Election 2008 By The Numbers

I posted this a couple weeks ago on Daily Kos.

• 1,573: Barack Obama's margin of victory in Kent County, Michigan, my home county
• 54,292: Bush's margin over Kerry in Kent County
• 1,951: Barack Obama's margin of victory in my hometown of Kentwood
• 3,888: Bush's margin in Kentwood in 2004
• 30: Approximate number of people who showed up as part of the Kent County Democrats/Obama for America contingent in my hometown's July 4th parade - I helped coordinate said contingent!
• 0: Number of people who showed up from the McCain campaign in that parade
• 369,282: Diane Marie Hathaway's margin of victory over Republican-nominated incumbent Cliff Taylor in the Michigan Supreme Court race
• 24: Number of years since an incumbent Supreme Court Justice has been defeated, probably since incumbent judges and justices in Michigan are designated as such on the ballot
• 67: Number of seats the Democrats will hold in the Michigan House of Representatives starting in January
• 43: Number of seats the Republicans will hold in the Michigan House
• 20: Number of seats Democrats have gained in the state House in the past three elections
• 3,006,820: Number of votes in favor of Michigan's Proposal 1, which allows the use of medical marijuana
• 249,923: Margin by which Michigan's proposal 2 passed; thanks to its passage, embryonic stem-cell research will be legal in Michigan!
• 5 out of the last 5: Presidential elections in which Michigan has gone blue!
• 1: My margin of victory in my re-election bid for Democratic Precinct Delegate!

Why we need to support Diane Hathaway for Supreme Court

Here are a couple of excerpts about Judge Hathaway:

Known for her hard work and integrity, Hathaway will restore fairness and impartiality to the Michigan Supreme Court. As a Circuit Court Judge, she has a record of being fair and impartial, putting the needs of ordinary citizens and families over those of big corporations and special interests. As a prosecutor, Hathaway took on drug dealers, put hardened criminals in jail, and kept Michigan's neighborhoods safe by going after drunk drivers, sexual predators and scam artists. A wife, mother of five and daughter of a police officer, she is endorsed by law enforcement and firefighters.

Hathaway is trying to defeat current Chief Justice Cliff Taylor in the November election.

Taylor's decisions put the insurance companies and corporate special interests that fund his campaigns ahead of struggling middle-class families. He repeatedly sacrifices judicial ethics and ignores the severe human impact of his decisions while enjoying one of the highest salaries and packages of taxpayer-provided perks of any judge in the country. Taylor's decisions have made it easier for sexual predators, terrorists and drunk drivers to avoid responsibility for their crimes. He also has a pattern of discriminatory decisions that hurt women in the workplace, including ruling against victims in rape and sexual harassment cases, virtually eliminating the ability to legally enforce protection from sexual harassment.

Keep in mind that judicial offices are nonpartisan races, so merely voting straight Democratic will not mean a vote for Judge Hathaway. You will need to vote for her on the nonpartisan section of the ballot.

4 1/2 more hours to vote!

Once again, I feel powerful.

I made my first trip to my new polling place in Kentwood; I am now voting at a church instead iof a school.

I was Voter #185 in my precinct, up from being #120 around 3:30 PM in the 2006 primary. That seems odd because three of the four voting booths were in use when I giot there in 2006, but only one was being used when I got there today.

Contested races included the Republican state House and county Sheriff races, plus the Kent County Jail Millage renewal and the Kentwood Library Millage.

I voted in the Democratic primary because I am in a contested race for Precinct Delegate (one of three people running for two delegate spots - very unusual as these races are often uncontested!)

In 2006 someone gave me the 'no split ticket' talk; today there were signs in the booths saying the same.

You have until 8PM to vote!

Love for dogs key in Precinct Delegate race

Precinct Delegate's bowling average, pastor's remarks called into question by opponents

KENTWOOD, MI (Don't-Want-To-Be-Associated-With-McCain Press) - Democratic Precinct Delegate Scott Urbanowski (D-Smartypants) told reporters that his experience - and love for man's best friend - will be key to saving Kentwood's Third Precinct from Complete and Utter Annihilation.

The Delegate made those remarks Friday after filing to run for a second term as Precinct Delegate. He had announced his intention to run for re-election last year.

"Just recently I endured quite a heavy round of sniper fire," the Central Michigan University student said in a press conference, adding, "Okay so that wasn't sniper fire, just Finals Week. But still, it felt painful."

Urbanowski touted his willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty for his couple hundred or so Democratic constituents.

"I'm willing to ask the tough questions," Urbanowski said. "Like, 'Who's a good dog?'"

"That's one of my favorite questions because those individuals to whom I ask that question are usually speechless. Typical Washington politicians: Speechless when asked the tough questions."



The Delegate also touted his leadership abilities.

"When I tell my dogs to sit, they sit. When I tell them it's time for them to go for a walk, we're out the door within 45 seconds."

"Sometimes it can be ruff spending time with two dogs with very different personalities. But you know what? I can handle it."

Urbanowski also said that he stays up well past 3 AM, so residents would have nothing to worry about when it comes to their Delegate answering the emergency phone.

"Heck, I'm usually up until at least 4!"

Urbanowski was sharply criticized, however, for comments his pastor made on Sunday.

"Scott Urbanowski's pastor suggested that Jesus may still be with us, even after all these years," said precinct delegate challenger Seymour Butts in a press conference. "I know I can't see him around here anywhere."

"The kid doesn't walk his dogs every day," said challenger Ima Nidiot. "I've seen Swifty and Lucy, maybe, twice in the last two weeks. So when he says he walks his dogs everyday, he's lying!"

