Clawson, Royal Oak

Primary election ballot packed with candidates and millages

By Chris Jackett
C & G Staff Writer

ROYAL OAK/CLAWSON — When the polls open Aug. 7 throughout Royal Oak and Clawson, there will be no shortage of decisions to be made.

In addition to choosing the candidates from each party who will face off for key seats in November, there are two countywide millage issues that also need to be decided.

“If there is a local millage on a ballot, that usually brings out more voters,” Royal Oak City Clerk Melanie Halas via email. “It depends on how much they get the word out on their proposals.”

One millage seeks to renew a two-year 0.59-mill levy for the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. The second is a 10-year, 0.2-mill levy to benefit the Detroit Institute of Arts. The SMART millage would raise about $16 million in 2012 and extend through 2013, while the DIA millage would raise about $9.8 million in 2012 and extend through 2021.

“In the past, the transportation millage has passed in Clawson. Not sure how the art proposal will go,” Clawson City Clerk Machele Kukuk said via email. “Millage issues are always the biggest concern and need.”

Both Kukuk and Halas said they expect between 25 and 30 percent of residents at the polls next week, based on past primary election turnouts.

In addition to the two millages, local residents will also select their Democratic and Republican nominees for a U.S. Senate position. Incumbent Debbie Stabenow is running unopposed as the Democratic nominee seeking a third six-year term. Republicans Gary Glenn, Randy Hekman, Pete Hoekstra and Clark Durant are vying to oppose her in November.

Within the U.S. House of Representatives, redrawing of district boundaries has Democrat Sander Levin seeking the 9th District seat against the winner of the Republican race between Gregory C. Dildilian and Don Volaric. Levin is the current representative in District 12, which was largely merged with Gary Peters’ District 9, and Peters has opted to run for the District 14 seat.

In the state Legislature, Royal Oak is part of the 26th District, and Clawson is part of the 41st District in the state House of Representatives. Rep. Jim Townsend will be running as the 26th District’s Democratic nominee against either William Sayre or Mark Bliss, who will be voted on as the Republican nominee next week.

The 41st District will have a new face, as Republican Rep. Marty Knollenberg gives up his seat to run for country treasurer. Republicans Deborah DeBacker, Martin Howrylak and Matt Pryor seek to earn their party’s nomination to run against Democrat Mary Kerwin in November.

Knollenberg is the only Republican candidate for county treasurer, running against Democratic incumbent Andy Meisner.

A pair of other Oakland County positions also have just two candidates, as Republican Mike Bishop attempts to take the prosecuting attorney position away from Democratic incumbent Jessica R. Cooper and Republican incumbent Bill Bullard Jr. defends his position as the clerk/register of deeds from Democratic challenger Lisa Brown.

Incumbent County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard, a Republican, will be challenged by James Stevens to face Democrat Jane Felice Boudreau on the November ballot.

County Executive L. Brooks Patterson defends the Republican nomination against E. Wadsworth Sherrod III, with the winner facing Democrat Kevin Howley in November.

County Water Resources Commissioner John P. McCulloch, the Republican incumbent, will see which Democrat, Jim Nash or Mark Danowski, he will face in November.

For the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac and the 44th District Court in Royal Oak, one judge position has opened up in each. Jason Pernick, Layne Ashley Sakwa, Dan Christ, Sahera Housey and Karen McDonald will battle for the Circuit Court position, the top two heading to the November ballot; the top two vote-getters among Carlo P. Ginotti, Derek Meinecke and Edward Nahhat will vie for the District Court position in the fall.

A handful of delegate positions for the county convention are also on the ballot, with differences in each precinct, and a trio of county commission positions also are up for grabs.

Clawson residents, and some northern Royal Oak residents, will choose between Republican Mike Bosnic, the District 19 incumbent, and Democrat Tim Burns for the 16th District seat in November. County commissioner boundaries have also been redrawn, hence Bosnic running in a different district.

District 18 incumbent Dave Woodward has the Democratic nomination in the new 19th District against Republican William A. Shaw for November.

In the 20th District, Republican Antoine Delaforterie and Democrat Gary R. McGillivray will face off for the county commissioner seat in November.

As voters prepare to head to the polls, the local city clerks are quick to remind residents of precinct changes.

“Would just like to remind the Clawson voter to be sure to verify their voting precinct,” Kukuk said via email. “There were changes due to the congressional district boundaries, and we consolidated into five precincts from six precincts.”

In Royal Oak, the new precinct map is posted at www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us.

“Make sure to check your new voter ID card to make sure your precinct hasn’t changed, due to the redistricting that happened this year,” Halas said via email. “As always, any voters (who) have (questions) regarding their precincts can contact our office, and we will direct them where they need to go.

“Voters who used to be in Precinct 25, remember that your precinct is now 7. No change in location, just a precinct number change.”

Precinct 7 voters still vote at Oakland Schools’ Technical Campus Southeast, 5055 Delemere Ave.

For a full look at a sample ballot for your voting precinct, visit www.mi.gov/vote; look for results the night of Aug. 7 at www.oak gov.com/ clerkrod/elections. Polls are open 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Chris Jackett at cjackett@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1110.