Washtenaw County Elections 2010 Examiner Digest--Primary Edition

by: Neon Vincent

Tue Aug 03, 2010 at 00:47:49 AM EDT

Tonight, on primary eve, I'm going to share with you my reporting from this week in an effort to keep everyone here abreast of what is happening in Washtenaw County, which I called home for 14 years.

Excerpts of five stories from the past two days over the jump.

With current State Representative Pam Byrnes being term-limited out of her seat in the 52nd State House of Representatives District and seeking a State Senate seat, four candidates are scrambling to replace her. On the Democratic ballot are Christine Green, Jeffrey Lee, and Robert Wozniak. The winner of their primary tomorrow will face Mark Ouimet, the sole Republican candidate.

This race is in my old district.  I felt a bit wistful writing about an election in an area where I used to live.

I'm going to pass on writing an article about the County Commissioners. There is so little information out there that any article I would write would look too much like this one from AnnArbor.com, so I may as well let them do the talking for me.

AnnArbor.com: 31 candidates line up in races for the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners

No matter which way the political winds blow this year, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners will see change.

With one incumbent stepping down and two seeking higher office, at least three of the 11 seats will be filled with new faces.

In Tuesday's primary, there are seven contested races for voters to decide, including in the 10th and 11th districts in Ann Arbor.

Here's a brief look at who's on the ballot.

Examiner.com: Five townships filling partial terms for trustees and parks commissioners
By Vince Lamb, Washtenaw County Elections 2010 Examiner

Normally, there would not be elections for township officers this year.  However, three trustees and two park commissioners in five townships could not complete their terms and special elections were called to fill the vacancies.  In addition, one parks commissioner is running for a trustee position.  Primaries for these seats are tomorrow.

...

Pittsfield Township

In a game of electoral musical chairs, current Parks Commissioner Andrea Brown-Harrison is running for the trustee seat currently occupied by Ferguson, who decided not to run.  Ferguson herself was appointed after the resignation of Tom Sherony in 2009.  This leaves Brown-Harrison's position as Parks Commissioner open.  Thus, Pittsfield Township is the only charter township in the county with two special elections tomorrow.

Also, note how few GOP candidates are running in these elections, or in the ones in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.

Examiner.com: In Ypsilanti, Democratic primaries will decide mayor, council
By Vince Lamb, Washtenaw County Elections 2010 Examiner

Candidates for Mayor and three City Council seats are vying for nominations and essentially the seats themselves on Tuesday, as the only contests are in the Democratic primary. There are no Republican or independent candidates on the ballot.

Mayor

Incubent Mayor Paul Schreiber is being challenged by City Council member and former Mayor Pete Murdock for the Democratic nomination. The winner will go on to an uncontested general election in November.
...

According to AnnArbor.com, Murdock has outraised Screiber, $11,674 to $9,656, but both candidates have spent about the same amount.

Examiner.com: Ann Arbor mayoral and council primaries
By Vince Lamb, Washtenaw County Elections 2010 Examiner

Candidates for mayor and three council seats are vying for nominations (and in some cases, essentially the seat itself) this Tuesday.  Candidates for two other council seats have no opponent in the primary and are proceeding directly to the general election in November.

Mayor

Five-term mayor John Hieftje is being challenged by Patricia Lesko for the Democratic nomination for mayor.  Hiefje has the advantage of incumbency, including $16,276 in fundraising as of a week ago, and endorsements from the League of Conservation Voters, Clean Water Action, Democratic Party LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered) Caucus, United Auto Worker Community Action Program, and Laborers Local 499.

...

The winner of the Democratic primary will take on Steve Bean, an independent and chairman of the city's Environmental Commission in the general election in November.

Examiner.com: Multiple proposals on Tuesday's primary ballot
By Vince Lamb, Washtenaw County Elections 2010 Examiner

While most people have been focused on the party primary races at the top and front of this Tuesday's primary ballot, they also have important issues to vote on at the bottom and back of their ballots.  Eight municipalities in Washtenaw County, along with Oakland Community College, have millage and bond proposals up for a decision.  Most of these are renewals of existing property taxes, not requests for new or increased taxes.  Nearly all are also for the usual operating expenses, capital expenditures, or expansions in services.

Sharon Township

The major exception to all of the above is the combined bond and millage proposal in Sharon Township.  That proposal asks the voters to approve the borrowing of up to $880,000.00 and an increase of 1.5 mills to their property taxes for the next 15 years.  The measure is intended to pay off a judgment of $683,333 accrued as a result of township resident Roy Gourley fighting the township's 2007 condemnation of 25 acres of his land for a wastewater treatment and disposal facility.  For a timeline of the case, click here (PDF).

According to the Manchester Enterprise, residents who attended a special township board meeting on June 28th filled the hall to overflowing were outraged at the proposal.  More residents attended a second meeting on July 1st, at which the Manchester Enterprise reported more outrage and requests for the resignation of several board members, along with the threat of a recall election.  The Manchester Enterprise also reported that, should the measure fail, the alternative would involve the township supervisor assessing a 10 mill levy for one year to make a lump sum payment.

To read Sharon Township's information page about the millage, click here.

And now, a special section for those of us registered in Oakland County and the portions of Washtenaw County served by the South Lyon Schools.

Oakland Community College

Although nearly all of the Oakland Community College (OCC) district lies outside Washtenaw County, a small portion of it extends into the northest corner of the county in parts of Northfield Township and Salem Township that are served by the South Lyon Community Schools.  OCC is asking for a ten year renewal of the existing $0.7811 millage, which is set to expire in 2012.  If approved, the renewal will extend the millage to 2022 and will bring in an estimated $38,502,796 the first year it is levied.

The college has a millage information page, which includes an analysis, a campaign statement, answers to frequently asked questions, and a summary of projects funded by the millage.

*Official disclaimer.  I am making this appeal on my own time.