Proos retains senate seat

Support for State Sen. John Proos was evident not long after polls closed Tuesday, when preliminary figures came in greatly one-sided in favor of the Republican incumbent.

Proos, 44, defeated Democrat Bette Pierman to retain his spot in the 21st State Senate District for a second four-year term. Proos, a resident of St. Joseph in Berrien County, previously served six years as a state representative.

Proos and the 21st Senate District are a new look for St. Joseph County. Due to redistricting, the county is switching from the 16th district – and its link to Branch, Hillsdale and Lenawee counties – to the 21st district. St. Joseph, Cass and Berrien counties comprise the three-county district.

According to unofficial results Tuesday, Proos garnered 66 percent of the votes cast in St. Joseph County.