Through the primary election on August 2, on every Tuesday and Thursday on the MLC Blog we will be highlighting races for which the primary is the key race due to the voter base.  Candidate’s website and professional information is listed when available.

District Overview

The 54^th House District is located in Washtenaw County and includes Superior Township, Ypsilanti, and Ypsilanti Township.  The district has a solid 72% Democratic base, as such the winner of the Democratic primary race is all but assured to win this November.

Commentary

Due to term limits, Representative David Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti) is serving his final term in office, leaving this seat open.  Anne Brown will be well versed with the community given her time serving as Representative Rutledge’s district manager.  Additionally, Ms. Brown will benefit from name recognition within Ypsilanti due to her position on the City Council and she has garnered a lot of key endorsements, including that of Rep. Rutledge.  Democratic candidate Michael White ran for this seat when it was last open, but came in fourth place.

Democratic Candidates:

• Anne Brown – City of Ypsilanti Councilwoman, legislative district manager, education and health policy consultant.
  • Endorsements – Representative David Rutledge, Ypsilanti Mayor Amanda Edmonds, Ypsilanti Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson, Ypsilanti Councilpersons Nicole Brown and Dan Vogt, former State Senator Alma Wheeler Smith, former State Representative Charles Gray.
• Lisa Cardenas – Small business owner, former Alma City Commissioner, board member of the Gratiot County Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Association.
• Bill Krebaum – Small business operator, prior truck driver, and project manager.
• Gregory Peoples – Retired university administrator, former elected member of three school boards, and a member of the Michigan Association of School Boards.
• Ronnie Peterson – Member of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.
• Michael White – Senior training manager at AT&T and a community activist.

Republican Candidates:

• Kevin Jardine – Technician in a UAW assembly plant.

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