"I walk my dogs every day I'm home and the weather's nice enough for it," Urbanowski responded. "Oftentimes I'm at school ninety miles away. When I'm home, it occasionally rains."

Nidiot also pointed out that Urbanowski's bowling average is even less than Barack Obama's.

"Well, Ms. Nidiot and I obviously don't see eye to eye," said Urbanowski. "But we're at least focusing on issues of grave concern to the Third Precinct."

In December, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt endorsed Urbanowski for a seecond term, citing the 20-year-old's "track record of fighting for the values our Party holds dear - or at least should hold dear."


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Just a reminder: Tomorrow (Tuesday) at 4PM is the deadline to file to run for Precinct Delegate. I became a Precinct Delegate in 2006 at the urging of my friend Rob.

Here's the form you'll need. Print it out, fill it out, sign it, have it notarized, and file it with your county clerk.

For more on being a Precinct Delegate and why Precinct Delegates are important, see this post on Michigan Liberal.

BREAKING: Urbanowski to run for re-election as Precinct Delegate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Swifty Urbanowski, Director, Canines for Urbanowski, (616) 555-WALK

KENTWOOD - Michigan Democratic Party member, Kent County Democratic Party member, Isabella County Democratic Party member, five-time voter, owner of the Eye on Ehlers and Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Scott blogs, contributor to the Michigan Liberal, Daily Kos, Street Prophets, Swing State Project, Blue Chips, and ICDP Dispatch blogs, author of numerous letters to the editor, LaGrand for City Commission volunteer, Central Michigan University junior, former CMU Student Government Association Senator, former CMU College Democrats Communications Director, 2005 East Kentwood High School alumnus, 2004 EKHS Quiz Bowl MVP, alumnus of the EKHS Marching and Jazz Bands and American Political Thought team, late-night TV addict, game-show fan, Wait, Wait... Don’t Tell Me! listener, and all-around funny and arguably mildly attractive guy Scott Urbanowski announced Wednesday that he would seek re-election as a Democratic Precinct Delegate for Ward 1, Precinct 3, City of Kentwood, County of Kent, State of Michigan, United States of America, Western Hemisphere, Northern Hemisphere, Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, in the August 5, 2008, primary election.

Urbanowski made the decision on the first anniversary of his election as Precinct Delegate, one day after voting in Tuesday’s primary election.

"People are hungry for change at all levels," said Urbanowski. "For proof of this, one need look not only at the fact that Democrats not only won control of both houses of Congress and the Michigan House, but also the two seats Democrats picked up on the Kent County Commission."

"West Michigan is a Republican stronghold, but Democrats are making gains here," noted Urbanowski, who serves a precinct in which Governor Jennifer Granholm received 44% of the vote in 2006, just four years after receiving 38% in her first election for Governor and two years after John Kerry received 39% in his bid for the White House.

"When it comes down to it, the saying ‘all politics is local’ is true," said Urbanowski. "Helping not only our Presidential ticket, but all Democrats up and down the ballot - from Congress to county office - will be my top priority in my second term."

Urbanowski first filed to become a precinct delegate at 2:45 PM on May 16, 2006, just 75 minutes before the filing deadline. He was one of three Democrats elected Precinct Delegate for his precinct in the August 8, 2006, election.

The same week he filed to become a precinct delegate, Urbanowski also became a member of the Michigan Democratic Party; those two events culminated a three-month period in which, among other things, Urbanowski voted for the first time, was elected to CMU’s Student Government Senate, and was elected Communications Director of CMU’s College Democrats.

He has since become active in the Democratic Party in other ways. He volunteered with the ICDP and KCDP in last year's election campaign. He has been active with the MDP Youth Caucus and has also been a proponent of the Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats.

2008 Michigan statewide races

Cross-posted at Michigan Liberal

There's nothing wrong with thinking ahead. Here are the incumbents in statewide offices whose terms end in 2008.

US SENATE:
Carl Levin (D) - Elected in 1978, last re-elected in 2002; Chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee; Foreign-relations and defense policy genius; named one of "America's 10 Best Senators" by TIME Magazine; longest-serving US Senator in Michigan history; brother of Congressman Sander Levin; all-around amazing guy

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION:
John C. Austin (D) - Elected in 2000; Senior fellow with the Brookings Institution; ran for Dem nomination for Secretary of State in 2002; possible rising star in our party?
Kathleen Strauss (D) - Elected in 1992, re-elected in 2000; President of the Board of Education since 2001; involved in numerous boards and groups

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN REGENTS:
Laurence B. Deitch (D) - Elected in 1992, re-elected in 2000; attorney; former MDP treasurer
Rebecca McGowan (D) - formerly worked in offices of Senators Adlai Stevenson and Frank Church; senior staffer for VP Mondale and deputy director of his 1984 campaign

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES:
Dorothy V. Gonzales (D) - Elected in 1992, re-elected in 2000; former state House research analyst; former education policy advisor under Governor Blanchard
G. Scott Romney (R) - Appointed in August 2000, re-elected three months later; Son of former Governor George Romney; brother of Massachusetts Governor and possible 2008 Presidential candidate Mitt Romney

WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY GOVERNORS:
Paul Massaron (D) - Elected in 2000; Hyper-active with the UAW and AFL-CIO, including serving as a legislative director, Region 1-B International rep., and top aide to the UAW President
Jacqueline Washington (D) - Elected in 2000; Chairwoman of the Board of Governors; past president of Planned Parenthood of SE Michigan; Michigan Women's Hall of Fame inductee

SUPREME COURT (officially non-partisan):
Clifford Taylor (R) - Appointed in 1997, elected to partial term in 1998, elected to full term in 2000; Chief Justice since 2005