It's the home stretch for primaries

After a long and busy couple of weeks, it's time to update this blog.

There's a bunch of races going on, many of which aren't receiving the hype. Downticket

Over in the 93rd District, there's a contested primary with four people. I know two of them. Tom Leonard and Mike Trebesh. Trebesh doesn't impress me at all. That goes back from his time on 8th district committee and how he handled the treasury turnover. When your term is up on a committee and you're replaced, be a professional about it and act like a man. I've been on both ends of that in 06 and 08. When I was on the same end Trebesh was because people were concerned about my time commitments (in retrospect understandably so), I turned over the stuff properly, shook hands, and made sure it was a smooth transition. In the other case, I'll just say there's no way I'd ever vote for Trebesh for any office in a primary election. It's nothing to do with conservatism, but temper issues.

Tom Leonard on the other hand is a great guy who I worked with on the 8th District Committee. He's a true conservative, but more importantly, is a true conservative who gets things done and isn't offensive to independents. He won't sell out, nor will he be out-organized and caught looking in that increasingly difficult district. Leonard will win in November if he's the nominee. When Clinton County lead its comeback, Tom Leonard was chair. He'd have my vote if I lived there, easily.

Over in the 30th district covering part of Sterling Heights and Shelby Township, Michael Shallal is making another run for office. I knew Michael from the campaign trail in 2010. He's principled, conservative, and a good guy with high character. He'd have my vote.

Over in the 65th District, Mike Shirkey's primary challenger supported Obama in 2008. Dan Fulara needs to be stomped in the primary for being a RINO supporting the far left and incompetent Peter Principle in Chief, and then claiming to be a Republican.

If I was in the 11th Congressional district, I'd be rewarding the person who actually got out and did the proper work to get on the ballot. Kerry Bentivolio. Some friends of mine aren't going to like hearing this, but the fact that the incumbent is no longer on the ballot doesn't mean that you go out and try and get a somewhat do-over. Back who you want in the primary, but don't try and create a coronation from the party, especially in a near-suicide mission. What are you going to do when Bentivolio more than likely wins the primary? Just as establishment likes to tell the Tea Parties and Paulites to take one for the team when their people lose, it's time for the establishment to take one for the team here if Bentivolio wins.

Locally:

I grew up and first registered to vote in Genoa Township before later moving to Howell and later Green Oak where I currently live. My parents are still there and I still have a lot of close ties there to the point where if I ran for office countywide, it would likely be my best area. After some of the current gamesmanship by the incumbents there, including land use tricks, a wannabe new fake downtown plan at Dorr Road and Grand River, and a wannabe building department, it's time to send the incumbents home. They got too full of themselves. Genoa Township is what it is. It's not going to be the City of "West Brighton" or "East Howell." It shouldn't become that. In fact with Latson Road's development, you don't even need a new fake wannabe downtown at Dorr/Hughes Road. Interestingly, that spot they want for their faux downtown plans is owned by Laurex - aka Todd Smith, trustee on the board.

Kevin Spicher for Supervisor, Linda Rowell, Keli Woodall, and Bill Taylor for trustees. For the forth spot, I'd even vote for Dewey Thomas although I have some concerns there. There's too many yesman on the current board.

I still haven't decided in Green Oak. I'm probably voting for Kilpatrick and Edry, but I have to look into a few things. For County Commission, Jack's got my vote.

In Hamburg, Mike Zeglevski's running again for trustee. The Argus hates him, but I've always worked well with him on county matters. He's get my support if I was about two miles west.

For County Clerk - Margaret Dunleavy gets my vote again. I've dealt with the clerk's office there more times than I can count. They do good work.

For Treasurer - Brian Wutz. Much of the work is tax law related, and Wutz's background is the right fit for the position.

For Sheriff - Bob Bezotte, or to really get down to it, Mike Murphy.

Some of the other decisions I have made (and some I haven't) , but will be keeping quiet.

State House Redistricting - District 65 (HD-65)

State House - District 65
Current Rep - Mike Shirkey (R-Columbia Twp?)

Candidates:
GOP - Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake)
Dem -  Bonnie Johnson (D-Jackson)

Update 5-26-2012 - Shirkey has an easier district (slightly) than last time, but he's got a primary and general to contend with this time. I don't know much about the dems running here, but Shirkey's going to have to work. I know this and the 64th fairly well from my 2nd Amendment work. Nothing comes easy there for pols. It's a humbling independent district that reminds me of up north.  Keep an eye on this one. This and the 64th are bellwethers.

Update 7-15-2012 - I remembered that Dan Fulara is a RINO. My definition of RINO is not a liberal republican, but a democrat. Fulara supported Barack Obama in 2008. I hope Mike Shirkey whips his ass.

Update 8-30-2012 - Obama loving Fulara got taken out. He also had some campaign finance violations to take care of last I saw. Good riddance. Bonnie Johnson won the dems primary.

