Comments on: Final Roundup: Ann Arbor Nov. 6 Election

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:17:07 +0000

You’re welcome! I have a lot of respect for you. You engage rationally and constructively with the issues and stand behind what you say. That’s what we need more of. My singling out of some individuals (I wouldn’t say “condemn”) has to do with who they are, not the fact that they’re running against long odds for office. (And I think it’s worth making a distinction between principled opposition and opportunism, but I think I’ll leave that topic alone for now.)

By: John Floyd

John Floyd — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:13:31 +0000

@4 Rod –

Thanks for your “Vote” of confidence here, even if you voted against me in the actual election.

We agree that we need contested elections. That is a large part of what led me to run for office.

I respect anyone who puts themselves out there to run for office – especially when odds are against them. Many “Stronger” candidates will not run under these conditions, preferring to leave an election uncontested than to sign up for likely failure defeat. When candidates run, in part, simply to ensure that elections are contested, it is hard for me to condemn them for being who they are. To me, there is even something a little bit heroic in the willingness of a less-political citizen to take on long odds to stand up for democracy and ensure that our elections are real.

Footnote: Since foreign policy, defense spending, federal income tax policy, gay marriage, abortion, systemic health insurance, environmental regulation, education funding and other more-partisan issues are not influenced, let alone decided, at 5th & Huron (or Main & Huron), a greater willingness from our local electorate to look at local candidates with a more-open eye might encourage more contests in November elections.

It is flattering to be named in public as a “Stronger” (if, so far, unpopular) Loyal Opposition candidate. Thank you.

By: Mark Koroi

Mark Koroi — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 22:48:43 +0000

The latest report from the Secretary of State – with not all precincts reporting – is that Bridget McCormick has pulled out to a lead over all candidates on that incumbent MSC ballot.

The Associated Press wire has proclaimed Steve Markman and McCormick the winners on the incumbent ballot Michigan Supreme Court race.

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 22:39:57 +0000

The defeat of the library millage shows that occasionally the electoral process yields a sensible result. The squanderites however will not accept it. Their game is heads we win and the result is final, tails we put it back on the ballot again…and again…and again until we get what we want then the result is final. They will probably reduce the proposal cost slightly then try to slip it through in a minor election with low expected turnout, quite possibly in April 2013. Fortunately the shift to digital information distribution is moving rapidly and in six months the stupidity of spending any money on the library will be even more obvious than it is now.

By: Edward Vielmetti

Edward Vielmetti — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:15:49 +0000

A small typo:

“Connors carried every jurisdiction in the county with a minimum of 72% – the amount of votes he received in August and Northfield Townships.”

that should be “Augusta”

thanks for your hard work

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:16:34 +0000

Re (5) There was only one non-incumbent on the ballot, and four incumbents, so the majority of them would have been re-elected regardless. The way those seats are voted, a non-incumbent would have to run an extremely effective campaign and garner as many or more votes than (each of) all four incumbents.

Probably the meaning is that voters weren’t angry, just not interested in what the board was selling.

By: Mark Koroi

Mark Koroi — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:01:58 +0000

As of the 11:46 a.m. updated return of the unofficial tally of the Michigan Secretary of State office, Colleen O’Brien leads by 15,000 votes over McCormick.

By: Jack Eaton

Jack Eaton — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:59:55 +0000

Re (5). I think it means that voters recognize that we have a great library system that is well run. The vote against the bond was not a rejection of what we have. If anything, it was confirmation that we believe the current library is great. I think the re-elected Library Board members should have no trouble adjusting to the idea that the public does not support the idea of building an expensive auditorium, cafe and catering service into our current system.

By: Jim Rees

Jim Rees — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:41:56 +0000

I’m puzzled that the library millage failed yet the current board members were re-elected. Not sure what that means.

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:25:24 +0000

Great news about Bridget Mary McCormack. Let’s hope it holds.

The Republican ticket overall was really amateur hour. I’m a Democrat, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want some credible opposition. With the exception of John Floyd, Rob Turner and–alas–Alicia Ping, there were simply no credible Republicans. The idea that people could vote with a straight face for David Raaflaub or Jeffrey Gallatin… wow.