The 2012 Bay County Executive election was held on November 6, 2012. Incumbent County Executive Thomas L. Hickner ran for re-election to a sixth term. He defeated Mark McFarlin, a perennial candidate, in the Democratic primary, by a wide margin. Hickner faced no opposition in the general election and was re-elected unopposed.
November 6, 2012
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Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Thomas L. Hickner, incumbent County Executive
- Mark McFarlin, private investigator, perennial candidate[1]
Campaign
editHickner ran for re-election to a sixth term as County Executive, citing his "experience and knowledge" in managing the county and his record of putting the county's finances in "excellent shape."[1] He pointed to the fact that he "balanced the budget every year with no increase in general fund tax rates, while maintaining a healthy 'rainy day' fund."[2] He was challenged by Mark McFarlin, who was the 2004 Republican nominee for County Executive and a 2008 Democratic candidate. McFarlin attacked Hickner as a "tax-and-spend liberal," arguing that county government salaries needed to be frozen and taxes needed to be dramatically cut "to stimulate growth in the commercial sector and provide needed employment."[1] He criticized the County Commission as "reckless and undemocratic," and Hickner for "fail[ing] to hold the County Commission in check."[2] Despite the sharp differences between the candidates, neither candidate raised or spent significant campaign funds, though Hickner raised significantly more than McFarlin.[3]
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Thomas L. Hickner (inc.) | 8,114 | 67.01% | |
| Democratic | Mark McFarlin | 3,971 | 32.80% | |
| Democratic | Write-ins | 23 | 0.19% | |
| Total votes | 12,108 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNo candidates filed for the Republican nomination.
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Write-ins | 182 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 182 | 100.00% | ||
General election
editResults
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Thomas L. Hickner (inc.) | 38,426 | 98.49% | |
| Write-in | 591 | 1.51% | ||
| Total votes | 39,017 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
edit- 1 2 3 Bellor, Beth (July 29, 2012). "Bay County executive faces familiar opponent". The Bay City Times. Bay City, Michigan. p. A4. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- 1 2 Martin, Robert E. (July 26, 2012). "CANDIDATE FORUM: Mark McFarlin Takes on Thomas Hickner for the Position of Bay County Executive". Review Magazine. Saginaw, Michigan. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- ↑ Bellor, Beth (July 26, 2012). "Bay County Executive campaign not a high-spending affair, according to finance reports". MLive. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- 1 2 "August 7, 2012 Primary Election" (PDF). Bay County Clerk. August 16, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- ↑ "November 6, 2012 General Election" (PDF). Bay County Clerk. 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2025.