The deadline
to file for a campaign has passed, and shows close races between Republicans
and Democrats. Democrats are looking to pick up the nine seats needed to
establish a majority in the House of Representatives.
Democrats
have filed in the competitive 39th and 41st House
District against current Representatives Klint Kesto (R-Commerce Township) and
Martin Howrylak (R-Troy), respectively. Mike Stack, a Wolverine Lake city
councilmember, is facing Representative Kesto. Mr. Stack is active in local
community groups and has served on the council for 10 years, but has said he is
not active in local Democratic politics. Cyndi Peltonen is running against
Representative Howrylak in the 41st. Ms. Peltonen is a former
Clawson school board member.
Filed in the
62nd is Representative John Bizon (R-Battle Creek) seeking
re-election for his second term. The 62nd has traditionally leaned
Democratic, but Republicans are confident Representative Bizon’s ability to
work the district will ensure his reelection.
Vulnerable
Republican incumbents include the 56th House District with
Representative Jason Sheppard (R-Temperance), Representative Tom Barrett
(R-Potterville) in the 71st House District and Representative Holly
Hughes (R-White River Township) in the 91st. Former Representative
Collene Lamonte of Montague will be challenging Representative Hughes, but
Representative Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) believes she is “too liberal” for the 91st.
Republicans
have a three-way primary in the 108th District, currently held by
term-limited Representative Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan). Candidate hopefuls include Alan
Arcand of Iron River, Beau LaFave of Iron Mountain and Darryl Shann of Bark
River. The Democratic nominee is likely to be Dickinson County Sheriff Scott
Celello.
Diane Farrington
is attempting to succeed her husband, Representative Jeff Farrington (R-Utica)
in the 30th House District. For the primary, Ms. Farrington faces
Michael Shallal of Shelby Township, who previously ran in 2010 and 2012.
The 106th
House District will see a four-way primary to replace Representative Peter
Pettalia (R-Presque Isle). Running is Cheboygan County Commissioner Sue Allor,
Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Jackie Krawczak, First Congressional
District Republican Committee Chair Jesse Osmer, and David Chandler of
Whittemore. The Democratic opponent is likely to be elementary school teacher
and Alpena Education Association president Erin Kieliszewski of Alpena.
In outgoing
Speaker Kevin Cotter’s (R-Mount Pleasant) district, two Republican candidates
have filed. Union Township Trustee Roger Hauck and realtor Robin Stressman will
run against each other for the primary, and will face off with the Democratic
winner between Democratic Union Township Trustee Bryan Mielke and Robert
Corbett.
Several
districts will see competitive races in the primary.