Another round of rumors has surfaced suggesting that Congressman Sandy Levin is about to call it quits.
Levin’s response? “No way.”
Yet, the speculation continues. Who would be the likely candidates if Levin bid farewell to his heavily Democratic district? Probably state Sen. Steve Bieda of Warren (pictured at top, right), state Rep. Jon Switalski, also of Warren (left), and state Rep. Jim Townsend of Royal Oak (center).
No one is willing to talk about this on the record but the conventional wisdom is that a candidate from Macomb County, particularly from the large Democratic bastion of Warren, would have the best chance of winning.
Mickey Switalski (Jon’s cousin), who waged a quixotic primary challenge against Levin in 2010, apparently has no interest in another run for Congress. He is enjoying his dual status as a college professor and city council member in his beloved hometown of Roseville. In November, he is running unopposed for the city treasurer job.
The one wild card in this maze of conjecture is Sandy’s son, Andy. After his surprising loss in a 2010 state Senate race, Andy has been busy running a green-energy company and has not been politically active. But he does live in the 9th Congressional District, which includes nearly all of Macomb County south of Hall Road and a slice of southern Oakland County.
Meanwhile, Levin says he is energized, not deflated, by the feisty Republican partisanship on display in the House. He is using his perch as the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee to push trade issues and to poke holes in the GOP assertion that the IRS specialized in targeting tea party groups.
Those who long assumed that he would retire together with his brother, Sen. Carl Levin, were wrong, the congressman said. Carl is leaving in 2014 and Sandy is staying.
So, what’s next on the agenda?
On Saturday, Sandy will host a big birthday bash/fundraiser for his 82nd birthday.
0 comments:
Post a Comment