With 2010 not even a month old, there have been numerous candidacy filings. Listed below are the candidates in the past month. If you want to see the database with all candidates who have currently filed, please contact me at peterbratt@gmail.com.
State Senate
District 7 (Status: Swing)
This district has seen four candidates emerge, and one depart. Democratic State Representative Marc Corriveau (1/13/2010) and former Democratic Representative Kathleen Law (1/16/2010) have both filed to seek the Democratic nomination.
With Corriveau's entrance into the race former Republican Representative John Stewart (who is running as a Democrat) has departed from the race. Corriveau is an extremely effective legislator who has a reputation for winning tough elections, winning election in 2006 in seat that was thought to be a safe Republican district, although Law might prove to be stiff competition in the a Democratic primary.
Facing either Corriveau or Law will be Republicans Colleen McDonald (1/7/2010) or Abe Munfakh (12/28/2010). Munfakh currently serves as a Trustee on Plymouth Township Board, while judging from Colleen McDonald's twitter feed, she had worked for an auto dealership for 26 years before it was forced to close.
District 10 (Status: Leans Democratic)
This Macomb County district covering Sterling Heights, Utica, Clinton Township, and Roseville has attracted its second candidate to replace term-limited Democratic Senator Michael Switalski (who is seemingly challenging US Representative Sander Levin in the 10th District). As noted by the Macomb Daily News, former Macomb County Prosecutor Carl Marlinga (1/4/2010), has filed for the Democratic primary and immediately became the Democratic front-runner for the seat.
Marlinga will face Macomb County Commissioner Paul Gieleghem, in the Democratic primary. No Republican has yet filed for this seat.
Thanks to a large number of news stories and candidates filing to run as your elected officials in 2010, here is an update bought to you by Festivus.
State Senate:
District 10 (Status: Leans Democratic)
This Macomb County district covering Sterling Heights, Utica, Clinton Township, and Roseville has attracted a candidate to replace term-limited Democratic Senator Michael Switalski (who is seemingly challenging US Representative Sander Levin in the 10th District). Paul Gieleghem (12/14/2009), currently is chairman of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners and represents District 19 (covering Central Township), has filed for the Democratic primary. Gieleghem, who served in the Michigan House from 1999 to 2005, might see some competition in the Democratic primary, including Representative Fred Miller and former Representative Frank Accavitti. No Republicans have yet filled for this seat, although Representative Tory Rocca and former Representative Sal Rocca might consider this race. Representative Kim Metlzer, another potential Republican candidate, chose to move from this district into the friendlier Republican territory of the 11th District (which shows you how strongly the GOP thinks they can win this seat).
With the last month of 2009 upon us, it is time to take stock at recent candidate filings for the State House and State Senate. It will be interesting to see the financial numbers released by campaigns once 2010 begins, but for now we'll have to do with rumors and potential candidacies.
State Senate
District 18 (Status: Safe Democratic)
As long suspected by many, State Representative Pam Byrnes has filed to run for the 18th State Senate District (11/25/2009). Byrnes' entrance into the race creates a primary between her and fellow Representative Rebekah Warren. This race has been covered ably by the Ann Arbor Chronicle. While this will be a primary to watch, the winner will be heavily favored in the November election in this safe Democratic district. While Ann Arbor locals might have a better idea of the current odds on favorite for this race, my guess is that Byrnes strong support of Andy Dillon's agenda will throw organized labor into Warren's camp, a sure plus in a heavily Democratic district.
District 29 (Status: Swing)
While Hildenbrand's entrance (11/10/2009) into the 29th District (Grand Rapids and Kentwood) race was covered earlier, another recent story in the Grand Rapids Press provides further details on the race.
No other Republican candidates have announced, although perennial Republican candidate Dan Tietema might run in the GOP primary. While at the moment no Democratic candidates have filed, State Representative Robert Dean has announced to supporters that he will run, while Grand Rapids City Commissioner David LaGrand and former State Representative Michael Sak are other potential Democratic candidates. Regardless of whether Sak enters the race, I consider LaGrand to be the front-runner in the Democratic primary.
District 30 (Status: Safe Republican)
This safe Republican seat covering Ottawa County is being vacated by Senator Wayne Kuipers, and as expected, State Representative Arlan Meekhof has filed to replace him (11/23/2009). No word yet on potential GOP rivals, although Bill Huizinga might consider leaving the 2nd Congressional District GOP primary to run for this seat. No Democratic candidates have yet surfaced.
District 31 (Status: Swing)
State Representative Jeff Mayes (96th District covering part of Bay County) has filed to replace Jim Barcia, who is term-limited from running for this district covering Arenac, Bay, Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola Counties (11/20/2009). Mayes filing is covered in the Bay City News. While this is a swing seat, Mayes does not yet face Democratic or Republican opposition. It is expected that former Republican Representatives Steve Ehardt and Mike Green will run for the seat.
