Niles Primary moves ahead incumbent McCauslin & challenger Skalla (General election will be Nov. 8, 2011)

from Local Niles reporter Lou Mumford coverage for SB Tribune (www.southbendtribune.com/ )

The stage was set for the Nov. 8 showdown on Tuesday, when McCauslin and Skalla easily defeated Bruce Leach, a retired city fire marshal and code enforcement officer, and write-in candidate Michael Squier in a nonpartisan primary. It was an election in which few bothered to vote, as unofficial totals revealed just 558 of the city’s roughly 8,900 voters - a little more than 6 percent - went to the polls.

McCauslin had 296 votes and Skalla 194. Leach was a distant third with 51 votes and Squier garnered 17.  Only the top two advance, so McCauslin and Skalla will meet in the general election.
At City Hall Tuesday night, McCauslin and Skalla both said they were disappointed with the turnout. Still, McCauslin didn’t overlook the fact he had come out on top.
“I’m excited. I congratulate everyone that participated,” he said. “Obviously, he (Skalla) did a very good job. I look forward to the opportunity to debate.”
http://www.southbendtribune.com/sbt-primary-in-niles-sees-slim-turnout-20110802,0,1520014.story