Let's see how the typewriter looks at the results for next Tuesday. My view only and I am sure you have your own as well. So here we go:
Michigan Supreme Court: Bridget Mary McCormack, Elizabeth Welch, Mary Kelly, Brock Swartzle. With Biden prepared to take the state look for the two candidates nominated by the Democrats for this non-partisan position to defeat the two republican nominated candidates. It generally holds true that the party that carries the state wins the Supreme Court.
United States House of Representatives: Haley Stevens, Eric Esshaki. Stevens hard work, visibility, transparency and accessibility will take this by a comfortable margin. At best Esshaki can say he has signs on every street corner. Have not met anyone who has met Esshaki and have not met anyone who has not met Stevens. He got a late start and it shows. Stevens started early and it shows.
State Representative: Laurie Pohutsky, Martha Ptashnik. What will it be? $600,000. $700,000. Money is pouring into the district from the pro-for-profit charter school lobby in Grand Rapids supporting a public school teacher who is running on a platform to take money from our historic public schools. She wants guns in our classrooms. Ptashnik is trying to unseat Laurie Pohutsky, a proven accessible, available legislator and the outside funding is making that possible.
When Livonia was under construction in the 60's and 70's our city and school officials worked together understanding that strong public schools enhanced property values while attracting young families. Today we have city leaders putting party above policy, personality over programs. It is the establishment Republicans who have controlled Livonia politics for years wanting a return to power.
Pohutsky won by a slim margin in 2018. Look for similar 2020 result.
County Commissioner: Nancy Darga, Terry Marecki. The typewriter endorsed Marecki and in any other year without the Presidential race at the top of the ticket she should win with her base in Livonia. But Darga is playing it right. A strong base in Northville City having served as Mayor pro-tem. Look for Northville Township to line up solidly with Marecki.
Marecki has a long record of community involvement, she knows people, has been involved with hometown issues. This should be her race. But Presidential years make it difficult for the bottom of the ticket and with the increase of straight party voting it makes it more difficult for a candidate not of the prevailing party.
The Democrats will carry Livonia and with it add votes for a number of lower ticket candidates like Darga and Pohutsky. Look for the Darga-Marecki race to be as close as the Pohutsky-Ptashnik race.
Livonia Board of Education: Karen Bradford, Crystal Frank, Dan Centers, Tammy Bonifield. This is one that the typewriter is struggling with calling. Two candidates have re-election set, Bradford and Frank. Add Centers with his strong media campaign and wealth of endorsements and he makes the top three.
Acosta has the support of school parents in the Stevenson attendance area and should be a strong candidate for one of the top four positions. If the Livonia Democratic Club has the pull they have exhibited in the past then Acosta makes it to the top four.
But Bonifield has shown her support for the community beyond the school board and to this typewriter that is important. There is too much thinking that the only people who should have a vote on the board are those with children in the district. Another day, another article, let's talk about it as the majority of people in Livonia have no children in school, but many have grandchildren, neighbors, etc. and we have as much at stake as those with children.
The four incumbents deserve re-election and from the feedback we are getting the four incumbents will win but look for a nail biter for #4.
