FeedsDecision 2006
Primary will narrow judge, House races
On Tuesday, residents throughout five communities will decide who among three candidates for 35th District Court judge should proceed to the general election on Nov. 7.
The court serves citizens in Northville, Northville Township, Plymouth, Plymouth Township and Canton Township.
Judge Ron Lowe is the incumbent, seeking his third six-year term. He is hoping voters approve of the job he’s done from the bench since he was first elected in 1994. Challengers James A. Plakas and Brian Stacey have been campaigning hard to prove themselves worthy of the seat.
It’s the first time in the history of the 35th District Court that a sitting judge has been challenged.
“That’s just a trend that’s going to continue,” said Lowe. “Many courts have been through that in the last few years because many people want the job.”
At the 35th, that includes Stacey, a Plymouth lawyer with a long-running practice in the community. He said his experience in the courtroom had prepared him for the next step.
“I’m giving people a choice,” said Stacey. “I think it’s the most pro-American thing you can do.”
In a June interview, Stacey said he would like to see some changes in how the court is operated, such as rethinking the trend toward limiting defense attorney privileges—they aren’t allowed to handle court files or bring in cell phones, which slows business, he said.
Plakas was the last of the three to enter the race. He is a lawyer with Angelo Plakas Associates, a firm managed by his father. He’s also the assistant city attorney for Westland, which he said has put him in a position where he’s had to represent citizens.
“I’ve learned how to work with people,” he said. “You can’t necessarily change people. You can give them the opportunity to change themselves.”
Plakas said the judgeship would be an anticipated transition.
“This is the next step for me,” he said. “This is how I’ve been trained.”
Voters in Canton will also help pare down the race for an open seat in the District 20 State House of Representatives. The partisan ballots are full, with five republicans and three democrats running.
The republican side is made up of Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo, Plymouth Historical Museum director Beth Stewart, Plymouth Township resident and former Plymouth Township supervisor candidate Don Schnettler, Plymouth resident and real estate agent Jason Vorva, and Wayne resident T. Cortez Spann.
The democrats on the ballot are: Plymouth resident and former Plymouth-Canton Community School Board member Joanne Lamar, Northville attorney Marc Corriveau, and North-ville resident Joe Hawver.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit www.canton-mi.org/Clerk for voting precinct information or call (734) 395-5120.
Staff Writer Jason Carmel Davis contributed to this article.
