Pubdate: Sun, 03 Aug 2014
Source: Daily Tribune, The (Royal Oak, MI)
Copyright: 2014 The Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.dailytribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1579
Author: Aftab Borka
Page: A1

MARIJUANA BIG ISSUE IN 27TH HOUSE DISTRICT

Michigan's 27th District House seat is turning out to be a 
hotly-contested primary race with five Democratic candidates and two 
Republicans aiming for victory.

The district covers areas of Berkley, Ferndale, Hazel Park, 
Huntington Woods, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge and Royal Oak Township.

Marijuana seems to be one of the hottest topics for the voters in the 
district in recent months as civil right groups have managed to put 
the pot legalization on the ballot in these communities.

Andrew Robert Cissell, a Democrat, has been personally involved in 
submitting the required petitions for the ballot.

Cissell has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. He says 
his top priorities include a better education system, clean air and 
civil rights issues like marriage equality, marijuana legalization 
and women's rights.

The remaining four Democratic candidates include Joe McHugh, Rudy 
Serra, Robert Wittenberg and Kelli Williams.

McHugh is a former marine officer who has twice been deployed. He is 
also a business owner and claims to have 14 years of sales, finance 
and economics experience.

His top legislative priorities include green energy, private 
investment for infrastructural updates and women's health.

"Politics and health don't mix. We'll battle to remedy this 
injustice," he said in his answer to the League of Women Voters questionnaire.

Serra has a Doctorate in Law and claims to have a proven record of 
success as a judge, a county commissioner and a school board member.

His top priorities include jobs, quality public education and human rights.

Wittenberg is a licensed life and health insurance advisor. He also 
serves as a board member for the Tri- Community Coalition of Oak 
Park, Huntington Woods and Berkley.

His top legislative priorities are proper funding for the cities, 
investing necessary resources in the public schools and repealing the 
senior pension tax and making Michigan a 'no-wait state' for in-home 
health care services.

Williams currently works as a Service Representative at AT&T Michigan 
and also as Secretary-Treasurer for CWA Local 4004, Detroit.

Her top legislative priorities include better education, repealing 
Right to Work law and better transportation.

The Republican candidates are Mark Manier and Michael Ryan.

Manier claims to have been endorsed by U. S. Congressman Kerry Bentivolio.

He graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Arts in 
political science.

Ryan owns dental practice facility and his top priorities include 
Michigan's own version of The Affordable Care Act, better 
transportation and better infrastructure.

The seat these candidates are fighting for is being vacated by Ellen 
Cogen Lipton of Huntington Woods, who has been serving as a State 
Rep. from the same district since 2008. Woods is now contesting for a 
State Senate seat in the 11th District.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom