NOT GOING ANYWHERE

Karen McDonald

Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Karen McDonald announced in early March that she will step down from the seat she has held since November 2012 in order to run for Oakland County Prosecutor in 2020; her last day will be April 12, as she needs to be off the bench for a full year before filing to run. McDonald, who was an assistant Oakland County Prosecutor from 1999-2002, when she went into private practice, is likely to run as a Democrat against Prosecutor Jessica Cooper – although word is she has approached both local political parties for endorsements. “It'll be interesting to see where she ends up,” said Oakland County Republican Party chair Rocky Raczkowski, who said he'd be delighted to have her on his side of the tentpole, but figures it's unlikely. He pointed out that her stepping down now allows Governor Gretchen Whitmer to appoint a new judge and “keep the seat more left than right.” Raczkowski thinks McDonald could beat Cooper in a primary. But don't count Cooper out. On March 8, she announced on Facebook that “like many baby boomers, I'm at the top of my game. I have worked tirelessly to turn this office into one of the premier prosecutors offices in the country. And I am intent on keeping it that way. I filed for re- election, on October 8, 2018… It is presumptuous as well as offensive for anyone to assume that because I am a baby boomer that I am going to retire. Really, it is not only ageism; it’s a bit sexist. No one would make such a presumption about a male elected official.” So there.