Primary Brings Mixed Results - Some Surprises

Two groups of races and one specific race had the attention of most voters and observers as Tuesday’s Primary election results streaming across the bottom of televisions throughout the state: U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan House of Representatives, and the Republican U.S. Senate races.

U.S. Senate

Former U.S. Congressman Peter Hoekstra handed Cornerstone Schools’ President Clark Durant a significant defeat Tuesday, taking 54 percent of the vote. Mr. Hoekstra’s prize: the chance to run against incumbent U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing). Mr. Durant managed 34 percent of the vote. Randy Hekman, the former Kent County Probate Judge, took 7 percent and Gary Glenn, the conservative activist who suspended his campaign in favor of Mr. Durant, received 5 percent.

U.S. House of Representatives

The competitive primaries for the right to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in November received a lot of attention – none more than the GOP Primary in the 11^th District, a seat vacated by the resignation of former U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter. Mr. McCotter’s resignation left only one name on the GOP ticket – that of Kerry Bentivolio, the ultra conservative teacher and reindeer farmer. This prompted Republican leadership to mount the unlikely write-in campaign of former State Senator Nancy Cassis. Ms. Bentivolio was successful, taking a significant 66-percent of the vote, and winning a chance to run against Democratic nominee Syed Taj this November.

In the newly drawn 14^th District, two incumbent U.S. Congressman, Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills) and Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit) squared off against two additional candidates, Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence and former State Representative Mary Waters, for the Democratic nod. Mr. Peters ran away with the election, managing 47-percent of the vote to Mr. Clarke’s 35-percent. Ms. Waters and Ms. Lawrence registered with 3 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

The second longest serving member of the U.S. House, Congressman John Conyers (D-Detroit), will be on the November ballot and very likely return to Washington following his victory in the crowded Democratic primary for the newly drawn 13^th district. With roughly 57-percent of the vote, Mr. Conyers held off challenges from State Senator Glenn Anderson (D-Westland), State Representative Shanelle Jackson (D-Detroit) and State Senator Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park), who obtained 15, 13 and 11 percent of the vote, respectively.

In the only other potentially competitive primary, current judge and former State Representative Steve Pestka won the Democratic nod in the 3^rd House District over Trevor Thomas for the chance to run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (R-Cascade Township) in November. Finally, perpetual candidate and former State Representative Jack Hoogendyk failed again in his latest attempt to challenge U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), as Mr. Upton cruised 66-34.

State House of Representatives

With competitive races in Democratic and Republican primaries for the Michigan House all over the state, PAAdvisory will highlight some of the more closely watched. First, those that saw incumbent members of the House facing-off:

· Representative Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit) defeated Representative Tim Bledsoe (D-Grosse Pointe) in the race of two incumbents for the new 2^nd House District Democratic nomination.

· Representative John Olumba (D-Detroit) defeated Representative Jimmy Womack (D-Detroit) in the race of two incumbents for the new 3^rd House District Democratic nomination.

· Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) defeated Representative Maureen Stapleton (D-Detroit) in the race of two incumbents for the new 6^th House District Democratic nomination.

· Representative Jon Switalski (D-Warren) defeated Representative Lesia Liss (D-Warren) in the race of two incumbents for the new 28^th House District Democratic nomination.

In those races where incumbent Representatives faced challenges, only one lost – embattled State Representative Kurt Damrow (R-Elkton) lost to Tuscola County Register of Deeds Dan Grimshaw.

Other incumbents that faced primary challenges and managed to hold onto their right to their respective party’s nomination for the November election include Representatives David Nathan (D-Detroit), Phil Cavanaugh (D-Redford Township), Paul Muxlow (R-Brown City), Andrew Lafontaine (R-Richmond), and Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City).

