Your guide to the Tuesday, Aug. 7 primary election in Washtenaw County
This is your guide to the highlights of AnnArbor.com's coverage of the Tuesday, Aug. 7 primary election.
Voters from across Washtenaw County will decide on local leaders and millages, as well as who will represent them at state and national levels.
Closing down fire stations: Ann Arbor City Council candidates offer thoughts on reorganization plan
Mayor John Hieftje's majority on the Ann Arbor City Council is at risk in the Aug. 7 primary
Ann Arbor City Council candidates: Where they stand on city's public art program
WITH VIDEO: Closing statements from July 14's Ann Arbor City Council candidate forum
Election roundup: Your guide to AnnArbor.com's coverage of the League of Women Voters debates
Ypsilanti On the ballot for Ward 1 is Tyrone Bridges, Steve Pierce and incumbent Lois Richardson. In Ward 2, Susan Moeller is running unopposed, and Ward 3 candidates include Mike Eller, incumbent Pete Murdock and Ted Windish.
Ypsilanti City Council candidates sound off on issues
Anti-tax proposal candidates bid for Ypsilanti Council seats in 2 of 3 wards
Tyrone Bridges among candidates for ward 1 Ypsilanti City Council seat
Ypsilanti Township On the ballot: Voters will select nine members of park commission, a township supervisor, four township trustees, township clerk and township treasurer.
Eleven candidates vie for nine Ypsilanti Township Park Commission seats
Ypsilanti Township supervisor candidates see different paths into the community's future
Eight candidates running for four Ypsilanti Township trustee seats
Ypsilanti Township's Y-Town Future candidates challenge incumbents for clerk, treasurer
Courts: On the ballot: Jim Fink, Erane Washington, Doug McClure and Carol Kuhnke are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Judge Melinda Morris in the 22nd Circuit Court. The top two vote-getters will face off in the November election.
Circuit court judicial candidates discuss medical marijuana, same sex adoption at forum
Judge candidate Jim Fink leads opponents by double digits in bar association poll
Judge candidate called out for Republican leanings at Democratic Party judicial forum
Washtenaw County On the ballot: Democrat Andy LaBarre is running against Democrat Christina Montague for the open 7th District seat in Ann Arbor on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. Democrats Evan Pratt and Harry Bentz are competing for the open Water Resources Commissioner seat being vacated by Janis Bobrin.
Two Democrats vie for new district seat on Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners
Democratic candidates for District 7 seat on Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners face off
Andy LaBarre makes bid for county board official, will face former commissioner Christina Montague
Bus driver, engineer face off in Democratic primary for water resources commissioner
Additional township races & millages Millages include open space preservation, millage increase, fire renewal, law enforcement and zoning defense. Voters also will select township trustees, clerks and other officials.
Sylvan Township residents will vote on millage Aug. 7
Superior Township residents to vote on 3 millages in Aug. 7 election
Augusta Township residents to vote on open space millage
Manchester Township seeks 5-year fire protection millage (Manchester Enterprise)
Heavily contested primary races found in some Western Washtenaw townships
Incumbent supervisor challenged in Lima Township primary
*See a full list of candidates for Augusta, Ann Arbor, Bridgewater, Freedom, Lima, Lodi, Manchester, Northfield, Pittsfield, Salem, Sharon, Superior, Sylvan, Webster and York townships here.
Congressional races On the ballot: U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, is defending his seat against Democratic challenger Daniel Marcin in the 12th Congressional district, which covers Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Republicans Karen Jacobsen and Cynthia Kallgren are competing on the GOP ticket. U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, is defending his seat against Republican Dan Davis. Democrats Ruben Marquez and Kurt Haskell are competing on the Democratic ticket.
Ann Arbor man wants to prevent John Dingell from seeing a 30th term in Congress
U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg facing primary challenge from little-known candidate (MLive.com)
Democrats Kurt Haskell, Ruben Marquez both say they're best candidate to defeat U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (MLive.com)
U.S. Senate On the ballot: Republicans Pete Hoekstra, Clark Durant, Gary Glenn and Randy Hekman are competing for a chance to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in November. (Note: Glenn actually withdrew, but did so well after the May 18 deadline, and thus remains on the ballot.)
