Green Party candidates emerge in Washtenaw County for state House, Congress, U-M regents seats
The Green Party of Michigan held its nominating convention this past weekend at Central Michigan University and chose nominees for state and local offices.
Emerging as nominees in Washtenaw County were David McMahon, who is seeking the 55th District state House seat being vacated by Republican Rick Olson, and Richard E. Wunsch, who is seeking the 7th District U.S. House seat held by Republican Tim Walberg.
Webster Township resident Eric Borregard, who recently was disqualified from running as a Democrat for the county board against Republican Dan Smith, also is the Michigan Greens' statewide nominee for the University of Michigan Board of Regents.
"And the way money is being spent at the university, I think that really needs to be looked at," he said. "Students are kind of an underclass and the rest of it is sort of a big business, so I plan to examine the corporate nature of the school. That's the focus on my campaign."
Borregard expressed disappointment in being disqualified from running for county board in late May, criticizing what he considered a "plutocratic" government in Michigan.
"The state is kind of the final word on that," he said. "I think when the people voted for a Republican governor, state Legislature, Supreme Court, attorney general, they pretty much sealed the deal on a kind of Republican oligarchy."
Across the board, the Green Party candidates who spoke at the nominating convention offered support for reproductive rights as well as the institution of gay marriage, according to a new release from the Michigan Greens, saying support for the candidates was unanimous.
"Also a theme was the political system itself, which also revolves around financial gain rather than representing and implementing the will of the people," the party stated.
The Michigan Greens also nominated Harley Mikkelson for U.S. senator; Candace R. Caveny and Dwain Reynolds III for State Board of Education; Lloyd Clarke for the Michigan State University Board of Trustees; and Margaret Guttshall and Latham Redding for the Wayne State University Board of Governors.
Mikkelson was the Green Party's candidate for governor in 2010 and pulled just 981 votes in Washtenaw County, compared with the 59,829 cast for Democrat Virg Bernero and 58,029 cast for Republican Rick Snyder in Washtenaw County.
Of the 123,672 ballots cast in November 2010 in Washtenaw County, only 212 straight Green Party tickets were cast, compared with 36,224 Democratic and 22,358 Republican.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
ContreMilice
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
(Correcting a typo) Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Mr. Brown proves how good he and his ilk are at projecting their own all-too-apparent failures, shortcomings, ability to call others names because of lack of any substantive argument, and other generally bad traits on to others. He, of course is not in the least bothered by the real abuse in Gaza, i.e, that of its theocratic, antediluvian Hamas rulers and their use of their own people as shields and their rocket barrages aimed haphazardly at Israeli civilians. Talk about spewing; Mr. Brown and his tiny bunch of cohorts are true masters of the "art."
bedrog
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.
right you are contre: and this link to the blog of one of the GREENs (and by extension stuart brown's) closest allies makes it quite clear that his group supports precisely the toxic ideologies which he snidely tried to dismiss in his post as our supposed delusional fantasies. http://blog.deiryassin.org/
bedrog
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 7:17 p.m.
Interestingly in a "michigan greens " internal e-mail that i recently became privy to , although there was failry innocuous info on other local chapters, zero mention was made of the ann arbor based "huron valley Greens" whose toxic antisemitism and breathtaking,( and sort of desparately sad!!), illogic is exemplified by a previous poster with the party logo as his screen name symbol. Maybe the party as a whole is distancing itself from its recent extremist past, although the ann arbor cadre seems like die hard hold outs ( sort of like the remaining al qaedists waiting to be droned.---or at least chastised on threads like this) . but all might be forgiven if some sackcloth , ashes, public self flagellation and groveling in front of the synagogue they harass were to be applied .... are you listening " s. b " and 'roadman'?..... (of course you are)
martini man
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 11:32 p.m.
I know one thing for sure ..I'll vote AGAINST any and all liberal, or so called green party candidates. My hope is that many thousands of others will do the same .
bedrog
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 12:04 p.m.
don't confuse Greens and " liberals".....even though i may be driving you into their arms, the Greens are far more akin to rightwing extremists in their bigotry and defamatory rhetoric than they are to slightly left of centrist liberals (which i am proud to be). the greens just use lefty rhetoric about 'peace/justice/progressive blahblah' in the service of support for the worst extemists on the planet ...see the post below by Green publicist stuart brown, and look at the FEH link i posted elsewhere on this thread
Roadman
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 6:04 p.m.
The Justin Altman candidacy is welcomed against Prosecutor Brian Mackie. There is an emerging ABM (Anybody But Mackie) movement in the county. God bless Washtenaw County and Justin Altman.
bedrog
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 10:49 a.m.
road re wilk: why so you did.. guess it was a forgettable post with the usual faux insider "information" (which seems to have attracted the same disinterest ( albeit mild annoyance. from other commenters as it did from me. Her appeal will also go to further reduce her weight and other distress ( per 'toothless wonder".) aint karma grand??
