Crowded State Rep. field headlines Primary
The August 3 primary elections are next Tuesday for Clare County. In Clare County the only contested local race in the Primary is for Democratic County Convention delegate in Hayes Township Precinct 3 with Glenn H. Freeman facing Marlene M. Freeman for the slot.
The big races next Tuesday will be for the Michigan House of Representatives (97th District) and the Michigan State Senate Seat (35th District).
Voters going to the polls will have the option to vote in either the Republican or Democratic Primary, but not in both.
At the County level, voters will have to wait until the November to find out who will fill one seat on the Clare County Road Commission for the next six years. Incumbent Democrat Timothy Haskin will face Republican candidate Eddy Garver. Both are unopposed in the Primary.
35th District Senate
Five 35th District candidates for State Senator will be on the August 3 Primary ballots, three Republicans and two Democrats. The two winners will face off in November to claim the seat of term-limited Senator Michelle McManus.
Vying for the Republican slot are Darwin L. Booher, 67, of Evart, a term limited State Representative, Kevin Davis, 40, of Rapid City, a retired Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Sergeant and former Road Commissioner, and Gary Finstrom, 56, of Cadillac, who is the Wexford County Sheriff.
Democrats in the Primary race are Roger Dunigan, 70, of Suttons Bay and George E. Huffman III, 33, of Remus.
97th District House
Six candidates are in the running for the 97th District seat and seven names are on the ballot for the seat occupied by term-limited Tim Moore of Farwell, whose term expires this year.
Three republicans will vie to be the August 3 Primary selection including Kim Emmons of Lake, George Gilmore of Clare and Joel Johnson of Clare.
Thomas R. Kerrins, of Standish, announced his withdrawal from the race last week, although his name will still be on the ballot. He said he withdrew because of “a lack of resources for the race. I am endorsing Kim Emmons,” he said.
In November, the Republican Primary winner will face the winner of three vying for the Democratic slot in the August Primary race: Tim Barnum of Standish, Mark Alan Lightfoot of Lake and Jason Liptow of Harrison.
All seats on the County Commission are up for re-election this year, but only one is in question. In District 1, incumbent Democrat Jordon Lockmiller will face Republican Jerry Burger in November, since both are unopposed in the primary. Incumbents Lynn Laverty-Grim (D – District 2); Jack Kleinhardt (R – District 4); Donald David (R – District 5); Karen Lipovsky (D – District 6); and Jim Gelios (D – District 7) are all unopposed in both the Primary and in November for re-election to two-year terms on the board.
There will be one new face on the County Commission after the November election. In District 3, Republican Ray Strouse is unopposed to fill the seat of resigning board member John Wolf (D).
The only other local board positions up for election are in Winterfield Township where Mark Hammar (D), appointed to fill the position of Supervisor when Robert Dougherty died, will run for the remainder of that term which expires November 12, 2012. He is unopposed and will be elected at the November election.
The remainder of his trustee seat on the Township, now filled by appointee Shelly R. Laughlin (R) will be filled by her after the election. She is also unopposed for the remainder of that term.
Unopposed candidates for delegates to the County Convention include:
*Arthur Township – Republicans Connie Sue Kleinhardt, Richard Charles Kleinhardt and Robert Mason.
*Freeman Township – Republicans Kim Emmons and Joseph will fill two of three available seats.
*Grant Township Precinct B – Republicans Dawn M. Johnson and Joel Johnson will fill two of five available slots.
*Grant Township Precinct 2 – Only Republican Robert W. Schellhas is running for one of the two available seats.
*Hatton Township – J. L. Kleinhardt and Karen A. Kleinhardt, both Republicans, will take two of the available slots, while Democrat Betty L. Summerville will fill the one available Democratic seat at the Convention.
*Lincoln Township Precinct 2 – Republican Tom Dorcey is running for one of two seats available.
*Surrey Township Precinct 1 – Democrat Paule M. Clark will fill the one seat available.
*Surrey Township Precinct 2 – Republican Randy Gene Gray II will claim on of four slots available at the Convention.
At the State level, two Democrats, five Republicans and one Constitution candidate are looking for slots on the ballot in November to fill the top job of term-limited Governor Jennifer Granholm (D).
Democratic voters will choose between Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and State House Speaker Andy Dillon in that Primary.
On the Republican ballot are Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Attorney General Mike Cox, State Senator Tom George, Congressman Peter Hoekstra and Venture Capitalist Rick Snyder.
Former Fife Lake Village Councilwoman and Tea Party Activist Stacey Mathia is the Constitution candidate for Governor.
In the Secretary of State race, six Republicans are on the ballot in that Primary: State Senator Cameron Brown, Ex-State Representative Judy Emmons, Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson, State Senator Michelle McManus, Calhoun County Clerk Anne Norlander and State Representative Paul Scott.
The Democratic Primary race is uncontested and Law School Professor and Attorney Jocelyn Benson will be on the November ballot along with Libertarian Community College Instructor Scotty Boman.
Two are vying for the Republican Attorney General race, to fill the position of Mike Cox (R), who is running for Governor – State Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop and Ex-State Appeals Court Judge and former congressman and State Senator Bill Schuette.
The winner will face Genessee County Prosecutor, Democrat David Leyton and Libertarian Attorney Daniel Grow in November.
No decision will be made in the Primary for the U.S. House of Representatives race in District 4, but Incumbent Republican Dave Camp will face Democratic Richland Township Supervisor Jerry Campbell and Libertarian Clint Foster in the November race.
