Political season in full swing, party nominations set

Category: Chronicle Archives Published on Tuesday, 29 August 2006 20:00 Written by Michigan Chronicle

Some of the most heavily discussed positions were the attorney general and the secretary of state offices.

           
Amos Williams won the Democratic Party’s nomination and will face incumbent Attorney General Mike Cox in November.      

“I am a Democrat,” Williams said as he spoke to the cheering crowd. “I am a U.S. senator and I am a son of Michigan. Over the next 73 days you will hear a lot from our opponents about what they will get done. We had 12 years of it from Engler and he blew it. They could start by doing their job.”

Williams is a Detroit native and has served in the Army as well as with the Detroit Police Department. He is currently practicing law.

           
For secretary of state, Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh received the Democratic nomination, to compete against Republican incumbent Terri Lynn Land. State Rep. Mary Waters (D-Detroit) had hoped to get the secretary of state nod, but lost during the August primary. Waters, who represents District 5 in the House, cannot run for the House again due to term limits.

           
After some initial discussion of Bishop Keith Butler being nominated as the attorney general, it did not happen. Butler ran against   and lost to fellow Republican Mike Bouchard in the August primary race for U.S. senator. Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow had no challengers in the primary, and polls show her leading Bouchard by nearly 20 points.

           
Additional Democratic nominations include current Lt. Gov. John Cherry, who would be serving a second term, while the Republicans nominated Ruth Johnson, current Oakland County Clerk, to fill the spot.

           
The Democrats nominated Michael Cavanaugh and Jane Beckering to the Michigan Supreme Court while the Republicans selected Maura Corrigan and Mark Shulman.

           
For the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, the Democrats selected George Perles, chair of the Motor City Bowl, and Faylene Owen. Dolores Cook and Dave Porteous are the Republican nominations.

           
For the Wayne State Board of Governors, the Democrats selected Debbie Dingell, president of the General Motors Foundation, and Eugene Driker, a Detroit attorney.

           
Andrew McLemore, from AMAC Construction Services, and John Akouri, CEO of the Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, were the Republican picks.

           
The heat is on.

           
Gov. Jennifer Granholm and challenger Dick DeVos spoke to groups of supporters and each vowed to make Michigan a better state.

DeVos said he plans to create more job opportunities in the state.

           
“We need a job climate that is just as hot as the weather outside,” DeVos said. “That means getting rid of the job-killing (Small Business Tax). This tax must go. We will replace (it) with a better business tax and will not cut essential services. And those who say it can’t be done are dealing in fear and not in solutions. They’d rather blame than take real action and create Michigan jobs.”

           
DeVos added that he plans to rebuild the state government to create a more productive team.

           
“Our overhaul will start at the top in the governor’s office because that’s where the buck stops – on my desk,” he said. “Our dedicated civil servants deserve leadership and clear direction from the governor’s office.”

           
Granholm proclaimed that she, too, will work to create more jobs, provide better health and more funding to students who attend college. 

           
“This jobs plan means we ill give every child a $4,000 scholarship to college or a trade school whether they’ve passed a standardized test or not,” she said. “This jobs plan will mean universal access to affordable health care. My Michigan First Health Care plan will mean no more families without health insurance. Let’s show the rest of the county how it can be done.”