Integrating the Derivative

Notes: This list of candidates is meant specifically for the City of Fremont in Newaygo County. It’s not a general listing of all candidates, although it includes all candidates that will be appearing statewide. If you’d like a personalized list of candidates that will be appearing on your ballot, check out the website Publius.org. You can also check the Michigan Secretary of State’s website for a listing of all candidates.

Key:  D – Democratic, R – Republican, Lib – Libertarian, Gre – Green, NLP – Natural Law Party, UST – US Taxpayers, inc – incumbent.

President of the United State

• John McCain/Sarah Palin (R)
• Barack Obama/Joe Biden (D)
• Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente (Gre)
• Chuck Baldwin/Darrell Castle (UST)
• Bob Barr/Wayne Root (Lib)
• Ralph Nader/Matthew Gonzalez (NLP)

US Senator

• Jack Hoogendyk, Jr. (R)
• Carl Levin (D, inc)
• Harley Mikkelson (Gre)
• Michael Nikitin (UST)
• Scotty Boman (Lib)
• Doug Dern (NLP)

US House of Representatives

• Peter Hoekstra (R, inc)
• Fred Johnson (D)
• Ronald Graeser (UST)
• Dan Johnson (Lib)

Michigan State Representative (100th District)

• Goeff Hansen (R, inc)
• Bill Richards (D)
• Nathaniel Hren (Lib)

State Board of Education (2 positions)

• Scott Jenkins (R)
• Richard Zeile (R)
• Kathleen Straus (D, inc)
• John Austin (D, inc)
• Dwain Reynolds III (Gre)
• Karen Adams (UST)
• Gail Graeser (UST)
• Bill Hall (Lib)
• Jeff Steinport (Lib)

University of Michigan Board of Regents (2 positions)

• Susan Brown (R)
• John Lafond (R)
• Laurence Deitch (D, inc)
• Denise Ilitch (D)
• Ellis Boal (Gre)
• Richard Ryskamp (UST)
• Joe Sanger (UST)
• Eric Larson (Lib)
• Kerry Morgan (Lib)

Michigan State University Board of Trustees (2 positions)

• Lisa Bouchard (R)
• George Romney (R, inc)
• Dianne Byrum (D)
• Diann Woodard (D)
• Therese Storm (Gre)
• Robert Gale (UST)
• Crystal VanSickle (UST)
• David Brown (Lib)
• Joseph Rosenquist (Lib)

Wayne State University Board of Governors (2 positions)

• Torion Bridges (R)
• Danialle Karmanos (R)
• Paul Massaron (D)
• Gary Pollard (D, inc)
• Margaret Guttshall (Gre)
• Rick Butkowski (UST)
• Terry Haines (UST)
• Dan Keizer (Lib)
• Nicole Michalak (Lib)

Newaygo County Prosecuting Attorney

• Chrystal Roach (R, inc)

Newaygo County Sheriff

• Mike Mercer (R, inc)

Newaygo County Clerk

• Laurel Breuker (R, inc)

Newaygo County Treasurer

• Holly Moon (R, inc)

Newaygo County Register of Deeds

• Linda Landheer (R, inc)
• Richard Kooistra (D)

Newaygo County Drain Commissioner

• Pat Baker (R)

Newaygo County Surveyor

• Norman Ochs (R)

Newaygo County Commissioner (District 3)

• Stanley Nieboer (R, inc)

Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court (1 position)

• Cliff Taylor (inc, Republican nominee)
  
• Diane Hathaway (Democratic nominee)
• Robert Roddis (Libertarian nominee)

Michigan Court of Appeals (District 3, 2 positions)

• Richard Bandstra
• Jane Markey

Michigan Court of Appeals (District 3, 1 position, partial term)

• Jane Beckering

Michigan Circuit Court Judge (27th Circuit)

• Terrence Thomas

Michigan District Court (78th District)

• H. Kevin Drake

Proposals

Proposal 1:

A Legislative Initiative To Permit The Use And Cultivation Of Marijuana For Specified Medical Conditions

The proposed law would:

• Permit physician approved use of marijuana by registered patients with debilitating medical conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, MS and other conditions as may be approved by the Department of Community Health.
• Permit registered individuals to grow limited amounts of marijuana for qualifying patients in an enclosed, locked facility.
• Require Department of Community Health to establish an identification card system for patients qualified to use marijuana and individuals qualified to grow marijuana.
• Permit registered and unregistered patients and primary caregivers to assert medical reasons for using marijuana as a defense to any prosecution involving marijuana.

Should this proposal be adopted?

Proposal 2:

A Proposal To Amend The State Constitution To Address Human Embryo And Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research In Michigan

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Expand use of human embryos for any research permitted under federal law subject to the following limits: the embryos -
  • are created for fertility treatment purposes;
  • are not suitable for implantation or are in excess of clinical needs;
  • would be discarded unless used for research;
  • were donated by the person seeking fertility treatment.
• Provide that stem cells cannot be taken from human embryos more than 14 days after cell division begins.
• Prohibit any person from selling or purchasing human embryos for stem cell research.
• Prohibit state and local laws that prevent, restrict or discourage stem cell research, future therapies and cures.

Should this proposal be adopted?

Summary

All but one of the current Newaygo County Commissioners will be running for re-election. The Board is currently composed entirely of Republicans, all of whom will be facing challengers in their primary. In addition, three districts will be challenged in November by Democrats.

The Newaygo County Board of Commissioners is divided into seven districts. You can find more information on the Board (and a map) at their website.

Below the fold I’ll detail the upcoming races in each district and provide a little historical background (if I happen to know any!) on the candidates.

(more…)

Sen. Russ Feingold will not be running for president in 2008.  I liked him so I’m sad to see him drop out of the race.  Hopefully he’ll continue to stick it to the Bush Administration in the Senate.

See also this post by Glenn Greenwald.

Tom Vilsack, the Democratic governor of Iowa, has announced that he will be running for president in the 2008 election.  You can see his official campaign website here:  http://www.tomvilsack08.com/.  He even uses Facebook and MySpace, how cool is that?

Still, it’s a little early don’t you think?

If you’re interested in learning more about the elections that’ll be taking place in 2008, Wikipedia is a great place to start.

• United States Senate elections, 2008
• United States House elections, 2008
• United States gubernatorial elections, 2008
• United States presidential election, 2008