McCann Seeks Recount

State Representative Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) announced Thursday that he will seek a recount following the state’s certification of the election results next week.

Representative McCann had run for the 20^th State Senate District against State Representative Margaret O’Brien (R-Portage). Representative McCann had a lead throughout the night in the 50-50 district, however, Representative O’Brien pulled ahead in the early hours of the morning and ended up winning by 60 votes. After the county canvass was complete, the margin decreased to 59 votes.

Representative McCann cited both the extraordinarily small margin and counting irregularities in his rationale for requesting the recount. More than 80,000 total votes were cast in the race. Additionally, one of the tabulators in a township malfunctioned when counting absentee ballots, resulting in the township clerk contacting the county clerk.

Representative O’Brien commented that the recount request is simply a part of a close election result.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, November 21, 2014 10:36 AM
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October Brings Slightly Lower Unemployment Numbers

The Department of Technology, Management and Budget released October unemployment numbers this week showing the jobless rate at the lowest point since early 2008 thanks to an increase in the number of people working. The rate dropped slightly in October to 7.1 percent from September’s 7.2 percent.

The October 2013 rate was 8.6 percent in Michigan.

Michigan’s total labor workforce grew to 4.738 million in October, 5,000 higher than September and 39,000 higher than October 2013, however, still more than 500,000 people shy of the employment numbers of 2000.

A few industries in Michigan saw employment increases. Professional and healthcare services had the biggest jump, adding 6,000 jobs. Retail services added 4,000 and manufacturing added 1,000.

posted by PAA Online , 10:35 AM
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Speaker-elect Cotter Makes Staffing Announcements

Speaker of the House-elect Representative Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant) made staff announcements this week for the Speaker’s office for January 2015.

Norm Saari, Chief of Staff to current House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) will remain Chief of Staff to Speaker Cotter. Neal Bishop, Representative Cotter’s current senior staff member, was named Deputy Chief of Staff.

Jeremy Hendges will serve as Speaker Cotter’s Legislative Director and Senior Strategy Coordinator, a role he has had for Speaker Bolger as well as then-House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer and former Senate Majority Floor Leader Alan Cropsey.

Lindsay Vogelsberg will be Deputy Legislative Director and Gideon D’Assandro will serve as Press Secretary for the new term.

posted by PAA Online , 10:35 AM
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Leadership Roles for Senate Democratic Caucus Decided

Senator Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield) will serve as ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee as well as Assistant Democratic Caucus Chair according to announcements made this week by Senate Minority Leader-elect Jim Ananich (D-Flint).

Senator Ananich also announced that Senator Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor) will be Associate Senate President Pro Tempore and Senator-elect David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) will be Democratic Caucus Chair.

Finally, Senator-elect Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D-East Lansing) and Senator Virgil Smith (D-Detroit) were appointed Caucus Whip and Assistant Caucus Whip, respectively.

posted by PAA Online , 10:34 AM
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Senate to Find New Home in Capitol View Building

Most Senate offices will be moving to what is currently known as the Capitol View Building on Allegan (West of Capitol Avenue) by the end of 2015 as confirmed by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) this week.

Senator Richardville has long maintained that renovating the current home for most Senate offices, the Farnum Building, was not a cost-effective initiative. Five bids were received resulting in four potential routes that were weighed on a 100-point scale of criteria such as price per square foot, etc.

Considerable changes are expected to the Capitol View Building, including a potential name change. After moving into the new offices, the Senate will then place the Farnum Building up for sale through the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. The Farnum Building has been home to the Senate offices since the State purchased it in 1978.

posted by PAA Online , 10:33 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

PAA Holiday Hours

In observation of Thanksgiving, Public Affairs Associates offices will be closing at Noon on Wednesday, November 26th and will re-open at 8:00AM on Monday, December 1st. The next edition of PAAdvisory will be Friday, December 5th. From everyone on the PAA Team, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Workman to Continue as Head of MSHDA

Acting Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Director Wayne Workman will stay in that position for another month as the Commission, chaired by Tom Saxton, will need until its January meeting to appoint a permanent Director. Mr. Workman agreed to serve as Acting Director under the understanding that he would be able to return to his role at the Department of Treasury upon the naming of a permanent Director.

Former Representative Carroll Newton Passes

Former State Representative Carroll Newton passed away on November 16. He was 96 years old. Newton was a Republican that represented Barry, Clinton, and Eaton Counties in the House from 1955 – 1964. He later served as Assistant Auditor General and Chief Deputy State Treasurer under Governor William Milliken. Newton and his wife Edith had five children.

Governor Unharmed in Minor Fender-bender

The State-owned vehicle transporting Governor Rick Snyder on Tuesday was rear-ended by another car in a minor accident near the U.S. 23 and M-59 interchange. The Governor and all other people were unharmed. While the driver of the vehicle that struck the Governor’s car was found at fault, road conditions were clearly a factor and there was no damage to the State-owned vehicle so no citation was issued.

House Policy Development Group Named

House Speaker-elect Representative Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant) announced the formation of the policy development workgroup this week that will be chaired by Representative Dan Lauwers (R-Brockway). Representatives Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-Alto), Joel Johnson (R-Clare), Brad Jacobsen (R-Oxford), and Representatives-elect Triston Cole (R-Mancelona) and Brett Roberts (R-Eaton Township) will also serve on the workgroup.

Secretary of the Senate’s Office to be Restructured

A spokesperson for the Senate Republicans confirmed this week that the Secretary of the Senate’s office will be restructured under new Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) in January. The business functions will be separated from the day-to-day operations and floor activities, as is the case in the House where the House Clerk’s office handles floor and committee operations while the House Business Office handles Human Resources and finances. Staffing decisions have not yet been announced.

posted by PAA Online , 10:32 AM
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