Kerry Bentivolio to Assume Congressional Office Today

113th Congress to swear in today in Washington, D.C.

Congressman-elect Kerry Bentivolio (R-Milford) will assume office today, beginning a two-year term representing Michigan's newly realigned 11th Congressional District. Bentivolio is among 84 freshmen representatives taking part in today's swearing-in ceremonies. Bentivolio, who defeated Syed Taj (D-Canton) in the Nov. 6 election, will succeed U.S. Rep. David Curson (D-Belleville), who won a special election on Nov. 6 to fill the remaining weeks of former U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter's (R-Livonia) term. McCotter resigned his office in July amid a petition-fraud scandal and leak of a television script to Detroit media. According to C-SPAN, the House of Representatives will open the 113th Congress today with elections for House Speaker, …

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Updated: Bentivolio Wins 11th Congressional Race

Taj conceded the race Wednesday morning.

Some results are still trickling in, but Democrat Syed Taj conceded the race for Michigan's 11th Congressional District to Republican Kerry Bentivolio Wednesday morning.  "It goes without saying that I am disappointed in last night's results. However, I am not disappointed in the campaign that we have ran in the 11th. We faced a tough map and in spite of this disadvantage worked our district hard and left nothing on the table," Taj said in a statement. Bentivolio spoke to a group of supporters just before midnight Tuesday at his election party at the Sheraton in Novi, thanking them for their support. "We're going to go to Washington, and we're going to represent the 11th District like it's never been represented before," he said. As of …

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ConcernedParent

2:33 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012

It's worth stating that Dr Taj did extraordinarily well considering the demographic of the district and the fliers that were mailed claiming his affiliation with Marxists. Crazy.   more ›

As Campaigns Wind Down, 11th District Race Charges Heat Up

Even relatives are drawn into the mix of odd stories coming out of the district.

 In the final days before the Nov. 6 general election, the 11th District Congressional race has taken more twists and turns than a Six Flags roller coaster.  The race started out in strange territory, when a review of re-election petitions for former 11th District Congressman Thaddeus McCotter showed he hadn't gathered sufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot. McCotter aides are facing trials in connection with the campaign scandal.  Politico.com reported Nov. 1 that the brother of Republican candidate Kerry Bentivolio told Michigan Information and Research Service (MIRS), a subscription-based news service, that his brother is "mentally unbalanced". Phillip Bentivolio also claims his brother owes him $20,000; Politico.com quotes …

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Westland Voter Opposes Bentivolio

Westland resident Michael Short resides in old 11th Congressional District.

Hello, I'm Mike Short. I live in the old 11th Congressional District of Michigan. I've posted a video to YouTube which may interest you.  I'm writing you as a individual opposed to the election of Kerry Bentivolio and I created this video with that thought in mind.  If elected, Mr. Bentivolio would be my representative for the lame-duck session of the current congress.  The prospect of having a Tea Party advocate as my representative makes me unhappy. Unhappy enough to oppose Mr. Bentivolio's bid for the next full session of congress as well. I have friends in the new 11th who should not have to put up with Mr. Bentivolio's politics!  Thanks for your attention, Michael E. Short Westland, MI 

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11th District Congressional Candidates Tackle Jobs at Forum

Democrats, third-party candidates in races for 11th Congressional District participate in League of Women Voters forum in Plymouth.

Candidates in the simultaneous races for full and partial terms representing Michigan's 11th Congressional District tackled jobs, among a host of hot-button issues Monday at a candidate forum at Plymouth District Library. Noticeably absent was Republican nominee Kerry Bentivolio of Milford, who is a candidate in both the partial and full-term races and will appear twice on many voters' Nov. 6 ballots.  Democratic nominee Dr. Syed Taj of Canton, Green Party candidate Steven Paul Duke of Livonia and Libertarian John Tatar of Livonia, all candidates for a two-year term representing Michigan's newly realigned 11th Congressional District, appeared at the forum, moderated by League of Women Voters member Susan Rowe. Natural Law Party candidate …

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League of Women Voters to Host Congressional Candidate Forum Tonight

Candidates in 11th Congressional District races to participate in candidate forum tonight at Plymouth District Library.

