Tag: MI-Gov

MI-Gov: AG Mike Cox Caught Up in Kwame Texting Scandal

From the Hotline on Call:

The release of ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s text messages earlier this week could threaten to derail MI AG Mike Cox’s (R) GOV campaign before it officially gets underway.

In the messages, Cox reportedly suggested he would clear Kilpatrick of any wrongdoing relating to a party at Manoogian Mansion before a probe into the bash even began.

(The rumored ’02 gathering was grist for the Detroit gossip mill after stripper Tamara Greene reportedly filled out a police report claiming she was assaulted by Kilpatrick’s wife, Carlita, during the “out-of-control” party at the mayor’s official residence. Greene later was shot to death, and the killing remains unsolved.)

Former Detroit Corporation Counsel Ruth Carter texted Kilpatrick on 5/19/03: “[Cox] called me and asked who we would rather be cleared by him or (Wayne Co. Prosecutor Mike) Duggan. I said him.”

After an investigation by his office, Cox told reporters 6/24/03: “The party has all the earmarks of an ‘urban legend,’ and it should be treated as such.”

In his defense, Cox does make a good point – why would he bother helping the likes of Kwame Kilpatrick? In the often crazy world of Michigan politics, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some kind of reason. Any ideas?

MI-02: Hoekstra Will Retire

From the Hill:

Less than a week after being reappointed as the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Pete Hoekstra (Mich.) will announce that he will not seek a tenth term in 2010, according to a source with knowledge of the decision.

Hoekstra, who has denied earlier reports that he will retire and consider a run for governor, will make the announcement on Monday, the source told The Hill.

There’s no word yet whether Hoekstra, who will turn 57 in 2010, will run for the Governor’s office, but this news certainly points in that direction.

On its face, Hoekstra’s district isn’t particularly compelling turf for Democrats to play on — Bush won it by 21 points in both 2000 and 2004. However, SSP’s Pres-by-CD crowdsourcing project revealed that McCain barely held his ground in this district, winning by only 50.8% to Obama’s 47.5%. Of course, some pretty extraordinary circumstances contributed to that result: McCain flipped the bird to the entire state of Michigan and retreated from the playing field weeks before E-Day, so no doubt the conservative base was pretty demoralized here. Even still, perhaps a local Dem can come out of the woodwork and make this an interesting race. Anyone know who we got on the bench?