kerry bentivolio

Commentary: Election scandals

Jack Lessenberry — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:20:24 +0000

Brian Banks has eight felony convictions on his record, for things like bad checks and credit card fraud.

His landlord had him evicted from a rental property in Harper Woods last week, saying he had written bad checks and not paid his rent. Additionally, he was evicted from a second home in that city and a court ordered him to pay a nearly $4,000 judgment.

Commentary: Halloween politics

Jack Lessenberry — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:36:04 +0000

First, the good news. A week from now, this election will be over. No more ads, no more lies, no more charges and counter-charges. Do you know one person who regrets that, or who isn’t heartily sick of the campaign at all levels, including the candidates?

11th Congressional race pits newcomer against newcomer

Tracy Samilton — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 04:25:56 +0000

If you live in the 11th Congressional District and you're confused right now - it is NOT your fault. Here's a quick recap.

The 11th Congressional District became even more Republican after the most recent redistricting. So five-term incumbent Thaddeus McCotter was considered a shoe-in. That is, until it all fell apart in July.

Turns out some of McCotter's staff didn't get the 2,000 signatures needed to get their boss on the ballot.

Political newcomers vie for 11th Congressional seat prize

Tracy Samilton — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:35:22 +0000

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Kerry Bentivolio was fired from a teaching job. In fact, Mr. Bentivolio, although he received written reprimands for yelling at students, left of his own accord. We greatly regret the error.

The 11th Congressional District race is heating up.

The district was until recently represented by Thaddeus McCotter, before he resigned in a scandal over fake nominating petition signatures.

In this morning's Michigan news headlines. . .

Emily Fox — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 11:57:15 +0000

Three ballot proposals approved

Michigan voters will decide on six ballot proposals in November. The state Supreme Court rejected challenges to three out of four proposed amendments yesterday. The court approved amendments to guarantee collective bargaining rights, to require two-thirds super-majority votes in the Legislature to increase taxes, and statewide votes for any future international bridges to Canada. The proposal to authorize eight more casinos in the state was not approved.

Bentivolio wins primary in 11th disctrict

Former teacher Kerry Bentivolio won the special primary election in Michigan’s eleventh district. Bentivolio was one of four Republicans vying to complete the remainder of Thaddeus McCotter’s term in Congress. He'll face Democrat David Curson in the special general election to decide who serve the remaining few weeks in McCotter’s term. McCotter resigned in July after it was discovered that petition signatures were forged or copied in at least two of his campaigns.

Medical marijuana debate in Wyoming, Mich.

The Grand Rapids suburb of Wyoming is challenging a judge’s ruling that overturned its ban on medical marijuana. The Wyoming City Manager says city council worries that medical marijuana will increase crime and cause confusion for police. Michigan’s Court of Appeals struck down Wyoming’s medical marijuana ban last month. The court says any prosecution under federal laws would be up to the federal government, not local governments.

Republican Bentivolio moves on in race to replace McCotter

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:20:13 +0000

Republican Kerry Bentivolio has moved on in the special election to replace Thaddeus McCotter in Michigan’s eleventh district.

Bentivolio was one of four Republicans vying to serve out the remainder of McCotter’s term in Congress.

He topped former State Senator Nancy Cassis and two others in the suburban Detroit district. He faces David Curson, the only Democrat on the ballot, in the special November general election.

Cassis announces she's not actively campaigning for McCotter seat

Mark Brush — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:41:18 +0000

A special election has to be held to fulfill the rest of Thaddeus McCotter's term in the U.S. House of Representatives. McCotter resigned in the wake of a nominating petition mess.

Now, one of those running for McCotter's seat says she won't actively campaign for the special Sept. 5 election. The election will determine who will represent the 11th District for the six weeks until the Nov. election.

11th congressional district - already interesting - gets more so, with Cassis decision

Tracy Samilton — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:13:43 +0000

Republican Nancy Cassis says she will run in the September 5th special election in the 11th Congressional District.

The election was called to fill the few months remaining in the term, after the resignation of Thaddeus McCotter.

Cassis lost the August primary as a write-in, and she can't run in November unless it's also as a write-in candidate.

Democrat says he can win in 11th Congressional District

Tracy Samilton — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:54:38 +0000

The Democrat who won Tuesday's primary in Michigan's 11th Congressional District says he thinks he can win - even though the district is considered a Republican stronghold.

Syed Taj is a doctor who lives in Canton.

He will run against Republican Kerry Bentivolio, a teacher, former National Guard member, and farmer who raises reindeer. Bentivolio won by a wide margin with strong Tea Party support.

Commentary: Strange but true

Jack Lessenberry — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:53:15 +0000

Michigan’s Eleventh Congressional District is, on paper, what used to be thought of as a pretty conventional place. It includes a bunch of white-collar suburbs in Wayne and Oakland Counties, places like Birmingham and Troy; Livonia and Plymouth.

Back in the day, much of this turf was represented for nearly forty years by Bill Broomfield, a moderate Republican who never made waves, rocked a boat or faced a difficult November election.

Commentary: Changing the Rules

Jack Lessenberry — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Kerry Bentivolio is resentful of the Republican establishment, and it's not hard to see why. Bentivolio is running for Congress in the newly redrawn 11th District, which includes a lot of prosperous suburban areas in Wayne and Oakland Counties.

McCotter drops plans for a write-in campaign to hang on to Michigan congressional seat

Steve Carmody — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 23:32:17 +0000

Michigan Congressman Thaddeus McCotter has decided to drop plans for a write-in campaign for the November ballot.

The decision effectively ends the southeast Michigan congressman’s tenure in Washington after five terms.