U.S. Senate Hopeful Pete Hoekstra Stops in Birmingham Ahead of Tuesday's Primary

Pete Hoekstra was joined by State Rep. hopeful and Birmingham-area resident Dave Potts at Birmingham's Original Pancake House Monday morning.

Candidates were hitting the campaign trail early Monday morning, with U.S. Senate hopeful Pete Hoekstra visiting the breakfast crowd at Birmingham's Original Pankcake House ahead of Tuesday's primary election. Hoekstra is one of three Republicans looking to unseat Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in November's general election. On Tuesday, he'll face off against Holland's Clark Durant and Grand Rapids' Randy Hekman as he seeks the Republican nomination. Birmingham was the Hoekstra's only campaign stop in Oakland County Monday, and one of two in Metro Detroit. At 10 a.m., Hoekstra stopped by the Leo's Coney Island in Shelby Township, with other stops planned for Grand Blanc, Lansing, Muskegon, Jenison and Wyoming. Hoekstra had one message for …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)

40th District Campaigners Report More Than $270,000 in Contributions

Four Republicans and one Democrat are vying for a spot on the November ballot in the race for state representative in the 40th District. We took a look at how much money they've raised, and how they're spending it.

The Aug. 7 primary is fast approaching and in West Bloomfield, you can't drive far without seeing a campaign sign for one of the many candidates vying for a spot in the Michigan House of Representatives in the 40th District. Running for the spot are four area Republicans and they've been busy raising (and spending) money ahead of the primary as they fight to see who will face Democrat Dorian Coston in the November general election. On the Republican ticket next week will be: County Commissioner and Bloomfield Township resident Dave Potts; Birmingham School Board member Robert Lawrence; Bloomfield Hills Mayor Pro Tem Mike McCready; and West Bloomfield attorney David Wolkinson. In total, the four Republican candidates have raised $273,887.76…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Mike McCready

10:54 am on Friday, August 3, 2012

Thank you to the Patch for doing a great job covering our local elections. As you consider which candidate will get your vote please visit www.mccreadyforstaterep.com   more ›

State House Candidates Talk Jobs, Education and Taxes During Forum Tuesday

The four Republicans and one Democrat running for the Michigan House of Representatives in the 40th District met for a meet-the-candidates forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Education, Michigan's personal property tax and job creation were among the topics discussed Tuesday night at a candidate forum for those running for the Michigan House of Representatives in the 40th District. The forum was hosted by the League of Women Voters at Birmingham's Baldwin Public Library and featured all five candidates, including the four candidates running for the Republican nomination and one Democrat. All five names will be on the ballot during the Aug. 7 primary. Running for the State House in the 40th District are Republicans Robert Lawrence, David Potts, Mike McCready and David Wolkinson as well as Democrat Dorian Coston. All five are looking to replace outgoing State Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham), who has to vacate his …

•  21 Comments
• Photos (7)

State House Candidates to Meet Tuesday Night Ahead of August Primary

Four Republicans and one Democrat will meet tonight for a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Candidates running for the 40th seat in the Michigan House of Representatives will meet in Birmingham tonight for a special forum hosted by the Oakland County League of Women Voters. The forum begins at 7 p.m. at Baldwin Public Library and will be hosted by Judy Bateman. The candidate pool for the house seat is a crowded one, as four Republicans and one Democrat look to replace outgoing Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham), who has to step down this year due to term limits. All five candidates are looking for a chance to represent Michigan's 40th District, which, after redistricting, is composed of Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, and a portion of West Bloomfield. All month long, Patch has been speaking with the prospective …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Mike McCready

8:35 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

“Thank you to the League of Women Voters for hosting last night’s forum. I enjoyed speaking with the voters and the moderators about the issues concerning the 40th district. If you would like to learn more about me you can visit my website www.mccreadyforstaterep.com.”   more ›

Meet the Candidates: David Potts Counts on Experience, Strong Support

During the countdown to the Aug. 7 primary, Patch is bringing you profiles of the candidates running for local office.

The Aug. 7 primary election is drawing closer every day, but how much do you really know about the names on the ballot? Patch is interviewing candidates running in the Aug. 7 primary, including the five candidates for the 40th District's seat in the Michigan House of Representatives. The seat is currently filled by Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham), who is unable to run for re-election this year due to term limits (though Moss is looking to run for Sen. John Pappageorge's seat in 2014). After redistricting, the 40th district will be composed of Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, and a portion of West Bloomfield. Running for the spot on the Republican ticket are Birmingham Board of Education's Robert Lawrence and longtime …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

State House Candidate's TV Show Raises 'Equal-Time' Campaign Issue

Two rivals and editorial question County Commissioner Potts' co-hosting role.

The first campaign issue has flared in a three-way Republican primary campaign for the 40th State House District seat. Robert Lawrence and David Wolkinson say it's improper for their rival, David Potts, to continue as co-host of a local cable TV public affairs show. Potts and state Rep. Chuck Moss host Eye on Oakland, a half-hour studio discussion that airs two to four times a month on Bloomfield Community Television. They and guests discuss issues such as the state budget, education, road maintenance, Michigan's gasoline tax and economic development. "The show focuses on political decisions and their impact on local and state-level constituents," notes Lawrence in an email response to questions from Patch. "Setting aside his co-hosting …

•  10 Comments
• Photos (4)

Oakland County Democrats to Challenge Redistricting Bill

The party plans to file a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of a bill that would reduce the number of county commissioners and allow its members to determine voting districts.

The fight over Oakland County redistricting continues. County Democrats announced Wednesday that they are planning to fight a recent bill that would reduce the number of Oakland County commissioners as well as allow the commission to determine their own voting districts. According to The Detroit News, Oakland County Democratic Party chairman Frank Houston said he will be the plaintiff in a lawsuit against Gov. Rick Snyder, expected to be filed by noon today in Ingham County Circuit Court in Lansing. "It's bad public policy to have redistricting laws changed retroactively so legislators can then draw their own districts," Houston told The Detroit News. "It's bad for democracy." The bill signed by Snyder on Dec. 21 would overturn a map drawn…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

58116518 key-afpyp3ehwn57fqrtguw

Appeals Court Rules New County Commission Districts Constitutional

The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld new boundaries drawn for county commission districts in Oakland County as constitutional.