US Rep. Candice Miller Wins County Public Works Post

(CBS Detroit) Republican Candice Miller was expected by some political watchers to take a stab at the governor's office.

Instead she sought the unlikely job of Macomb County Drain Commissioner -- and the race turned into one of the nastiest battles of this election cycle.

In the end, she unseated Democrat Anthony Marrocco.

(credit: Office of U.S. Representative Candice Miller)

Miller, 62, has served in Congress since 2003, and was the former Michigan secretary of state, Macomb County treasurer and Harrison Township supervisor.

Marrocco has held his office for 24 years.

The race became so heated it reached the point where Marrocco accused Miller of getting "knocked up" in high school; accepting donations from billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, and voting to allow them to dump oil byproducts in Michigan's water.

For her part, Miller created a campaign ad that flashed "corruption," "harassment" and "abuse of power" over a photo of Marrocco. She accused him of having a romantic relationship with an aide who was later found shot.

They were fighting over a job that pays $111,540 a year.

The public works commissioner "oversees sewer systems, drain construction and maintenance, soil erosion and pollution controls, and anti-flooding measures. Whoever holds this office has the power to halt, or approve, residential subdivision planning and layout," according to MLive.

The site added: "All of that infrastructure fuels economic development and major construction projects. Currently, Macomb County, annually one of the fastest-growing counties in Michigan, features dozens of residential subdivisions in various degrees of completion, leaving Marrocco's office awash in influence."