michigan water to the village, as well as adding more retail to Volo to offset the cost of development.