U.S. Senate debate signals start of final stretch for Michigan's Republican candidates (MLive.com)
State House races On the ballot: State Rep. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, is defending his seat against Democratic challenger Thomas Partridge. Ann Arbor Democrat Adam Zemke is competing against Pittsfield Township Democrat Andrea Brown-Harrison for the open 55th District seat being vacated by Rick Olson.
Irwin and Partridge face off in 53rd District state House candidate debate
55th District Democratic primary: Candidate is 2nd-time no-show for debate
4 state House candidates in Washtenaw County pick up endorsements from Detroit Regional Chamber
See AnnArbor.com's comprehensive election coverage here.
See election information, including polling locations, voter ID info and even Tuesday night election results, from the County Clerk/Register's Office here.
Comments
Halter
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 11:24 a.m.
Reminder to Republicans: the only way to get rid of Ward 4 City Council incumbent Teal is to vote Democratic...flip your ballot over, vote for Eaton, and call it a day. So sad Ann Arbor has come to this one-party folly.
Monica R-W
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 3:51 a.m.
Erane Washington would make an excellent Circuit Court Judge for the Washtenaw County Judicial Bench and will be happy to cast my vote for her tomorrow! If, I was in Ypsilanti City-Ward 1, Tyrone Bridges would have my vote. Either way, its critically important that you take 30 minutes out of your day tomorrow and participate in voting in Tuesday's election.
Elijah Shalis
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 8:43 p.m.
I met Erane Washington outside my polling place in the parking lot. She was very nice and both myself and my boyfriend voted for her. She gave us a big hug.
KeepingItReal
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 10:28 a.m.
Fink has integrity.
Fifth Warder
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 1:30 a.m.
Please remember to vote in the Fifth Ward City Council primary election tomorrow. Vivienne Armentrout needs your support. She is an ethical, dedicated and articulate civic leader. She deserves your vote.
JRW
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 12:56 a.m.
Thank you for providing a good summary of issues and candidates ahead of tomorrow's primary.
RUKiddingMe
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 11:49 p.m.
Does anyone know the BENEFIT of forcing voters to stick with only one party on this ballot? Why does Michigan not allow split ticket voting?
Thaddeus
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 5:01 p.m.
We are lucky in Michigan that we have an Open Primary. We can vote either the Democratic or Republican ticket (regardless of our affiliation or general voting patterns). We just cannot vote both Party races on the same Primary ballot. There are times where there are closer or more pivital races that make it more in our interest to "cross-over" and vote the Party races that we typically wouldn't vote for. This way, to better determine the outcome for the General Election. Sometimes nearly all races on one Party's side are uncontested or otherwise all but predetermined. Other times it can be good to cross-over to pick the most defeatable individual to vote against (voting for another Party candidate) in the General Election.... While some would consider the latter sinister, regardless how/ why you do it, VOTE in the Primaries. With historically low voter turn-outs, you vote counts for more in most Primaries....
Veracity
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 4:01 p.m.
Crossing over will allow voters of a different persuasion to advance the prospects of winning by candidates they hope will weakly represent the opposition's party in the upcoming regular election. This plan will be especially desirable for offices for which the favored party has no competition. In this case, voters crossing over are not giving up the chance to select a candidate from their own party but can influence the selection of opposition candidates. Not fair.
amlive
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 10:39 p.m.
Anyone but Fink for 22nd circuit court. http://eclectablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/FinkFlyer.pdf
Fifth Warder
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 1:35 a.m.
Ypsilanti loves Jim Fink - a true leader in the community.
Basic Bob
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.
None of the above in the 55th.
David Cahill
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 10:06 p.m.
I really appreciate AnnArbor.com's coverage! The turnout will be really, really low tomorrow (Tuesday) if the number of absentee ballots cast is any indication - which it is. Because of the likely low turnout, each voter has more influence than usual. Be sure to vote!!
Kim Kachadoorian
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.
Jack Eaton for Ward 4 Jack gets my vote for many reasons. Top of mind though is his commitment to the "health, safety and welfare" of Ann Arbor – what our council is charged with maintaining. He opposes the consolidation of fire stations down to only 3 stations. He supports the current 5 stations. He supports increasing our fire and safety staff, back to levels that are more in line with a city our size. Jack is an advocate of neighborhoods as well. Near downtown neighborhoods need to be protected from destruction. Part of what makes our city thrive is neighborhoods, and many of these are near downtown and the toll bell for these near downtown neighborhoods has already begun to ring, sadly. Jack will be an excellent addition and change to city council. Vote for Jack Eaton!
