Local Elections See Officials Recalled, Millages Passed

Voters throughout Michigan voted to recall local elected officials Tuesday night for a variety of reasons while largely passing service and infrastructure-related millages.

Officials, mostly township and municipal-level, in Montmorency, Tuscola, Washtenaw and Eaton counties were recalled by voters for actions such as increasing water and sewer rates and spending money on items such as buildings and legal fees without notice. Some pundits point to Tuesday’s election as a sign of voter discontent with incumbents.

Meanwhile, throughout the state voters approved local millages for libraries, roads, and public safety expenditures such as fire and police. In an interesting distinction, those millages related to schools; however, were not so fortunate. No less than five large, multi-year school requests failed in areas like Mecosta, Wyoming and Macomb County.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, August 5, 2011 10:35 AM
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Recall Efforts Continue – Gain GOP Flavor

Recall organizers have announced their intentions on delivering signatures to the Michigan Department of State for today’s deadline, seeking recall election against State Representatives Paul Scott (R- Grand Blanc) and Nancy Jenkins (R-Clayton). Today is the deadline for recall efforts to be on the November 2011 ballot.

Recall language was recently approved by local election commissions in efforts to recall State Senator Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) and State Representatives Gail Haines (R-Waterford), Bradford Jacobsen (R-Oxford) and Mike Shirkey (R-Jackson).

In related news, the Michigan Republican Party has communicated intentions to begin recall efforts against Democratic legislators, under the direction of former MRP Executive Director Stu Sandler. Republicans will evidently target the February 2012 election – a strategy banking on the potential of high Republican turnout for the Presidential Primary.

While no language has been approved and, therefore, no signatures can be collected, language has been filed in an effort to recall State Senator Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) and Representatives Dian Slavens (D-Canton Township) and Charles Brunner (D-Bay City). Clarity hearings have been scheduled for the language in regards to Sen. Warren and Rep. Slavens.

posted by PAA Online , 10:35 AM
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Debt Ceiling Vote Splits Michigan Delegation

The much anticipated solution to the Federal debt ceiling crisis finally came to a conclusion this week as a compromise to raise the ceiling and slash federal spending was addressed in Washington.

The 269 – 161 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives significantly divided Republican and Democrats, and Michigan’s U.S. House Delegation was no exception.

Congressmen John Dingell (D-Dearborn), Dale Kildee (D-Flint), and Sander Levin (D-Southfield) supported the measure, while fellow Democrats U.S. Representatives Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit), John Conyers, Jr. (D-Detroit), and Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) voted no.

The Republican members from Michigan were a bit more united, with only one member opposing the plan, U.S. Representative Justin Amash (R-Kentwood). The other eight Republicans, U.S. Representatives Dan Benishek (R-Crystal Falls), David Camp (R-Midland), Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland), Thad McCotter (R-Livonia), Candice Miller (R-Harrison Township), Mike Rogers (R-Brighton), Fred Upton (R-St. Joe), and Tim Walberg (R-Tipton), all supported the measure.

Both U.S. Senators from Michigan, Carl Levin (D-Detroit) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) voted yes on the compromise.

posted by PAA Online , 10:34 AM
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Staff Changes In Senate Majority Leader’s Office

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) announced that former State Senator Tony Stamas will serve as his new Chief of Staff, replacing Matt Hanley. Mr. Stamas had most recently served as Legislative Liaison for the Department of Community Health, having served in the Senate from 2003 – 1010 and the State House of Representatives from 1999 – 2002.

Jamie Clover-Adams, currently Policy Director for the Senate Republican Caucus, was named Deputy Chief of Staff replacing Scott Bean who will now become Director of Senate Majority Communications.

The current Director of Senate Majority Communications, Terry Marquardt, has been named Director of Caucus Services and Matt Marsden will be Director of Strategy for the Majority Communications office.

posted by PAA Online , 10:33 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

nyder Recall Efforts Fall Short of November Ballot

Needing more than 800,000 signatures by today to put a recall of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on the November ballot, organizers of the effort fell far short, announcing earlier in the week that they had secured around 310,000 signatures. Organizers are setting their targets on the February 2012 election.

Republican Presidential Debate to be Held at Oakland University

The Michigan Republican Party and CNBC will co-sponsor a Republican Presidential candidate debate on the Rochester campus the evening of November 9, 2011. The debate will be televised on CNBC.

Hollins to Head Office of Urban and Metropolitan Initiatives

Wayne State University Vice President Harvey Hollins III was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder as head of the Governor’s Office on Urban and Metropolitan Initiatives. Mr. Hollins had served as a government relations official for Michigan’s AARP office prior to joining Wayne State in 2006.

Glenn Announces Senate Bid – Steele Out

American Family Association of Michigan head Gary Glenn has announced his intentions of seeking the Republican nomination for United States Senate to challenge incumbent Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), while Dr. Rob Steele, who last ran against U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn) in 2010, announced he would not run. In related news, former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land announced her endorsement of former U.S. Representative Peter Hoekstra’s efforts in the same race for the GOP bid.

posted by PAA Online , 10:33 AM
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