'I'll Keep Plugging Away on the School Board'

Novi school board president Dennis O'Connor lost his race Tuesday for city council with 3,294 of the votes. 

That is 645 votes fewer than Gwen Markham's results, who was ahead of him and secured her seat on city council. Councilman Justin Fischer, with 4,277 votes, and Councilman Andrew Mutch, with 4,078 votes, keep their seats. 

"I don’t think people will realize how difficult it is to battle two incumbents and one female candidate," O'Connor said. 

He said he's disappointed with his results, but — as campaign manager for Mayor Bob Gatt — he is proud of Novi voters' choice to re-elect their mayor.

"I'll keep plugging away on the school board," he said.

He said it was a chance to give voters the choice whether to have him on city council or the school board, to which he was re-elected last year.

"I guess Novi voters wanted to keep me on the school board for five more years," he said. 

O'Connor said the schools and the city need to work better together in the future. He wants the city to collaborate with neighboring school districts on all new economic development opportunities. Read more about him. 

See all of Tuesday's election results. The election results are unofficial until certified.