Looks like three decades will be enough for Don Palmateer.

Palmateer, longtime Grant Township trustee, fell resoundingly short in his re-election bid, judging by unofficial results from Tuesday’s Republican primary.

Challenger Chester “Chet” Fitch grabbed 59 votes, or 84.3 percent of those cast in the township, while Palmateer received 10 votes, or 15.7 percent.

The unofficial results won’t be certified until Friday, after provisional ballots have been reviewed. If the results hold up, Fitch would be unopposed in the general election.

Fitch, the incumbent township treasurer, ran an aggressive campaign by asserting that he wanted to improve road-maintenance services. The township has an annual budget of about $160,000, virtually all of it dedicated to caring for the 26 miles of gravel roads in the township north of Lawrence

Fitch also wants to create an advisory board to oversee and manage the Grant Township Community Building, formerly Grant School.

Fitch is an owner and manager of rental properties in Lawrence.

“I just think it’s a time for a change of leadership,” Fitch said last week. “Don deserves a lot of credit for persevering for so many years, but … I want to see better roads in the community.

“I feel like I either need to be off the board or run for trustee, because they need more attention. Something needs to change.”

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