Michigan voters in both the old and new 11th Congressional District will have a chance to learn more about candidates tonight in the partial and full-term races for U.S. Congress. A candidate forum will be held for both races at 7 p.m. tonight at the Plymouth District Library. The race includes Dr. Syed Taj (D-Canton) and Kerry Bentivolio (R-Milford) in the full-term race representing the realigned new 11th District, and Bentivolio and David Curson (D-Belleville) will square off to fill out the rest of former Rep. Thaddeus McCotter's (R-Livonia) term, which ends Jan. 2, to represent the existing 11th District.  Paula Bowman of the Northwest Wayne County chapter of the League of Women Voters said last week Bentivolio indicated he will not …

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Syed Taj: Obama Speech 'Brings Us Together as Americans'

Democratic Congressional candidate for Michigan's 11th Congressional District lauds president's Democratic National Convention speech.

Syed Taj (D-Canton), a candidate in Michigan's 11th Congressional District race, said in a statement Thursday that President Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention served as a reminder for what makes the U.S. great. Taj, who will face Kerry Bentivolio (R-Milford) on Nov. 6, spoke highly of the president's speech, given Thursday night in North Carolina upon Obama accepting his party's nomination to seek a second term in the White House. The Republican Party held its convention to nominate Mitt Romney one week prior. "President Obama spokes to the essence of America in his speech," Taj said in a statement. "He not only highlighted the clear policy differences between Democrats and Republicans on jobs, Medicare, Social …

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Special Election Wednesday to Pick McCotter's Successor

Residents in the current 11th Congressional District will be asked to vote Wednesday, Sept. 5, to pick someone to fill the remainder of Thaddeus McCotter's term. McCotter resigned from the seat earlier this year.

The much-anticipated special primary election to fill Thaddeus McCotter's (R-Livonia) remaining term will take place next week. The Sept. 5 election is happening on a Wednesday, not the usual Tuesday, after the state set the date in July. In Novi, Clerk Maryanne Cornelius said many people don't understand the difference between the August Primary and this special primary, "Turnout for Sept. 5 is likely to be low. I will be surprised if it's as high as 12 percent," she said in an interview with Novi Patch. In White Lake, Deputy Clerk Cathy Derocher said many people have come in seeking absentee ballots not realizing the notices they were getting were for the Sept. 5 election, not the upcoming November election. Derocher said the clerk's …

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Brooke Tajer

12:48 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Whoever wins in the general election for the new term will take over, if I recall correctly.   more ›

Absentee Returns Vary in Special Election to Fill McCotter's Seat

Plymouth Township reports low absentee numbers, while Canton reports moderate returns.

Despite public outcry over a Sept. 5 special election to temporarily fill former Rep. Thaddeus McCotter's seat, at least one local township has seen high returns of absentee ballots, according to the Canton Observer. Clerk Terry Bennett told the Observer 4,754 absentee ballots have been mailed out, which about 32 percent already returned. She told the Observer, however, that she expected a low turnout on Sept. 5. Five Republicans are vying for the temporary seat: Kerry Bentivolio of Milford, Nancy Cassis of Novi, Carolyn Kavanagh of Livonia, Kenneth Crider of Livonia and Steve King — of Steve King and the Dittilies fame — of Livonia. The winner will face Democrat David Curson of Belleville on Nov. 6, the same day voters will elect either …

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Gov. Rick Snyder Endorses Kerry Bentivolio For Michigan's 11th Congressional District

Governor Snyder urges voters to support Bentivolio in the special and general elections.

Gov. Rick Snyder and Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley have given their endorsements for Michigan's 11th Congressional District race. They are urging voters to support Republican Kerry Bentivolio in the November general election. Bentivolio beat out Republican Nancy Cassis in the Tuesday night primary to advance to the general election ballot. Bentivolio is set to run against Democrat Syed Taj of Canton in November. Bentivolio also got Snyder's endorsement for the September special election. He will be running in the September special election to fill the seat resigned by Thaddeus McCotter in July. He will face fellow Republicans Cassis, Steve King, Kenneth Crider and Carolyn Cavanagh and Democrat David Curson. “I’m honored to have the …

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cookiepro2

7:34 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Thanks DCC for the explanation of where the fault for the special primary election lays! Also too bad McCotter left his term early leaving this mess. I take it nothing of importance is happening in the old 11th district now anyway, it's a lame duck all around, should have been left that way from November to December though I realize the constitution prohibits that. Yes, re the new 11th district. …   more ›