11th House District a hot seat; Guerriero takes on Somers for judge
By BOB OLIVER
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — The filing period is over and the local races are taking shape for the Aug. 5 primary election.
The races for governor and the U.S. Senator position being vacated by Carl Levin (D) will not require a primary but the two races for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will.
In the 12th District, which is currently held by outgoing Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn), a primary will decide who will be representing both parties in the Nov. 4 election as Debbie Dingell and Raymond Mullins will challenge each other for the Democratic nod and Terry Bowman and Stephen Farkas are running for the republican spot.
Incumbent John Conyers (D-Detroit) is seeking re-election to represent the 13th District in the House and will be challenged by Horace Sheffield in the primary.
Other local elections also will need to be sorted out by the primary election.
Michigan Senate
No primary will be needed for the race for the 3rd District, which represents all of Dearborn, as incumbent Morris Hood (D) will be challenged by Republican Matthew Keller for the four-year spot in the Senate.
The 5th District race will require a primary as six Democrats are running for the seat being vacated by Tupac Hunter (D).
Shanelle Jackson, David Knezek, David Nathan, Carrie O’Connor, Thomas Stallworth and Frank Tomcsik will square off in the primary to see who will face Republican Jennifer Rynicki for the seat in November.
The 5th District represents all of Dearborn Heights and portions of surrounding communities.
Michigan House of Representatives
Of the four districts representing parts of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, three will require primaries.
For the 9th District, incumbent Harvey Santana (D) will be challenged by fellow democrat Hussein Berry for the spot on the November ballot.
In the 11th District, eight democrats will compete for the nod to run against Republican Jim Rhoades for the seat vacated by Knezek, who is running for state Senate.
The list of democratic candidates vying for a spot in the general election will be Ned Apigian, Rashid Baydoun, DeArtiss Coleman-Richardson, Dorothy Grady, Hillard Hampton, Lisa Hicks-Clayton, Julie Plawecki and Patricia Scott.
A primary will also be needed to decide which of the three Democrats running for the 13th District will move onto the general election as Frank Liberati, Geraldine Trager and Tony Trupiano are all fighting for the seat being vacated by Andrew Kandrevas (D).
The race for the 15th District will not require a primary and will have incumbent George Darany (D) squaring off against Johnnie Salemassi (R).
All of the seats in the Michigan House are for two-year terms.
Wanye County Commissioner
The 8th District which includes Dearborn Heights will require a Democratic primary because incumbent Diane Webb is being challenged by Shirley Tolliver for the two-year position.
Republican Jeanette Christe also is running for the job.
The 13th District representing Dearborn will not require a primary as incumbent Gary Woronchak is running unopposed.
Wayne County Executive
Incumbent Robert Ficano will be seeking his fourth term in office but first has to get through a primary filled with challengers.
Adam Adamski, Phil Cavanagh, Cindy Darrah, Warren Evans, LaMar Lemmons, Russell Leviska, Kevin McNamara, H. Napoleon, Bettie Scott, Sigmunt Szczepkowski Jr., William Wild, Christopher Wojtowicz and Ficano will battle for the Democratic side of the ballot, while Republicans Fred Bolden, John Dalton and Daniel Wenderlich will battle for their party’s nod.
District Judges
No primary will be needed for either local district court judge race.
The third seat on the bench in the 19th District Court will be contested between incumbent Judge Mark Somers and challenger Anthony Guerriero while 20th District Court Judge Mark Plawecki is running unopposed to retain his seat.
District judges serve six-year terms in office.
(Bob Oliver can be reached at [email protected].)