Roadman
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 2:11 a.m.
@bedrog: That was an old thread that I already posted on. Case is expected to be on appeal at this juncture.
ContreMilice
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:36 p.m.
Hope you are as welcoming when Altman loses.
bedrog
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:57 p.m.
are you involved in the ABM?? if so " rots o ruck!"... .p.s. how'd ya like that recent verdict re UM v .Wilkerson? missed you on that thread.
DonBee
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 4:25 p.m.
And here is the major problem in Michigan with voting: "Of the 123,672 ballots cast in November 2010 in Washtenaw County, only 212 straight Green Party tickets were cast, compared with 36,224 Democratic and 22,358 Republican." The ability to vote a straight party ticket means that someone can go to the polls and vote without having to think at all about who they are voting for. The straight party choice needs to be done away with. Maybe we should even adopt the top 2 primary system that California has just adopted, the results of the primary look like they will cause more moderate candidates to be elected.
demistify
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.
I take it that your point is that, if those 212 had known something about the specific candidates, there should have been far fewer than 212.
demistify
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.
According to this story, the last Green Party candidate for Governor got less than 1 % of the vote. Its local showing was substantially more abysmal. Could this have anything to do with the fact that its leaders in Ann Arbor thrust themselves into public attention by such antics as harassing a synagogue and disrupting a food co-op, not exactly improving the environment? I wonder why there are no Green Party candidates for any local city or county offices.
demistify
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 6:23 p.m.
Thank you, Roadman, for clarifying the Green devotion to the democratic process.
Roadman
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 10:36 p.m.
Likely because the Huron Valley Greens did not hold a city nominating caucus, as they did in 2003. A nominating caucus is needed to get on the local ballot.
Roadman
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
In the November 9, 2011 edition of the Michigan Daily, Tim Hull, a campaign volunteer for Jane Lumm, gave the Green Party credit as part of "tri-partisan" support, along with Democrats and Republicans, in the landslide victory of Mrs. Lumm over incumbent Steve Rapundalo. Some Green Party members also supported Mike Anglin in his victory over Neal Elyakin.
bedrog
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.
contremilice : "what's roadman's point"??? as ever, provocatory trolling in the service of the most toxic interpretations of "free speech" ( y'know --the green/ synagogue harasser crowd kind-- which is anti justice holme's version, where you're encouraged exert a modicum of responsibility /accuracy in what you say)
demistify
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.
A party that claims to stand for something runs its own candidates. Claimed stealth support for unrelated candidates is a delusion.
ContreMilice
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.
"Some Green Party members also supported Mike Anglin in his victory over Neal Elyakin." What's your point?
bedrog
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
and anglin was unaware of their affiliations...which i know from first hand. other Greens have migrated to the ron paul version of 'luftmenschkeit" ( look it up!)
Roadman
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 3 p.m.
John Dingell has no Green Party nominee opposing him in the 15th Congressional District race this year. The full list Michigan Green Party nominees can be viewed at www.migreens.org Does anyone know why perennial Green Party nominee Dr.Aimee Smith, who is co-chairperson of the Huron Valley Greens, did not run against Dingell again?
bedrog
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 2:02 p.m.
martini...you are right on that score. Although you hate liberals , at least you recognize the Greens are in a class of their own ( outside of the worst regions of the middle east at least).
martini man
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 11:58 p.m.
I have no use for Dingell since he is a liberal ..BUT these green party twits are even worse.
demistify
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 5:40 p.m.
You keep expressing your enthusiasm for the Green Party at every opportunity. Yet you don't know why they are not running a candidate in our Congressional district? They won't tell you? Must be a really democratically run outfit. Why don't you run instead of Aimee Smith? You should be able to match her glorious 1 % of the vote.
ContreMilice
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.
Maybe because she could only garner 1% of the vote total. Maybe be cause she's such a screaming, bullhorn toting, fanatical, hate-spewing extremist bedecked in a costume that has no relation to her actual religion. How's that for a reason?
bedrog
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.
why no a.s.?? "asked and answered" in my several previous....voters obviously recognized her for the very qualities i enunciated and rejected her and her cronies accordingly (and massively...) although you were always a big fan of hers., to obviously little good effect for her assorted candidacies.. maybe the party itself has had a similar belated burst of intelligence and reality recognition....
Justin Altman
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
You can find a listing of who the Libertarian Party nominated at their convention that took place on June 2nd in Livonia at www.lp.mi.org. Of note: They are running a candidate for U.S. House in both districts 7 and 12, a candidate for U.S. senate, and many others for state-wide office, including 2 for UM regents, 2 for MSU trustee, and 1 for Wayne State BOG. Locally there is Lawrence Johnson running for Ypsi Township Trustee, and Justin Altman running for Washtenaw County Prosecutor. To the author: would you be willing to pen an article highlighting this convention as you did the Green Party if you had a press release?
bedrog
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 12:59 p.m.
p.s. to my previous but seriouly folks: Green s supporting pot use ( NORML) ?? absolutely......it explains so much of their clear headedness. ( sarcasm button on!!) ( chuckle, chuckl)
bedrog
Sun, Jun 10, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
@ roadman: support of NORMAL and Green???? inconceivable
Roadman
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 2:09 a.m.
