UPDATES:

*Coonan defeats Davis in election

*Officials may forward police report to prosecutor as early as today for potential charges

*Commissioners condemn colleagues' clash

BAY CITY, MI — One of the most heated Bay County elections turned violent this morning when two sitting county commissioners — forced to campaign against each other because of redistricting — came to blows outside of a church polling location in Bay City.

Both candidates are telling different stories: One says it was largely “a shoving match” while the other is seeking medical attention, a lawsuit and a restraining order after alleging he was the target of a death threat.

Kim Coonan, a Democrat who has held the 6th District seat since 2002, is squaring off against Republican Joe Davis, the 4th District's second-year representative, during today’s Tuesday, Nov. 6 election.

Here’s what both sides agree happened about 7:30 a.m. at Our Lady of The Visitation Parish, 1106 State St. in Bay City: An altercation between the candidates took place after Coonan took down Davis campaign signs on the church property.

The severity of that altercation depends on who is recalling it.

Davis claims he was beaten to the ground after approaching Coonan, who allegedly threatened to kill Davis.

Coonan denies he threatened to kill anyone, and instead says he was simply defending himself. Coonan said Davis charged at him, striking him once before a “shoving match” ensued, followed by Coonan landing a backhand on Davis.

Coonan called Davis “a (expletive) low-life” and “a documented liar.”

“(Davis) came flying out of his car,” said Coonan, who serves as chairman of the Bay County Board of Commissioners.

“He slams on his brakes, and next thing, I see a 400-pound Twinkie come flying at me,” said Coonan, referring to Davis as the Twinkie. “These Republicans will do anything to win a race.”

Davis and a friend, Bangor Township Trustee Neil Froncek, say the scuffle began after Froncek and Coonan argued over the placement of Davis’ political signs on the church property.

“Then I pulled into the parking lot and said, ‘Hey, knock it off,’” Davis said. “Then (Coonan) said, ‘I could kill you, you son of a (expletive).' He started slapping me.”

Froncek said Coonan “basically beat (Davis) to the ground.”

“I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s going to kill him,’” said Froncek, a Democrat like Coonan.

The conflict ended but the story continues, Davis said.

Davis said he’s already lodged a report with the Bay City Police, contacted the Bay County Prosecutor’s Office about filing charges, and plans to seek a restraining order against Coonan, who often sits less than 5 feet away from Davis at County Board meetings.

Coonan this morning said his jaw may be swollen from the fight.

Davis, meanwhile, said he planned to visit the McLaren-Bay Region RediMed on Euclid Avenue to treat a split lip, strained back and hip, along with a headache.

“There’s no excuse for this behavior,” Davis said. “He’s turning into a real (expletive) and showing his true colors.”

The two tussled politically last month when Coonan spoke out at a County Board meeting — where he questioned whether Davis was campaigning or sitting at home "eating Twinkies" — about one of Davis' campaign pamphlets aimed at discrediting Coonan.

The document claimed, among other things, that Coonan has benefited from county-paid mileage reimbursements. Since then, Coonan presented The Bay City Times with an Oct. 18 document signed by Crystal Hebert, Bay County's finance officer, stating Coonan hadn't accepted mileage reimbursement in nearly a decade.

Davis then called Coonan a “crybaby” for speaking about the issue at a board meeting.