Democrat Dave Curson, and Republicans Kerry Bentivolio, Kenneth Crider, Steve King, Carolyn Kavanagh and Nancy Cassis all say they have filed enough valid signatures to run in the special election to fill the remainder of U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter's congressional seat, according to the the Detroit News.
The deadline for filing signatures was 4 p.m. today.
After McCotter abruptly resigned from his seat in Detroit’s 11th Congressional district, he left a gap between his absence and the end of his term in early January.
In order to fill the gap, Gov. Rick Snyder's office called for a special question to appear on the November ballot, in which 11th District voters will decide on a candidate to finish out the remaining six weeks of McCotter's term.
On the same ballot, these constituents will vote again for whom they want to serve the following term beginning January 3, 2013. The deadline for candidates to file for that election has already passed.
A primary for the special election could be held on September 5, if more than one candidate from either party file enough signatures.
The six filers all claim to have collected the required 1,000 signatures before the deadline today, which will result in the special primary, if the signatures are deemed valid.
According to the Secretary of State, Curson turned in about 2,000 signatures; Bentivolio filed 1,375; Cassis filed 2,000; Crider turned in 1,100 signatures; King turned in 1,200, and Kavanagh submitted 1,276.
The Board of State Canvassers will meet Monday to review the candidates' petition signatures.
Democrat Dave Curson is a Marine Corps veteran and a labor and community activist from Belleville.
Republican Kerry Bentivolio is a Vietnam and Iraq War veteran and former teacher from Milford.
Republicans Kenneth Crider, Steve King and Kavanagh are all from Lavonia.
Republican Nancy Cassis is a former state Senator, state representative, Novi city councilwoman and school psychologist from Novi.
The Associated Press reports that the special elections will cost Livonia, Novi and other cities in the old 11th district (its lines were redrawn after the 2010 census) an estimated $650,000.
From the AP:
Cassis says she regrets the cost, but couldn't chance the seat going to Democrat Dave Curson or Republican Kerry Bentivolio. She has been critical of Bentivolio for starring in a low-budget Michigan-made satiric movie released last year that blamed former President George W. Bush for the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
-Elaine Ezekiel, Michigan Radio Newsroom
