CONGRESS, ACT TWO?

With Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-Shelby Township, most of Macomb, Lapeer, Bay and St. Clair counties) announcing in late July that he would not be seeking a third term in Congress, the rumor mill is working overtime trying to figure out who will run for the perma-red seat. Mitchell, a former businessman who spent almost $3 million of his own money to capture the seat in 2016 – after throwing away $3.5 million in a losing primary in 2014 in an effort to capture the 4th District seat, to Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Midland). Mitchell replaced former congresswoman and now Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller, who returned home to St. Clair Shores allegedly because her husband Don, a retired Macomb County judge, was ill. He died in January. Could Miller want to return to DC? She hasn't said – but did publicly disparage Mitchell, who in his retirement announcement said he wanted to spend more time with his special needs son and from the House floor complained that "Rhetoric overwhelms policy and politics consumes much of the oxygen in this city." "Rep. Mitchell's comments on his departure from Congress leave something to be desired," Miller said in a press statement. “The time is right now for a person to step forward who fully appreciates the opportunity and the responsibility that comes with serving as the ember of Congress from this great district and can truly represent the people of Michigan's 10th.” State Sen. Pete Lucido (R-Shelby Township) would be a local Republican favorite if he ran, which odds-makers are giving as 50-50, and state Sen. Dan Lauwers, former state Sen. Phil Pavlov, Rep. Shane Hernandez and former Rep. Pete Lund are all contemplating the Republican nomination.