Quite a few people have written to me now, asking where they can find sample ballots showing all of the various things they’ll be voting on this Tuesday. I’m sure there are local resources all around the country, but the best national database I’ve found is at Publius.org. All you have to do is enter your name, and that of your city, and they’ll give you everything on your ballot… I did, however, notice one thing that seemed to be off when I just checked mine. They didn’t include Mike Eller on the list of people running for Ypsi City Council. I suspect it’s an error at Publius, and that Mike will be on the ballot come Tuesday, but I thought that I should mention it.
If you want to discuss any of the other things we’ll be voting on here in Michigan, like the State Supreme Court, the Regents of our various universities, or any of the ballot initiatives before us, here’s the place to do it. Just leave a comment.
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Mark and others– I need help here re: who to vote for or abstain from voting for in the local judges races. Beyond state supreme court, our Ypsi ballot has a bunch of circuit court and court of appeals judges. Are any, say, vocal about same sex adoption? …or urban chickens? …or other issues we might care about?
Also, any thoughts on the state board of ed seats or any of the regents for U-M Wayne State, or MSU? By default I go Democratic, but am happy to vote Independent or Green if there’s someone cool.
Okay, follow up re: judges. I had checked http://www.pridesourcevotes.com– which gives endorsements to lgbt-friendly candidates– and in our Ypsi area, they do endorse:
Kelley, Connie Marie for 3RD CIRCUIT JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT (though she doesn’t come up as an option on my publius sample ballot) and Shelton, Donald E. for 22ND CIRCUIT JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT.
They also endorse all of the Democrats for State Board of Ed and the Regents for all three Universities.
But what about the 3rd District Judge of the Court of Appeals? How about Probate Court? 14A District Court?
Okay, I’ll just use this as my place for running research commentary, in case anyone cares.
U-M REGENTS:
I do like everything that the Green Party candidate for U-M Regent– Ellis Boal– says. http://www.ellisboal.org/ I think he’s got my nod no doubt and would be a great voice in the University.
The two Dems running for regent– Larry Deitch– http://www.larrydeitchforregent.com/ — and Denise Ilitch– http://deniseilitchregent.com — don’t really say anything on their websites that make me excited. So, I think I’ll just vote for the Green Party guy.
STATE BOARD OF ED:
The Green Party Candidate– Dwain C. Reynolds III– for the State Board of Ed looks pretty cool– or at least has a fancy website and talks all about restoring equity in the school system through a lens race and class and gender equality. He also talks about ending corporate advertising in schools, getting rid of No Child Left Behind, and a bunch of other good stuff. So, he has my vote.
The two Dems for State board of Ed– John Austin and Kathleen Straus– are both incumbents. Kathleen Straus’ website (http://www.kathleenstrausforeducation.com/) didn’t say anything that struck me, but I see that John Austin (http://austinforstateboard.com) is heading the New Economy Initiative in SE Michigan (http://www.neweconomyinitiative.org/), which I’ve read about lately and is going to pump a whole bunch of money into innovative job training and cool stuff in SE MI. He’s also a former board member for League of Conservation Ed Fund. So, I think he and Dwain Reynolds are getting my state board of ed votes.
I can’t find anything about Therese Marie Storm– the Green Party candidate for the MSU Board of Trustees. So, not sure what to do.
JUDGES:
A good friend just said that Nancy Francis– for probate court (and uncontested) is awesome… She’s Alma Wheeler Smith’s sister and, according to my friend, “an amazing social justice crusader.” She also says that Shelton & Shapiro are great for 22nd circuit.
I think that just leaves 3rd district court of appeals… Hmm…