Tenthers are people who basically think that the Tenth Amendment renders everything the federal government does unconstitutional. They also conveniently chose to ignore over two hundred years of court decisions where the relationship between the states and the federal government has been shaped.
These efforts are all part of a movement whose members are convinced that the 10th Amendment of the Constitution prohibits spending programs and regulations disfavored by conservatives. Indeed, while "birther" conspiracy theorists dominate the airwaves with tales of a mystical Kenyan baby smuggled into Hawaii just days after his birth, these "tenther" constitutionalists offer a theory that is no less radical but infinitely more dangerous.
Tentherism, in a nutshell, proclaims that New Deal-era reformers led an unlawful coup against the "True Constitution," exploiting Depression-born desperation to expand the federal government's powers beyond recognition. Under the tenther constitution, Barack Obama's health-care reform is forbidden, as is Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. The federal minimum wage is a crime against state sovereignty; the federal ban on workplace discrimination and whites-only lunch counters is an unlawful encroachment on local businesses.
The emphasis is mine.
He concludes:
After years of raging against mythical judges who "legislate from the bench," tenther conservatives now demand a constitution that will not let anyone legislate at all.
Nationally prominent "Tenthers" include Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Senator Jim DeMint (R-NC), Governor Rick Perry (R-TX) and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Clarence Thomas. Now that's some mighty fine company for State Senator and State Attorney General hopeful Patterson.
Tim Skubick blogged a bit on how the state legislature is once again taking time off, despite the fact that they have serious work to do in Lansing.
This vacation/really-bad-timing combo is nothing new. Remember last July, when we were headed for a shutdown, and the Gov asked the legislature to work on the budget?
"Just because they're not on the Senate floor doesn't mean they're not working," said Bishop's spokesman, Matt Marsden. "They are in their districts, they are doing things for their constituencies."
"There are times when the Legislature actually takes time off from the legislative portion of our work, and we go back to the district and do what we do best, which is represent the people we're elected by."
(Those "times" are Monday and Friday of each week, but, details)
In fact, it was that November diary in which Wizardkitten asked Santa to bring Mike Bishop a new set of excuses for his 2008 vacations.
"I don't look at this as a hunting break for legislators. Most members have used the opportunity to go back to the district" and meet with citizens.
Keep in mind, Bishop's the guy who is always claiming that we need to run our government like it's a business. He even went so far as to refer to the Gov as "the CEO of the company."
Does anyone else wonder if Bishop has an Inigo Montoya following him around? "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
Business is all about productivity, and Bishop's Senate ain't got none. In fact, "Do Nothing Bishop" is sooo Do Nothing that there was a press conference in which Bishop's Senate was declared "The Do Nothing Senate." There were charts and everything.
Let me put it this way --
My boss - "Where are you going?"
Me - "I'll be meeting with my clients, to see what they need."
My boss - "But you haven't gotten anything done."
Me - "I'll be meeting with my clients, to see what they need."
My boss - "They need you to do your work."
Me - "I will be working. I will be meeting with them to see what they need."
My boss - "There is a crisis looming."
Me - "I'd better go meet with them now!"
That's not good business, it's not good customer/constituent service, and it's not good leadership.
For more about why Bishop's "run government like a business" is a big fat lie, click here.
And check out our old "Working For A Living" series here.
The State Senate will be meeting tomorrow in the Homeland Security & Emerging Technology Committee to finally pass Sudan Divestment!
Call or e-mail the Senate committee members to make them do the right thing and vote YES!
Suggested script: "As a concerned constituent, I would like to ask Senator_______________ to vote YES on House Bill 4854 to help save the people of Darfur at no cost to us!"
Committee Members:
Senator Cameron Brown (Chair), (517) 373-5932
SenCBrown@senate.michigan.gov
(State Senator Irma Clark-Coleman served two terms in the State House of Representatives, before being elected to the State Senate in 2002. As a result of her many years of educational experience, she was appointed to the National Education Commission in 2004.
The Senator represents District 3, which is entirely in Wayne County. Welcome to BFM, Senator! - promoted by Christine)
A new school year will begin in less than one month, and we will have again missed an opportunity to give many Michigan children the start to their educations they need and deserve. Believe it or not, Michigan still does not require children to attend kindergarten. For years, I have worked to increase this access and have again introduced SB 162, which would make full-day kindergarten mandatory for all Michigan children. And what better time than as we await fall school opening and a budget agreement?
August is "Get Ready for Kindergarten" Month. Part of preparing children to learn in kindergarten is ensuring that every child has access to this proven and necessary component of early development. In fact, experts agree, children achieve far more success in grade school and beyond if they attend full-day kindergarten. If we are serious about creating a well-trained and educated workforce to move our state and our economy forward, we must start at the beginning.
Ever since the 1930s, kindergarten has been delivered as primarily a half-day program. Parents had the option of sending their children or not. But education has made some pretty great strides in the past 70+ years, and part of that progress includes recognizing the value of full-day mandatory kindergarten. Years of research have shown that full-day kindergarten gives children an academic, social and developmental edge over their half-day counterparts.
