Pontiac Times

Rep. Donni Steele, a Republican representative from Orion Township, has criticized Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for rushing two special elections to fill vacant seats in the Michigan House. The governor announced her plan to fill the seats last Wednesday, giving prospective candidates a very short window of time to file their intent to run.

Steele argues that the timeline set by the governor is a clear example of political manipulation. She believes that voters in these communities deserve a fair and honest process, but instead, the governor has found a way to operate in the shadows. Steele expressed concern that potential candidates may have missed the filing opportunity while celebrating Thanksgiving with their families.

In addition to the rushed timeline, Steele also highlights the financial and administrative burden that these unexpected elections will place on local officials. She believes that the governor could have used the existing election date in February instead of adding two new elections and forcing local clerks to play political games.

Steele also criticizes the hypocrisy of rushing special elections after Democrats ended the legislative session at the earliest date in 55 years. With the House evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, Steele and her Republican colleagues have been advocating for bipartisan work. She believes that forcing special elections to regain a slim majority is a perfect depiction of the Democrats' time in power.

In conclusion, Rep. Steele's criticism of the rushed special elections emphasizes the need for a fair and transparent election process. She argues that political gamesmanship erodes democracy and hinders the ability of elected officials to address the pressing issues facing Michigan.

Click this link to access more information: https://gophouse.org/posts/rep-steele-criticizes-cherry-picked-special-elections