MONEY TALKS

There is more than a year before the 2020 general election, but some candidates for the Michigan state legislature aren't waiting for the starting gun before leaving the running blocks. Case in point: 40th House District Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township) raised $34,735 between November 27 and July 20. Manoogian, who spent $25,299 during the same time, ended the period with an ending balance of $32,646. Meanwhile, former Oakland County commissioner Dave Potts, who told us in June he hired a "big guns" consultant to help him win the seat for Republicans, has yet to form a candidate committee. Potts recently said he plans a formal announcement September 17. Other House candidates fundraising (and ending balance) totals of note for the pre-election period include: Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter, $12,842 ($12,078), who is running for the Democratic nomination to the 27th House District, currently held by term-limited Democrat Robert Wittenberg (Huntington Woods, Ferndale, Berkley, Oak Park), who formally announced his run for county treasurer; Royal Oak Democrat and 26th District incumbent Jim Ellison, $9,550 ($4,671); Kyra Harris Bolden of the 35th District (D-Southfield, Beverly Hills, Franklin) $7,103 ($12,197); and 39th District incumbent Ryan Berman (R-West Bloomfield, Commerce Township, Wolverine Lake, Wixom) $19,500 ($27,673).