(Source: MIRS.news, P 05/17/2022) Sen. Betty Jean Alexander (D-Detroit) was disqualified off the August ballot by the Secretary of State's office for having outstanding campaign finance reports or unpaid fines at the time she signed her affidavit of identity, further opening up what was already a competitive 6th state Senate District.
Two other notable candidates bounced from the ballot for the same reason were 11th Senate District candidate Mellissa Carone – the leading lady of Rudy GIULIANI's election hearing in Lansing – and Donald TRUMP-endorsed Jon ROCHA in the 78th House District. Rocha is seen as an ally of House Republican leadership candidate Matt Maddock (R-Milford).
Another House candidate bounced from the ballot who has been politically aligned with Maddock in the past is Chase Turner. He was aiming to defeat incumbent Republican Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton Township) in the 49th state House District.
In all, 11 candidates were disqualified today for not taking care of their campaign finance reports. Four others were disqualified for other reasons.
This includes former Rep. Alberta Tinsley Talabi who was in a Democratic primary with Senate Minority Floor Leader Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) for the 3rd state Senate District.
"Some of the candidates paid fines after signing their affidavit of identity, or subsequently paid their fines, then withdrew their affidavits of identity and filed new affidavits of identity," the announcement reads. "Regardless of steps the candidates took after submitting affidavits of identity with false statements, the Department is prohibited by the Michigan Election Law from certifying the candidates' names to the ballots."
Carone's House campaign was also barred from the Macomb County ballot due to her affidavit falsely claiming she had no outstanding campaign finance issues. Before hopping into the Senate arena – where she would have squared off with incumbent Republican Michael D. Macdonald (R-Sterling Heights) – Carone said she was lawyering up to combat the state House disqualification.
She said Macomb County staffers suggested she go through with signing the affidavit because it would likely not be issued to the state's Bureau of Elections until the end of the week, leaving her with some wiggle room to fix the campaign finance flaws.
Alexander – the minority vice chair of the Senate Local Government Committee – was expected to compete against current Rep. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford) for the Democratic bid in the new 6th state Senate District. City of Detroit Police Commissioner Darryl Brown and former Farmington Hills Mayor Vicki Barnett remain in the Democratic arena for the district, which consists of Redford Township, Livonia and a part of Detroit.
On May 6, Cavanagh was sentenced to two years of probation and a $500 fine after pleading guilty to an operating while intoxicated (OWI) first offense charge last month.
Other candidates disqualified due to unpaid fines or outstanding campaign finance reports included:
- Saint Clair Shores Democrat Lawanda Turner for the 11th state House District.
- Pontiac Democrat Vernon Molnar who was in a Democratic primary with incumbent Democratic Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) for the 7th Senate District.
- Vice President Chris Martin of the East Lansing School Board to be on the ballot for 54B District Court Judge in East Lansing.
- Warren City Council member and Republican Eddie KabacinskI for the 14th state House District.
- Incumbent Judge Kahlilia Davis of the 36th District Court.
- Detroit Republican Ronald Cole for the 7th state House district. Cole as the only Republican running in the district, which is where incumbent Democratic Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit) resides.
Howard Weathington for the 3rd state Senate District, Dryden Republican Steven Thomas for the 31st state Senate district, Michael Shallal for the 57th state House District and Faiz Aslam for the 6th U.S. Congressional district were also disqualified due to missing information.
