FeedsDecision 2006
Candidates brace for Tuesday primary election
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The race for the 20th District House of Representatives will be all but decided on Tuesday.It’s decision time for voters in western Wayne County.
A number of races will be decided—or nearly so—on Aug. 8, during the Republican Primary election.
In Wayne, voters will choose who will face off for the office of state representative and county commission on Tuesday, as well as a host of other offices.
The 20th House race is a full one with five Republicans and three Democrats. The incumbent, John Stewart (R-Plymouth), is term-limited.
The Republican side is made up of Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo, Plymouth Historical Museum Director Beth Stewart, Plymouth Township resident and former 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 Northville resident Joe Hawver.
Canton Township resident Gerry Law, Canton resident Loren Bennett, Sumpter Township resident Toni Clark and Canton resident Kevin McNamara are all vying to replace County Commissioner John Sullivan, who is seeking a judgeship in the Wayne County Circuit Court.
Law, who is a former state representative and Plymouth Township supervisor and trustee, said it’s time to get new people on the Wayne County Commission. He said major changes in the county also need to be made including budgetary problems, revenue sharing and the county auditor general position.
If elected, Law said he’d also like to address the health care issues and get a county health service that is available to the entire community, along with a mental health system and a health care plan for the poor.
Bennett, a former state senator, lieutenant governor candidate, as well as a Canton Township trustee and clerk, said he wants to work on the county ethical problems and cut costs in the delivery of medical supplies. He said the state of the economy motivated him to seek the position.
“I know enormous opportunities to raise money and I won’t raise taxes,” said Bennett. “Raising taxes is a drag on the economy and it’s bad enough here. I have the talent to deliver government services more efficiently and I want to turn the economy around.”
Clark, a former township supervisor and clerk, said the county needs a representative who really cares about the communities in the district.
“Van Buren Township, Belleville and Sumpter seem to be left out at the county level. The commissioner needs to be in the communities and talking to the representatives,” she said. “I have a love for the community, I get involved and I’m there.”
McNamara, a trustee on the Schoolcraft College Board and son of former Wayne County Executive Ed McNamara, said what separates him from his competition in the race is the fact he’s been around the county. He said his knowledge of maintenance systems for roads and sewers, operations of the department of public services and the people who perform the work and environmental development are a few things he can bring to the position. Roads, ditches and sewers are his top issues in each community, he added.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Andrea King and Jason Davis contributed to this story.