Old District (65th)
Mike Shirkey - 17,889
Janet D Rochefort - 10,405


Don't let the 2010 results fool you. This district in the heart of old free soil country flipped twice in the last decade. The district mirrors the old district with the exception of Eaton Township as new territory. It was an Obama district, but now a McCain one by 117 votes. The late Mike Simpson won with a much bigger margin than that for the dems when he was the rep. He was an exceptional candidate for the district which was held by a Republican before and after Simpson. If the dems find another Simpson type of candidate, they have a good chance. This is a populist person over party district I'm well familiar with. I expect a tough challenge here, like in the 64th district. Here, there are no strong anchors for the democrats outside arguably Leoni and Waterloo Townships. However if they do well in Leoni, Blackman, Hamlim, Waterloo, and Eaton Rapids, they have a good roadmap to win. Republican need to win at least one or preferably two of those to have a good chance to win, but they have more room for error with most of the other small rural areas theirs to lose.

On paper, this district leans Republican. In reality, I'd call it a very slight lean at best as Simpson proved it can be won. Don't take this one lightly. The folks here don't care much for politicians in general.

	McCain	Obama	Total	Diff	GOP	DEM	Diff
Eaton County:			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Brookfield Twp	414	356	770	58	53.77%	46.23%	7.53%
Eaton Rapids	1024	1257	2281	-233	44.89%	55.11%	-10.21%
Eaton Township	1228	1090	2318	138	52.98%	47.02%	5.95%
Hamlin Twp	835	909	1744	-74	47.88%	52.12%	-4.24%
Jackson County:			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Blackman Twp	3646	4204	7850	-558	46.45%	53.55%	-7.11%
Columbia Twp	2265	2011	4276	254	52.97%	47.03%	5.94%
Grass Lake Twp	1659	1430	3089	229	53.71%	46.29%	7.41%
Henrietta Twp	1161	1153	2314	8	50.17%	49.83%	0.35%
Leoni Twp	2930	3387	6317	-457	46.38%	53.62%	-7.23%
Liberty Twp	1015	713	1728	302	58.74%	41.26%	17.48%
Norvell Twp	887	815	1702	72	52.12%	47.88%	4.23%
Rives Twp	1317	1005	2322	312	56.72%	43.28%	13.44%
Springport Twp	551	425	976	126	56.45%	43.55%	12.91%
Tompkins Twp	710	631	1341	79	52.95%	47.05%	5.89%
Waterloo Twp	650	787	1437	-137	45.23%	54.77%	-9.53%
Cambridge (Lenawee)	1636	1638	3274	-2	49.97%	50.03%	-0.06%
Total	21928	21811	43739	117	50.13%	49.87%	0.27%
	Bush	Kerry	Total	Diff	GOP	DEM	Diff
Eaton County:			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Brookfield Twp	427	268	695	159	61.44%	38.56%	22.88%
Eaton Rapids	1213	1053	2266	160	53.53%	46.47%	7.06%
Eaton Township	1455	868	2323	587	62.63%	37.37%	25.27%
Hamlin Twp	925	694	1619	231	57.13%	42.87%	14.27%
Jackson County:			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Blackman Twp	4258	3454	7712	804	55.21%	44.79%	10.43%
Columbia Twp	2532	1693	4225	839	59.93%	40.07%	19.86%
Grass Lake Twp	1684	1132	2816	552	59.80%	40.20%	19.60%
Henrietta Twp	1196	952	2148	244	55.68%	44.32%	11.36%
Leoni Twp	3216	2971	6187	245	51.98%	48.02%	3.96%
Liberty Twp	1106	610	1716	496	64.45%	35.55%	28.90%
Norvell Twp	962	774	1736	188	55.41%	44.59%	10.83%
Rives Twp	1464	809	2273	655	64.41%	35.59%	28.82%
Springport Twp	577	332	909	245	63.48%	36.52%	26.95%
Tompkins Twp	772	537	1309	235	58.98%	41.02%	17.95%
Waterloo Twp	771	701	1472	70	52.38%	47.62%	4.76%
Cambridge (Lenawee)	1813	1404	3217	409	56.36%	43.64%	12.71%
Total	24371	18252	42623	6119	57.18%	42.82%	14.36%
Last St House	GOP	DEM	Total	Diff	GOP	DEM	Diff
Eaton County:			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Brookfield Twp	344	195	539	149	63.82%	36.18%	27.64%
Eaton Rapids	943	573	1516	370	62.20%	37.80%	24.41%
Eaton Township			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Hamlin Twp	790	491	1281	299	61.67%	38.33%	23.34%
Jackson County:			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Blackman Twp	2988	1919	4907	1069	60.89%	39.11%	21.79%
Columbia Twp	2084	1021	3105	1063	67.12%	32.88%	34.24%
Grass Lake Twp	1507	749	2256	758	66.80%	33.20%	33.60%
Henrietta Twp	923	628	1551	295	59.51%	40.49%	19.02%
Leoni Twp	2452	1731	4183	721	58.62%	41.38%	17.24%
Liberty Twp	898	355	1253	543	71.67%	28.33%	43.34%
Norvell Twp	784	432	1216	352	64.47%	35.53%	28.95%
Rives Twp	1118	505	1623	613	68.88%	31.12%	37.77%
Springport Twp	429	176	605	253	70.91%	29.09%	41.82%
Tompkins Twp	600	378	978	222	61.35%	38.65%	22.70%
Waterloo Twp	529	408	937	121	56.46%	43.54%	12.91%
Cambridge (Lenawee)	1500	844	2344	656	63.99%	36.01%	27.99%
Total	17889	10405	28294	7484	63.23%	36.77%	26.45%