Paul Scott Recalled. So what's next?

Well, this is bad news. The MEA spent $130K and got their scalp. It looks like the remaining precincts to be reported were Mundy Twp and next to Flint.

While the Genesee County site hasn't updated further, other places have. Two sources are saying it's over, so I'll go with it.

From the Free Press

State Rep. Paul Scott, R-Grand Blanc, became the first state legislator to be recalled in a generation after he conceded defeat in a recall election today.

The recall was backed by the Michigan Education Association.

Michigan Radio

Update 11:35 p.m.

Rick Pluta just called in to say that Michigan State Representative Paul Scott (R-Grand Blanc) has been recalled. Scott conceded defeat saying his campaign did their best, they came up short, and that he will not rule out running again in the future.

Scott is the first sitting state lawmaker to be recalled since 1983.

11:31 p.m.

This tweet just came from the Michigan Information and Research Service:

Recall Paul Scott team aware of numbers showing recall was successful by margin of 232 votes; not willing to declare victory yet.

10:55 p.m.

Still too close to call. With 83% of the precincts counted, the vote is 51% against the recall.

Rick Pluta just called in to say sources are telling him that lawyers are heading to Mundy Township to check into the count there.

Pluta reports that recall supporters have to do well in this traditionally Democratic township for the recall to succeed.

So what's next? The Secretary of State explains it in layman's terms.

1. The GOP and Dems will nominate a candidate for the vacant HD-51 position. There is NO primary. The nominee will be chosen by the Genesee County Political Parties.

2. There will be a new special election in February. This will be run the same way as a normal general election.

It's time for paybacks. Hold this district, and go after the dems, especially the MEA dems in other seats. They want to start a fight. Give them what they want.

One last thing. Close to home, the Trombley mailing was illegal and the local MEA affiliates was turned in for it. Again.

County Results and early Paul Scott results.

Some results are in.

Howell will be making some changes.
Mayor:
Phil Campbell - 669
Geri Moen - Incumbent - 499

Council:
Al Schlittler - quasi incumbent - 749
Doug Heins - 716
Steve Manor - incumbent - 615
Victoria Hertich - 454
Daria Devantier - 420

I'm not surprised by this. Joe Hune isn't as popular in the City of Howell as he is in Fowlerville. He's rather disliked by many of the establishment there. Joe still defeated Paul Rogers in the City of Howell in the primary. That was an opening set for challengers to the city government. Streetscape and its tax increase were the big issues there.

With that, I think one strategy backfired severely. Right before the election, the old boys/girls club circled the wagons. They came out with a letter of four former mayors (including Paul Rogers) backing the incumbents on the council and their favored challenger (Devantier). I think that hurt them bad and reinforced the status quo, streetscapes, and the like. Schlittler led the council votes, but was viewed as a moderate as a recent appointee and was supported by folks on both sides. Heins was a challenger and ran strong. Manor was the long term incumbent who survived. Moen was caught offguard by a strong challenger. Campbell worked extremely hard on this campaign and won.

In Brighton, all the incumbents win, as expected.

The millages in Green Oak are passing easily, as I expect. 2-1 margin+ for both of them. I also think this is helping the MEA/BEA in the Brighton School Board races. Minert (unofficially endorsed) will win, and Trombley started to pull away when Green Oak started reporting. What was a near tie is now a 190 vote deficit with six precincts to go. That's a small lead, except that the Green Oak precincts in so far both had major leads for Trombley over Rassel. Fiani is in the pack and won't catch Trombley.

Paul Scott's recall can go either way. Currently he's up 171 votes with 86% in.
Yes to Recall - 10,851
No to MEA - 11,022

Five precincts to report. I hope it's not Mundy Township that has yet to report. That's the roughest part of Paul's district.

It's going to be a close one tonight.