I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
The Republican challenging U.S. Congressman Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) for his seat in Congress doesn’t even live in Levin’s Congressional district, the Macomb Daily reports.
The Daily reports Republican challenger Don Volaric lives outside the district. In his filing papers he listed an address in Clinton Township, which is in the district. But he remains a registered voter in Chesterfield Township, which is not in the district. The kicker? It is probably not illegal, the Daily reports.
That very Constitution is what gives Volaric the right to run in the 12th District. In a little-known provision, the document allows an eligible candidate to run in any House district in his or her home state.
Volaric admits he may have to fight off the “carpetbagger” label as the campaign progresses. Levin already faces a Democratic primary challenge in August from state Sen. Michael “Mickey” Switalski of Roseville.
In his campaign filing documents and on his website, Volaric lists 20836 Hall Road, #119, as his address. That is a mailbox at a Clinton Township UPS store located just east of Heydenreich Road.
Here’s something the Daily probably did not know. In a Michigan Appeals Court ruling back in June 2002 — Heywood v. Holden — the courts ruled that even when someone has signed, under penalty of perjury, a homestead exemption form — which is a tax form allowing the home owner a 100 percent exemption from state property taxes — their driver’s license and voter registration are the true identifiers of a person’s registry. In other words, while I own a home in Lansing, I can register to vote and change my driver’s license to an apartment in Marquette, then seek and hold office representing the people of Marquette.
Volaric is going to be hard pressed to meet the standard set in Heywood v. Holden, in that the ruling also noted that the voter registration and driver’s license must be to a place where where a person habitually sleeps. How is a candidate “habitually sleeping” in a mailbox at the UPS store?
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