Challengers for judge face political heavyweights in Oakland, Macomb counties
What’s in a name? If you’re running for judge, a lot.
In Wayne County, the name Hathaway is bound to win. In Oakland, a sure bet is O’Brien. And in Macomb, Servitto grabs the ring.
Michigan ballots put candidates for judge at or near the bottom. They land in the “nonpartisan section,” which comes after listings for all of the Democrats, all of the Republicans, and all other party members seeking office. So, even if John Q. Public or Mary Doe votes a “straight-party ticket” – filling in that little oval to declare that just one party’s candidates are his or her choice for every office – doing that won’t elect a single judge.
About a third of Michigan’s voters work their way down ballots, then skip the nonpartisan section, thinking: “Heck, there’s no party there, and I don’t know these people!” Other voters, though, play the name game, picking familiar last names to decide who should be judges. In this fall’s election, three perennial winners – Hathaway, O’Brien, and Servitto – are prominent on tri-county ballots. Facing them? In Wayne County, there’s no opposition at all. Circuit judges Bridget Mary Hathaway and Dana Margaret Hathaway are certain to be re-elected, as part of a swath of 18 incumbent judges, all running together to regain their 18 seats. Why does Michigan allow such electoral gimmickry? That’s another tale, for another day.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2024/10/07/servitto-obrien-macomb-oakland-judge-races/75477687007/