2012 Bay County Executive election|
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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.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Thomas L. Hickner, incumbent County Executive
- Mark McFarlin, private investigator, perennial candidate[1]
Campaign
Hickner 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
Democratic primary results[4]
| 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
Candidates
No candidates filed for the Republican nomination.
Results
Republican primary results[4]
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Republican |
Write-ins |
182 |
100.00% |
| Total votes |
182 |
100.00% |
References
- Bellor, Beth (July 29, 2012). "Bay County executive faces familiar opponent". The Bay City Times. Bay City, Michigan. p. A4. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- 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.
- "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. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 8, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2026.
