Inside and outside of Oakland

Virtual gubernatorial debate: Snyder and Bernero on expanding and reducing the sales tax on services

  Republican Rick Snyder and Democrat Virg Bernero, the major candidates for Michigan governor, visited The Oakland Press at different times Tuesday, Sept. 28, and were asked identical questions. The Oakland Press is running their answers prior to their debate in Wixom Oct. 10. Here's their answers on whether the state's sales tax on services should be expanded and reduced:


Raczkowski announces defamation lawsuit against Rep. Peters, Democratic Party Chairman Brewer

  Republican Rocky Raczkowski announced Monday morning he was filing a defamation lawsuit against U.S. Rep. Gary Peters and Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer over an ad campaign Raczkowski says is "filled with misleading lies and deceptive language."

Raczkowski plans counter attack to Peters ad campaign

  Rocky Raczkowski, Republican candidate for the 9th Congressional District seat held by first-term incumbent Rep. Gary Peters, plans a Monday morning press conference to counter an ad campaign launched by Peters last week.

To debate or not debate, that is the question; the answer is, "Well, OK, just once"

  Republican Rick Snyder and Democrat Virg Bernero, Michigan's major party candidates for governor, have agreed to one debate.

Why there'll be no formal debates between Michigan candidates for governor

  Republican Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson says GOP candidate for Michigan governor Rick Snyder has such a lead over Democratic candidate Virg Bernero that he has nothing to gain by agreeing to formal debates with his opponent.

Is latest poll a signal of tough times for incumbents?

  Republican challenger Rocky Raczkowski has the lead over first-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Gary Peters in the 9th Congressional District, an independent weekly tracking poll released Wednesday indicates.

Debate over debates continues in secretary of state race

  Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee for secretary of state, said Tuesday she called her Republican opponent, Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson, at her work and campaign offices to ask Johnson to agree to debate.
  Benson's campaign said it was unable to reach Johnson at either location.

Lt. Gov. candidate Lawrence to speak to West Oakland Dems

  Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, the Democrats' nominee for lieutenant governor, is the featured speaker at the Democrats of West Oakland County at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21.

To debate or not debate, that is the question; the other question is, "What's the answer?"

  Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder, probably better known by his campaign slogan One Tough Nerd, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero, becoming better known as America's Angriest Mayor, don't agree on much when it comes to turning Michigan's economy around.
  They apparently can't agree on a debate format with slightly more than seven weeks until Nov. 2 election.

Gingrich to be featured speaker at Schuette luncheon Monday

  Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be the featured speaker at a luncheon fundraiser for Bill Schuette at noon Monday, Sept. 13, at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham.

Oakland court impanels grand jury to investigate election fraud

 Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Edward Sosnick has been selected as the one-man grand juror to investigate allegations of election fraud in filings related to the group The Tea Party, which made an unsuccessful attempt to appear as a political party on the Nov. 2 ballot.

COMMENTARY: Congressional elections made simple

By The Oakland Press

  In Michigan, all 15 U.S. House seats are up for election this year, but no U.S. Senate seats.
  Nationally, all of the U.S. House is up for election and a third of the U.S. Senate.
  Democrats control both chambers and Republicans are hoping that with President Barack Obama’s slip in the polls linked to the struggling economy, that they can reverse the momentum that gave Democrats control of Congress in 2006.
  So what does that mean for voters?

Supreme Court rejects party status for The Tea Party group

  The group calling itself "The Tea Party" will not appear as a political party on the Nov. 2 ballot.

COMMENTARY: Tea Party, toilet paper and Bret Farve?

  The tea party movement in Michigan has to be feeling a little like Minnesota football fans would if Vikings quarterback Brett Farve showed up to work wearing his old Green Bay Packers uniform.

Who says your vote doesn't count?

  Who says your vote doesn't count?
  In the race for Waterford Township trustee, not John Paul Torres or Donna F. Kelley.