Those that were successful in some of the more competitive or otherwise interesting respective party primaries for open House seats include:

Pam Faris, wife of former Lt. Governor John Cherry, defeated Patrick Gleason by 26 votes in Genesee County.
Sam Singh defeated Susan Schmidt in the 69^th House District Democratic primary.
Former Representative Sarah Roberts of St. Claire Shores won her party’s nod in the 18^th District.
Former Democratic Senator Jim Berryman won the right to challenge incumbent State Representative Nancy Jenkins in the 57^th District.
Longtime legislative staffer and Ingham County Commissioner Andy Schor ran away with the Democratic Primary in the 68^th District beating Griffin Rivers.
Democratic CPA Sharon Gray beat former Representative Judy Nerat in the Democratic Primary to run against incumbent Rep. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) in the 108^th.
Walker Mayor and Meijer Foundation General Counsel, Rob VerHeulen won the GOP nod in the 74^th.
Tom Leonard defeated Kevin Kirk and Mike Trebesh in the 93^rd GOP Primary.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, August 10, 2012 11:16 AM
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Public Act 4 To Be Place On November Ballot, Suspended

With the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling last week that the referendum on the state’s emergency manager law (Public Act, or PA, 4) be certified and placed on the November ballot, the Board of State Canvassers met this Wednesday and did just that. The Board’s action makes the referendum Proposal 1 on this November’s ballot.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette believe that the suspension of PA 4 restores the previous emergency financial manager statute, PA 72 of 1990. Operating under this interpretation, the Local Emergency Financial Assistance Loan Board acted in-turn this week to reappoint those serving in emergency manager capacities under the new (former) law.

Emergency financial managers (EFM) were appointed to Benton Harbor, Ecorse, Flint and Pontiac. Only the EFM for Flint is a new face as Joseph Harris (Benton Harbor), Joyce Parker (Ecorse) and Louis Schimmel (Pontiac) were simply reappointed under the change in statute. The new EFM for Flint is Ed Kurtz who had served in the same capacity from 2002 – 2004. Michael Brown, who was serving under PA 4, cannot serve under PA 72 as he was once deputy mayor of Flint, prohibited under the prior law.

The three individuals serving as emergency managers for school districts under PA 4 were also reappointed under PA 72 – Detroit (Roy Roberts), Highland Park (Joyce Parker) and Muskegon Heights (Donald Weatherspoon).

posted by PAA Online , 11:15 AM
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AG Brings Criminal Charges On Four Former McCotter Staffers

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced criminal charges against four members of former U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter’s staff in connection with the petition scandal that resulted in Mr. McCotter’s removal from the August Primary ballot and, ultimately, his resignation from office.

Don Yowchuang, 33, of Farmington Hills, McCotter’s deputy district director, was charged with 10 counts of election fraud, one count of conspiracy and six counts of falsely signing a nominating petition. Paul Seewald, 47, of Livonia, McCotter’s district director, was charged with one count of conspiracy and nine counts of falsely signing. Mary Melissa Turnbull, 58, of Howell, a district representative, was charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of falsely signing. Lorianne O'Brady, 52, of Livonia, a former scheduler, was charged with five counts of falsely signing.

Although highly critical of Mr. McCotter himself, describing him as “asleep at the wheel,” charges were not brought against Mr. McCotter. The Attorney General stated that the evidence did not link Mr. McCotter to the fraudulent activity; however, that he would not hesitate to file additional charges if additional evidence became available.

posted by PAA Online , 11:14 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

DEQ Executive Staff Changes

Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant announced that former chief deputy treasurer Madhu Anderson will be the DEQ’s new policy director; Sarah Howes, House Speaker Jase Bolger’s former legislative aide will serve as the Department’s legislative liaison; Maggie Datema has been promoted to legislative affairs director and Jim Goodheart will be a senior policy advisor.

Schuette Seeks Removal of Detroit School Board Members

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has filed a motion in the Wayne County Circuit Court seeking an injunction prevent further action by the Detroit School Board and the removal of seven of the eleven Detroit School Board members. The School Board is reportedly seeking to unseat the state-appointed emergency financial manager and, because of the suspension of PA 4 (see related story), the authorities not involving the District’s finances have been restored to the Board.

House Fiscal Agency: Year-to-Date Revenues Up

Although third-quarter revenue was down nearly 2 percent from last fiscal year, overall year-to-date revenue is up 1.6 percent, or roughly $216 million from 2010-2011. Total year-to-date tax collections total $14.2 billion with the strongest increase (12.3 percent) coming in income tax.

Fireworks Law to Be Examined by Workgroup

A bipartisan workgroup has been developed to examine the new fireworks law in Michigan, specific to the new law’s impact after a season of implementation. The workgroup, which will include the new law’s original sponsor Representative Harold Haugh (D-Roseville), will also include House Regulatory Reform Committee Chair Representative Hugh Crawford (R-Novi), Representative David Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti), and Representative Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City).

posted by PAA Online , 11:10 AM
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