League of Women Voters Oakland Area with the League of Woman Voters Troy and the League of Women Voters of Michigan VOTER GUIDE for residents of OAKLAND COUNTY 2014 GENERAL Election Tuesday, November 4, 2014 Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Information about election contests is also available online at the League of Women Voters Oakland Area INDEX website: LWVOA.org. This website links to federal and state election information at lwv.org and lwvmi.org. Partisan Candidates: Governor/Lieutenant Governor ................................4-5 On the PARTISAN SECTION of the ballot, Secretary of State .......................................................5-6 you may vote for all candidates of any one party Attorney General ........................................................6-7 US Senator .................................................................8-11 OR you may vote for candidates from US Representative Districts 8, 9, 11, 14 ..............10-17 different parties in different races. State Senate 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 ................................18-20 In any case, be sure to State Representative 26, 27, 29, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 51 ..........................................21-28 ALSO VOTE the NONPARTISAN State Board of Education .......................................29-30 and PROPOSAL SECTIONS of the ballot. University of Michigan Regents ............................30-32 Michigan State University Trustees .....................32-33 The League of Women Voters would like to thank the following for Wayne State University Governors ......................34-35 their major financial support in producing this Voter Guide: County Commissioner Districts 1-21 ....................36-43 Townships ....................................................................44 Non-Partisan Candidates: Michigan Supreme Court .......................................45-46 Michigan Appeals Court, District 2 ...........................46 FairlaneTown Center, Twelve Oaks, Circuit/Probate Court ............................................46-47 Great Lakes Crossing, The Mall at Partridge Creek District Courts .........................................................47-50 Oakland Community College ................................51-52 Cities, Villages, and Library Boards .....................53-59 School Districts .......................................................59-76 Ballot Proposals: LWV Education Fund State ...............................................................................77 & Its Contributors Local – Townships, Cities, Villages, School ........77-79 Maps for Districts: ........................................................3 ©2014 Prepared by the LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® Oakland Area 725 S. Adams Road, Suite 292, Birmingham MI 48009 Published by the LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® Education Fund. Page 2 2014 Voter Guide League of Women Voters About This Voter Guide The League of Women Voters contacted candidates for biographical information and answers to questions on issues. The answers are printed as submitted and have not been edited, except for necessary cutting when replies exceeded the stated word limitations. When a candidate exceeded the word limit, the answer is ended with an ellipsis (….). Spelling and grammar were not corrected. When a candidate did not reply by the required date for publication, the words “DID NOT RESPOND IN TIME FOR INCLUSION” appear by the candidate’s name. Publication of statements and opinions of candidates is solely in the interest of public service and is, in no way, to be construed as an endorsement by the League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters takes no responsibility for any of the views or facts stated by the candidates. League of Women Voters Oakland Area Join us in making our communities FAIR, VIBRANT and STRONG. About The League Oakland Area President: Jerry Burden of Women Voters (248) 594-6602 The League of Women Voters is a national, nonpartisan organization established in 1920 to encourage citizen participation in government. It neither supports nor opposes Troy President: any political party or candidate. Pam Brady The League of Women Voters is where hands-on work to safeguard democracy leads to (248) 689-2310 civic improvement. Join the League and be directly involved in shaping the important issues in our community. LWV of Michigan President: Membership in the League is open to men and women of all ages. With more than 94 Susan Smith years of experience and 850 local and state affiliates in all 50 states, the League is one of America’s most trusted grassroots organizations. (517) 484-5383 We rely on dues and donations to support our Voter Service Programs. Tax-deductible contributions to continue this nonpartisan service are welcomed by the League. Please send your check made payable to LWV Ed Fund to: League of Women Voters Education Fund c/o LWV Oakland Area 725 S. Adams Road, Suite 292 Birmingham, MI 48009 Call us at: 248-594-6602 • Email us at: [email protected] Visit our Web site: LWVOA.ORG League of Women Voters 2014 Voter Guide Page 3 ABSENTEE VOTER BALLOTS Who Can Apply? Registered Voters who are in one of the following categories: • Age 60 years or older • Unable to vote without assistance at the polls • Expecting to be out of town on election day • In jail awaiting arraignment or trial • Unable to go to polls due to religious reasons • Election worker in a precinct other than yours A person who has registered to vote by mail must either vote in person in the first election in which he or she par- ticipates, or, if an absentee ballot is necessary, application must be made in person at the City or Township Clerk’s office. The restriction does not apply to overseas voters, voters who are handicapped or voters who are 60 years or older. Where and When? Apply to your Township or City Clerk by mail or in person by 2 p.m. Saturday, November 1, 2014. Emergency requests may be made until 4 p.m. on the elec- tion day Tuesday, November 4, 2014. What is the Return Deadline? By 8 p.m. on election day. Persons qualified to vote by absentee ballot may vote in person at the Clerk’s office until 4 p.m. on the day preced- ing the election. For more information, call your City or Township Clerk. Page 4 2014 Voter Guide League of Women Voters Governor - Vote For Not More Than 1 - Four Year Term Duties: The state’s executive powers are vested in the Governor. Qualifications:A Governor must be at least 30 years of age and a registered voter in Michigan for at least four years. Term: 4 years - Governors may serve a maximum of two full terms. Biographical Info What are your top three state priori- The test scores of Michigan students, What should the state government ties? Why did you select them? once among the highest in the coun- do to strengthen the state’s econ- try, have dropped, making Michigan omy, reduce unemployment, and one of the lowest achieving states. address the widening income gap? What measures would you support to improve educational results? RICK SNYDER, Republican Like most Michiganders, I was growing A bright future for our kids starts with a With nearly 300,000 private sector jobs increasingly frustrated with the direction great education. This is why I have made created since 2010, our businesses are Running Mate: in which Michigan was going in 2009. it a priority to increase Early Childhood hiring. But, we still have over 80,000 Brian Calley Our unemployment rate was among the education funding to a level where every open jobs in Michigan – most of which Campaign Website: www.rickformichigan. highest in the country, our kids were mov- pre-school age child in Michigan can are skilled trades or STEM focused. We com ing to other states to find jobs, and our attend pre-school, preparing them for a must continue to expand and invest in Facebook Page: facebook.com/rickformi favorite businesses were closing. Then, successful future. I have also increased programs like MAT2 - an industry-driven Occupation / Current Position: Governor while out to dinner, my wife Sue suggest- state education funding by over 1 billion approach to education that gives our Education: J.D. University of Michigan, ed I run for Governor. Since day one, my dollars since I took office. State education students the skill sets to succeed today 1982; M.B.A. University of Michigan, 1979; focus for reinventing Michigan has been funding is now the highest it’s ever been. and tomorrow. With over 58,000 robotics B.G.S. University of Michigan, 1977 creating more and better jobs, revitalizing But, our work isn’t done. I will continue jobs in Michigan, we recognize the impor- Qualifications / Experience: Governor, the educational system, and revamping to work to create educational programs tance of FIRST Robotics in schools. Last CPA, Venture Capitalist, CEO, Chairman of government to focus on providing excel- that will fill the skills gap in Michigan by year, we invested $3 million in FIRST, and the Board lent service to its customers, the state’s preparing our students and workers for another $2 million more this year. In fact, 10 million people. the jobs of today and tomorrow. Michigan now has more FIRST Robotics teams than any other state. MARK SCHAUER, Democrat JOBS: The state should invest in high-tech We need to improve our schools by: To promote economic fairness and create research to attract jobs. We should ex- putting the state on a path to universal ladders into the middle class, we must Running Mate: pand small business lending to spark the preschool; investing in