West Bloomfield 2012 Election Guide

As we look ahead to November’s elections, West Bloomfield Patch is devoted to bring you the information you need about every race in town. Here are five that locals are already talking about:

1. Which Democrat will emerge from the Aug. 7 primary with their party's backing in the new that was created by Republicans in Lansing during redistricting? Reps. Gary Peters (9th) and Hansen Clarke (13th) are sitting Congressmen in the race which also includes former State Rep. Mary Waters, Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence and 39th Court Magistrate Bob Costello. John Hauler is the lone Republican.

2. Lisa Brown, (D-West Bloomfield) won't run for a third term as  than it had prior to redistricting. Instead, Brown is challenging  Bill Bullard Jr. (R-Highland) in what is already a mud-filled campaign.

3. Brown's old district is now solidly Republican, with three West Bloomfield residents expected to vie for primary votes in the new 39th district among six Republicans and two Democrats. Meanwhile, the eastern portion of the township will now vote in the 40th district race featuring four Republicans, and one Democrat, including two West Bloomfield residents.

4. Will West Bloomfield residents pass a  in less than one year after a public safety millage renewal and increase were passed in Nov. 2011? In August, the township asks for an increase of 0.35 mills over 12 years in addition to the previous 0.2435 rate over 10 years to support the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission. If either fails, the issue may return to the ballot in November.

5. It may not be a terrible exaggeration to describe our prediction for the Township Board races as a political bloodbath. Every member of the incumbent class is running in the primary, with Trustee Gene Farber (D) seeking to displace (D) among the highlights. Robert Egren and are expected to challenge , while challenges .

The other three Trustee positions are expected to be decided between Republican Tom Pustelak and Democrats Larry Brown, Hartley Harris, Steven Kaplan, Jeremy Kaplan, , Gerald Sukenic, Diane Rosenfeld Swimmer, and Al Zara.

Brown, Rosenberg, and Steven Kaplan are the incumbent candidates.