Sparty
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 9:09 p.m.
Let alone he will be visible, constituent focused, and fiscally responsible vs the irresponsible/invisible/absent Margie Teall.
mhirzel
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 7:19 p.m.
WHY are the A2 Council candidates not on the absentee ballot????
Sparty
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 9:07 p.m.
ROFL
Vivienne Armentrout
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 8:16 p.m.
Turn the ballot over. The council candidates are on the back.
Ryan J. Stanton
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 6:26 p.m.
Watch here tomorrow night for results (and check AnnArbor.com for stories, of course): http://electionresults.ewashtenaw.org/aug2012/indexreport.html
Paul Wiener
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 6:07 p.m.
This is a guide to Ann Arbor.com's coverage of the election. It is not a guide to the election and is virtually unuseable in this form.
jns131
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.
I am going to see if I can vote for Harry. If not? Then there really isn't much to run out for, except to vote n a new president.
justiceforeach
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:13 p.m.
Hello voters in the Fifth ward primary. Please join me in giving Vivienne Armentrout your vote tomorrow. Town/gown issues have always been of importance in this town ...even more so lately. Vivienne enjoys circumstances that encourage that independence. She does not work for the University. Neither does her husband. She will not have the complication of that sort of economic relationship in weighing alternatives for this town ... whether those alternatives might seem close in assessment of benefits or seem like slam dunks to the rest of us. We need more outward signs of that independence of town/gown here in Ann Arbor. Her willingness to listen, her knowledge, her insightful analysis and understanding will bring us far. She does not suffer from the fact that she risks biting the hand that feeds her in standing firm in representing the Citizens of Ann Arbor when those interests come up against the interests of the university. Like it or not, we are a company town, and we need to encourage independence from the university when considering what is in the best interest of the people of the City of Ann Arbor. Again, please vote for Vivienne Armentrout. Her opponent seems nice enough, but he suffers from the fact that he risks biting the hand that helps feed his family in standing firm in representing the interests of the Citizens of Ann Arbor when those interests come up against the interests of the university. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to vote tomorrow. Happy primary day.
Kima Greggs
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 3:43 a.m.
Factually incorrect: neither of the 5th ward candidates nor their spouses are at all affiliated with the University of Michigan. There are differences between these candidates but this is not one of them. Read the coverage of the debates, check out candidate websites, ask your friends, and make your decisions - but don't vote based on what a blog comment tells you.
Fifth Warder
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 1:34 a.m.
The Fifth Ward is fortunate to have someone the professional caliber of Vivienne who wants to serve on City Council.
JRW
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 12:58 a.m.
I would not support anyone who wants to continue the percent for art debacle in A2.
PattyinYpsi
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 3:11 p.m.
Thanks for putting all this information together, guys. Quite helpful.
xmo
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
The judges are the most critical race because not much is known about them. If they are Leaning Democrat, then they legislate from the Bench. Which is why in the 22nd Circuit Court. The top two vote-getters will face off in the November election. One of these we know will be a "Progressive" who will legislate from the bench, the other, Hopefully, Jim Fink is not and will at least give us a choice in November!
Veracity
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 3:53 p.m.
Typical XMO and Republican specious argument. Ho, hum.
PattyinYpsi
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 3:10 p.m.
You're right, xmo: Only judges with progressive values legislate from the bench. Conservative judges--oh, let's say Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, etc.--never, EVER do that. Please.
Technojunkie
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 1:09 p.m.
"Republicans Pete Hoekstra, Clark Durant, Gary Glenn and Randy Hekman are competing for a chance to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in November." Gary Glenn and Peter Konetchy dropped out and endorsed Clark Durant. Glenn dropped out too late to be removed from the ballot.
Ryan J. Stanton
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
Peter Konetchy was disqualified by the Michigan Bureau of Elections for insufficient petition signatures and is not on the ballot. http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120605/POLITICS01/206050358 And you're right -- Gary Glenn withdrew well after the May 18 deadline to withdraw and thus remains on the ballot.