A big thanks to Justin Altman for his candidacy, although I feel he would have some legitimate shot at winning if he filed as a GOP nominee. Matthew Able, a NORML advocate, received 72,000 votes as the Green Party nominee for Wayne County Prosecutor not too long ago.
YpsiLarry
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 1:56 a.m.
Give 'em hell Justin.
ContreMilice
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:33 p.m.
And, Roadman, even better to probably see that person lose.
Roadman
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 5:58 p.m.
Good to see someone running against Brian Mackie.
northside
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 1:07 p.m.
Ryan thanks for the coverage of a third party. I hope others, such as the Libertarians, also get some coverage this year. It always cracks me up that having only one political party (China, for example) is considered totalitarian, but two (U.S.) equals a democracy. There's no way that two can reflect the wide range of political thought in the U.S., but only two have any real influence and power.
YpsiLarry
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:10 a.m.
Ryan, got some 'far and balanced' coverage for a party the nominated more than twice the candidates that the Green party did?
Roadman
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 10:34 p.m.
Agreed. Let us learn more about the Libertarian campaign push. Their Michigan Supreme Court nominee of the Libertarian Party garnered 11% of the statewide vote in 2010 and helped knock off Chief Justice Clifford Taylor in his re-election bid. Ron Paul ran for president as a Libertarian in 1988.
bedrog
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 1:48 a.m.
part 2 ( as promised): http://www.hvcn.org/info/feh/ see the "what are the herskovites" page. It's self explanatory re this article on a deservedly marginal group.
bedrog
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 1:45 a.m.
part1: The once respectable environmental - advocacy GREEN PARTY fell off a cliff ( and kept falling ) once it adopted anti- israelism - to -outright antisemitism as its primary focus ( under a Hamas supporting presidential candidate ...cynthia Mckinney--- and a local synagogue harassing, hijab wearing ( despite being a catholic!!) bull horn wielding chapter president who is viewable on a website i will post next,( and expect a2.com to not delete it , since it is factual material on flamboyantly and aggressively self- promoting public figures...and was allowed on a related previous thread.
bedrog
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 1:43 a.m.
peter...you'd know because you seem to be a supporter of this tiny toxic group who live in a termite- like groupthink . If you're not ,why bother to defend something you know nothing about?...other than gratuitous trolling.
Roadman
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 10:29 p.m.
Seems to me the Green Party has done well in some places in recent years. They had a Green Party state representative elected in Arkansas. A Green Party member was elected to Hamtramck City Council locally.
Peter
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:32 p.m.
As I already know? How would I know that?
bedrog
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:54 p.m.
peter... my alternative accounts?? none...a2 .com forbids them, which got a number of Green supporters banned from the site in the past....they are prominently on view on the FEH site i posted elsewhere on this thread...(as you of course already know.).
Peter
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 5:57 p.m.
How many alternate accounts did you have to make to spam the votes?
bedrog
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 10:55 a.m.
peter again: in the ( hopefully likely) event you're a different person of the same name, another one ---a founder of the local Greens before its bigoted epiphany--- is quoted in an article called 'False Witnesses"by a former Ann Arbor news reporter in the Jan 2010 issue of The Washtenaw Jewish news. This guy bitterly laments the direction his former party took...as does anyone else who's ever encountered them in recent years. ( and a good chunk of the website i linked in another post on this thread depicts their members and officials.)....but again you probably know all this already.
bedrog
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 10:11 a.m.
peter...cute yet totally in keeping with Green hypocrisy. By not using a shift key i save calories, hence energy ...and ultimately fossil fuel.. ...all good for the environment , which the Greens once cared about before getting derailed by their bigotry ( a quite real phenomenon...not a conspiracy theory, which is more a Green malady than mine). But you know all this all this already , don't you? ( p.s. have we met? and maybe lunched somewhere??)
Peter
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 4:24 a.m.
Did the antisemitic conspiracy take your shift key too?
bedrog
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 1:55 a.m.
i notice that none of the candidates mentioned ( or their presumed platforms) reflect the past realities i cited .... is this an internal leadership coup in the direction of non bigoted sanity? ( since the extremists i mentioned were always ludicrously squashed in any election they ran in..such as for the the Food coop board ) or are they stealth candidacies with the same nasty agenda as earlier ?? inquiring minds want to know ...and will find out!!
golfer
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 12:21 a.m.
who cares.
bedrog
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 2:09 a.m.
who cares?? in a statistical sense , very few... .but hardcore fanatics in history have often had an impact far beyond their actual support....and in the past the GREENS became such fanatics, despite more respectable origins.