Table
Set for Special Election in 27th Senate Seat
The special election to replace former State
Senator John Gleason, now Genesee County Clerk/Register of Deeds, is next
Tuesday and although there are 7 candidates in the race, it will likely come
down to State Representative Jim Ananich (D-Flint) and State Representative
Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) in the heavily Democratic seat. Unions have been
somewhat split in their endorsements.
Dem
Polling Continues to Show Snyder Down to Potential Challengers
Democratic firm Public Policy Polling
released yet another poll this week showing Governor Rick Snyder’s job approval
rating at 37 percent and disapproval numbers at 54 percent. Further, the poll
showed the Governor trailing three potential Democratic challengers Lansing
Mayor Virg Bernero, U.S. Congressman Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield) and former U.S.
Congressman Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek) by anywhere from 4 to 7 percent.
Same-sex
Marriage Decision On-Hold
With the United States Supreme Court set to
decide this year on the constitutionality of state-level same-sex marriage
statutes, a Federal Judge in Detroit decided this week that he would await the
higher Court’s decision. U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Friedman stated his
hope that the Supreme Court’s decision, expected in June, would provide his
Court with direction.
January
Unemployment Holds Steady
The state’s unemployment rate held steady at
8.9 percent for the month of January, although overall employment did increase
by 4,000 to 4.227 million. The unemployment rate two years prior in January of
2011 was 11 percent. The news was even better in the state’s largest labor
market, the Detroit-Warren-Livonia statistical area, where unemployment dropped
from 10.7 to 10.6 percent with unemployment down by 2,000 and employment up by
4,000.
Former
Rep. John Maynard Passes
Former State Representative John Maynard
passed away last October 30th although his death became known to the
House of Representatives and most Lansing circles only recently. He served in
the House from 1975 until 1990 representing St. Claire Shores. He served in the
Korean War and on the St. Clair Shores City Council prior to his election to
the House, and even tried to make a comeback in recent years, running for the
House against former Representative Frank Accavitti and current Representative
Sarah Roberts (D-St. Claire Shores).