Michigan politics have been in the news quite a bit lately, and not for good reasons. Earlier this year, a candidate for the State House of Representatives switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and faced off against an apparent sham Democratic replacement. That incident, which included allegations against the Republican Speaker of the House, resulted in a State Police election fraud investigation that may have been ended prematurely and has shaken the confidence of many Michigan voters.
A new controversy is brewing over the race for Michigan Supreme Court Justice. With three seats up for grabs, the 2012 election has incredibly high stakes. Although the position is non-partisan, Democrats are backing three female candidates: Bridget Mary McCormack, Judge Shelia Johnson, and Judge Connie Kelley. A new candidate has emerged, a woman backed by the “Taxpayer Party,” who has pledged to raise and spend less than $1,000 for her campaign. To date, she appears to be expending no effort to persuade voters that she is the best candidate for the important job of Supreme Court Justice.
Interestingly, the new candidate has worked as a Republican staffer in Congress and has worked for current Chief Justice Robert Young, a staunch conservative.
Michigan Democratic Party Mark Brewer has asked the current GOP-backed Justices to disclose what they know about this new candidate. Party officials are concerned that, similar to the party-switch scandal, the candidate is a sham intended to draw votes away from the other female candidates and ensure the success of the GOP’s choices.
The great thing about our democracy is that everyone has a voice and an opportunity to participate. Activities that subvert the political process and deceive voters are repugnant to our freedom to choose our lawmakers. Any attempt to rig an election should be investigated and, if proven true, be considered a serious violation of the principles we hold dear.
