Plymouth and Canton 2012 Voter Guide

This is a big election year nationally, statewide and locally.

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Plymouth and Canton Patch are devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as August's primary and November's general election draw near. Bookmark this page for updates.

• Mitt Romney: The former governor and Michigan native in Michigan and locally. The presumed GOP nominee Romney held his in Novi that night.
• President Barack Obama: Obama has already made several in the past few months as he runs for re-election, usually talking about jobs and the economy.
• The 11th Congressional District race – U.S. Rep. candidate , of Canton: Cassis is the GOP's choice for a candidate after current U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter had to when he discovered he did not have enough signatures. McCotter ultimately resigned July 6 after a . Cassis lives in Novi and will be running as a write-in candidate for the 11th District in the primary on Aug. 7. On the Republican ballot is from Milford. Taj, currently a Canton Township trustee, is on the Democratic ballot and will have off against LaRouche Democrat .
  
  Be advised that this seat will appear twice on the November ballot. A special election also will be held, with a primary in September, in which winners will apear on the Nov. 6 ballot to temporarily fill McCotter's seat until his term ends. One section will allow voters to elect a candidate to temporarily fill his seat while the other will fill his seat for a full term.
• County Commissioner, 9th District: Republican Laura Cox of Livonia will face Democrat Susan Nichols of Northville for a seat on a redistricted Wayne County Commission, 9th District.
• County Commissioner, 10th District: Four candidates remain vying for a seat on the redistricted Wayne County Commission, serving the 10th district. Republicans Rick Convertino and Shannon Price, both of Canton, will face Plymouth Democrat James Amar and Canton Democrat Matthew Fiems. Democrat and former Plymouth-Canton school board candidate Clifton Nealey of Canton withdrew his name from the race. 
• State House of Representatives, 20th District: Incumbent Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth) has announced he will seek re-election in the 20th District. On the Democratic side, of Plymouth is Heise's challenger.
• State House of Representatives, 21st District: In the 21st District, Democratic incumbent Dian Slavens is facing fellow Democrat Kiz Ahamiojie of Belleville and Republican Joe Barnabei of Romulus.

Plymouth Township races

• Plymouth Township supervisor: While three candidates filed petitions for Plymouth Township supervisor, only Republican incumbent remains. Northville Township's Public Safety Director was disqualified from running under the Hatch Act, which prevents public employees from seeking office, and Abe Munfakh withdrew his candidacy.
• Plymouth Township clerk: For clerk, a hotly contested Republican primary race is expected between Republicans , the incumbent, and .
• Plymouth Township treasurer: For treasurer, Republican incumbent faces off against fellow Republican . 
• Plymouth Township trustees: Fifteen candidates are vying for four spots on the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees. Republican incumbents , and are looking to retain their seats while trustee Steven Mann opted not to run again. Also seeking office are Republicans , , , , , , (no relation to Steven Mann), , and . These candidates will face off in the Aug. 7 Republican primary. Democrats and will appear on the primary ballot, but are guaranteed nominations for the November ballot, provided each earns at least one vote. Jennifer Mann gained local fame by in 2011 to preserve Plymouth Township firefighter jobs, while Curmi looks to return to a board he vacated in 2008.

Canton Township races

• Canton Township supervisor: Supervisor is unopposed for his supervisor seat. No primary opposition.
• Canton Township clerk: Clerk is unopposed for her seat. No primary opposition.
• Canton Township treasurer: Treasurer is unopposed for her seat. No primary opposition.
• Canton Township trustees: Republican incumbent trustees , and will look to retain their seats, while Democrat leaves to pursue 's recently vacated seat in the 11th district congressional election. The incumbents will face Republicans , and and Democrat and former Plymouth-Canton school board member . The Republicans will face off in an Aug. 7 primary to narrow the field to four candidates, while Sneideman has no primary opponent. 
• Board of Trustees (non-partisan): Six candidates look to fill six positions on the Board of Trustees: Incumbents James Fausone and Kim Schulz, Michelle Farell, former Plymouth-Canton school board member , Sommer Foster and Thomas Hartnett. No primary.

Come back to Plymouth Patch and Canton Patch for more election updates.