Rick Santorum will speak at Heritage Christian Academy on Monday night
It's confirmed: Rick Santorum will speak Monday night at Heritage Christian Academy, 6312 Quail Run, in Kalamazoo.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and seating will be on a first-come basis. There will be no cost for the event.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Waltz Out
Democrat John Waltz has dropped out of the race for the 6th congressional district for health reasons. Democrats are looking for a new candidate.
6th District Democrats to look at candidates to run against Congressman Fred Upton after John Waltz dropped out
John Waltz's wife: 'There's no way for him to continue' race against Congressman Fred Upton
John Waltz dropping out of race against Congressman Fred Upton because of life-threatening illness
6th District Democrats to look at candidates to run against Congressman Fred Upton after John Waltz dropped out
John Waltz's wife: 'There's no way for him to continue' race against Congressman Fred Upton
John Waltz dropping out of race against Congressman Fred Upton because of life-threatening illness
Michigan Redistricting: Court of Appeals
The Michigan legislature recently passed a redistricting plan for the Court of Appeals. This court is below the Michigan Supreme Court. It consists of 28 judges (2 currently vacant), which may soon be reduced to 24 under a bill to reduce the number of judges passed in Lansing. The court is split into four districts based in Detroit, Troy, Lansing, and Grand Rapids.
Here is the new district map.
This is the old map.
The Court of Appeals is quite a different problem from usual redistricting plans. Incumbents have a huge advantage and are almost always reelected uncontested. This is because non-incumbents must collect a huge number of signatures (5000, I think), while incumbents can run for reelection simply by filing an affidavit. Furthermore, incumbents are listed as judges on the ballot, giving an additional advantage. Hence the only contested races are for the occasional open seat.
While the court is officially nonpartisan, conservatives have a significant advantage on the Court of Appeals due to the long tenure (1990-2002) of Governor John Engler, who appointed many of the judges to fill vacancies. Hence the goal is to draw four districts that aren't heavily dem, account for population changes, and if possible keep current incumbents in their districts.
District 1: (Detroit) [Wayne, Monroe, Lenawee, Hillsdale, Branch, St. Joseph, Kalamazoo] Given the population loss in Detroit, this district needed to add people. It drops Calhoun and adds Branch, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo. (Now I'm in a district with Detroit. Boo!)
District 2: (Troy) [Macomb, Oakland, Genesee] This district drops Schiawasee due to strong population growth in central Macomb County.
District 3: (Grand Rapids) [West Michigan, Washtenaw] Adds Mason, Oceana, and Montcalm from 4 and Calhoun from 1. Loses Branch, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo to 1. Washtenaw is kept in the most Republican district, as putting in with Wayne might be enough to consistently elect democrats.
District 4: (Lansing) [Northern Michigan, Ingham, Livingston] Adds Schiawasee from 2, loses Mason, Oceana, and Montcalm to 3.
Overall, it appears to be a reasonable map.
Here is the new district map.
This is the old map.
The Court of Appeals is quite a different problem from usual redistricting plans. Incumbents have a huge advantage and are almost always reelected uncontested. This is because non-incumbents must collect a huge number of signatures (5000, I think), while incumbents can run for reelection simply by filing an affidavit. Furthermore, incumbents are listed as judges on the ballot, giving an additional advantage. Hence the only contested races are for the occasional open seat.
While the court is officially nonpartisan, conservatives have a significant advantage on the Court of Appeals due to the long tenure (1990-2002) of Governor John Engler, who appointed many of the judges to fill vacancies. Hence the goal is to draw four districts that aren't heavily dem, account for population changes, and if possible keep current incumbents in their districts.
District 1: (Detroit) [Wayne, Monroe, Lenawee, Hillsdale, Branch, St. Joseph, Kalamazoo] Given the population loss in Detroit, this district needed to add people. It drops Calhoun and adds Branch, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo. (Now I'm in a district with Detroit. Boo!)
District 2: (Troy) [Macomb, Oakland, Genesee] This district drops Schiawasee due to strong population growth in central Macomb County.
District 3: (Grand Rapids) [West Michigan, Washtenaw] Adds Mason, Oceana, and Montcalm from 4 and Calhoun from 1. Loses Branch, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo to 1. Washtenaw is kept in the most Republican district, as putting in with Wayne might be enough to consistently elect democrats.
District 4: (Lansing) [Northern Michigan, Ingham, Livingston] Adds Schiawasee from 2, loses Mason, Oceana, and Montcalm to 3.
Overall, it appears to be a reasonable map.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Clearing the Drain Commission
Republican Kalamazoo County Commissioner Nasim Ansari will challenge democrat incumbent Drain Commissioner Patricia Crowley. Ansaii has been a commissioner for ten years representing northern Portage. Before that, he was on the Portage city councilman.
Kalamazoo County Commissioner Nasim Ansari to challenge Drain Commissioner Patricia Crowley
Ansari's district was cut in half in redistricting, and was placing in the same district as John Zull (not Phil Stinchcomb, as the article says, unless Ansari recently moved). Ansari is a tough campaigner who held a competitive district for a decade. (He may well have more name recognition than Crowley, who was swept in on the 2008 democrat wave.) That said, I suspect that this race will go to whichever party does better overall in 2012.
Kalamazoo County Commissioner Nasim Ansari to challenge Drain Commissioner Patricia Crowley
Ansari's district was cut in half in redistricting, and was placing in the same district as John Zull (not Phil Stinchcomb, as the article says, unless Ansari recently moved). Ansari is a tough campaigner who held a competitive district for a decade. (He may well have more name recognition than Crowley, who was swept in on the 2008 democrat wave.) That said, I suspect that this race will go to whichever party does better overall in 2012.
Dear Republican County Commissioners
Don't vote to raise taxes! Certainly not if you plan on getting reelected. And if you think something is a bad idea, then putting it on the ballot is also a bad idea.
Kalamazoo County commissioners still divided on tax to help homeless
Kalamazoo County commissioners still divided on tax to help homeless
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Bring Back Beck
WKZO has replaced Glenn Beck's radio show, which had aired 5-8PM with inferior programming.
Glenn Beck off the air at WKZO, replaced with local news hour
Write them to let know that they should bring Beck back: http://wkzo.com/contact-us/
In the mean time, you can hear Glenn Beck 27/7 here: http://www.glennbeck.com/publish/themes/glennbeck/live_player/
Glenn Beck off the air at WKZO, replaced with local news hour
Write them to let know that they should bring Beck back: http://wkzo.com/contact-us/
In the mean time, you can hear Glenn Beck 27/7 here: http://www.glennbeck.com/publish/themes/glennbeck/live_player/
Racing Against Snow
Democrat County Commissioner Brian Johnson will challenge Republican County Clerk Tim Snow. Snow has been clerk for over a decade and has not faced a serious challenge in some time.
Kalamazoo County Commissioner Brian Johnson to challenge Tim Snow for county clerk
Johnson lives in the same county commission district as Michael Seals, and would otherwise have run against him. Johnson has been on the county commission for a total of over 14 years (1986-1992, 2003-present). He does not appear to be particularly qualified to be clerk.
Kalamazoo County Commissioner Brian Johnson to challenge Tim Snow for county clerk
Johnson lives in the same county commission district as Michael Seals, and would otherwise have run against him. Johnson has been on the county commission for a total of over 14 years (1986-1992, 2003-present). He does not appear to be particularly qualified to be clerk.
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