BRIGHTON – The November election is still 11 months away, but Livingston County Democrats are launching a county-wide effort to recruit the best possible candidates to put before voters.
Matt Evans, chair of the Livingston County Democratic Party, said the party is sponsoring a Candidates’ Coffee to make sure all Democrats know the offices that are open and the resources that are available to help candidates this year. The event will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 19 at party headquarters, 10321 E. Grand River, Suite 600, Brighton.
“This is shaping up to be one of the best years in a long time to run as a Democrat. The top of our ticket is expected to run especially well, but voters are anxious for change up and down the ballot,” Evans said.
National polls show the electorate is inclined to vote Democratic in 2008. Rasmussen Reports, a national pollster, has found a double-digit lead for five straight months for Democrats over Republicans in its generic congressional ballot. In its telephone poll of 1,200 likely voters, Rasmussen Reports found that 46 percent of American voters say they would vote for the Democrat in their district and 36 percent would pick the Republican. The Democratic advantage is even wider among independent voters. The poll found those voters prefer Democratic candidates to Republican candidates by a 41 percent to 21 percent margin. The poll, taken December 7-9, has a margin of error of 4 percent either way.
Furthermore, Michigan’s ballot will have the popular incumbent Democrat Sen. Carl Levin leading off the ticket, Evans noted.
“Our Candidates' Coffee is your chance to chat informally about running for office in 2008 and to learn from the experiences of others,” he said.
On hand to talk about how the local party can help candidates will be local party officials, including Evans, Vice Chair Donna Anderson, Treasurer Annette Koeble, and Secretary Mary Evergreen.
A panel of previous candidates will speak briefly about the mechanics of running for office, the joys and challenges of the process, and how they made use of party resources. There also will be a question and answer session, as well as information about further training available and fund-raising possibilities, too.
Evans stressed that the party is casting a wide net for candidates, rather than turning to a handful of insiders, in part because of the large number of offices open this year.
Both Livingston County seats in the Michigan House will be filled by newcomers. The incumbents, Republican Chris Ward in the 66th District, and Republican Joe Hune in the 47th District, are term-limited.
County-wide positions to be filled are prosecuting attorney, sheriff, county clerk, treasurer, and all nine seats on the county commission. In addition, at the township level, positions to be filled include the supervisor, in all townships except Brighton Township; township clerk; township treasurer, and township trustees.
“Whether you have run for office before, already hold an office, or are thinking about running for the first time, we want you to know how the Livingston County Democratic Party can help,” Evans said.
He added that people who want to work in a campaign rather than run themselves are also welcome to attend.
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