UPWARD TRAJECTORY

Barb Anness

Democrat Barb Anness of Rochester Hills, who is running to replace state Rep. Michael Webber (R-Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township) and is a current Rochester Community Schools board member, reported the biggest financial haul of the four candidates – three Democrats and one Republican – hoping to succeed the term-limited legislator in Lansing. For the last quarter of 2019, Anness raised $25,058, while fellow Democratic challengers Brendan Johnson of Rochester raised $7,920, for a total of $18,262 so far for the cycle; while Eddie Hillery of Rochester Hills, who submitted his statement of organization February 26, did not submit any financials. Republican Mark Tisdel, a Rochester Hills city councilman, raised $7,392 for the last quarter, for a total of $18,909 for 2019. To get a further leg up on her competitors, Anness tapped political guru Lisa Kiefer to run her campaign. In 2018, Kiefer was campaign manager for state Sen. Rosemary Bayer's (D-Bloomfield Township, Franklin, Beverly Hills, Clarkston, Lake Orion) successful effort to flip the state Senate 12th District over to the “D” column. Most impressive is the endorsement of Anness by Emily's List for the traditionally Republican district.