GOOD VIBRATIONS
Michigan Rep. Donni Steele (R-54) of Orion Township got good news on a couple of fronts of late. First, a potential August 2024 primary challenger, Annette LeBaron, a Bloomfield Hills ZBA member who first filed in April of last year, has now formally withdrawn her candidacy for the district that also includes parts of Bloomfield and Oakland townships, plus part of Auburn Hills. No word as to why LeBaron, who some say is part of the farther right faction of the GOP, decided to opt out. Second, Steele held a promising fundraising event the first week of February at the Birmingham home of former state Representative and county commissioner Chuck Moss, whose government service dates back to 1973. Word has it that about 45 people showed up to support Steele, among them many former and current state lawmakers, including notables from the local area, like former House Speaker Tom Leonard, former Senator Mat Dunaskiss, former Representative Jim Tedder, plus current state House members Tom Kuhn and Joe Aragona, along with west Oakland lakes area county commissioner Bob Hoffman. Add to the list former Birmingham mayor and long-time city commissioner Mark Nickita and Jake German, chair of Birmingham’s Historic District Study Committee. Insiders say that the intimate get-together raised in the neighborhood of $6-$7,000. Steele could well be once again facing Democrat Shadia Martini of Bloomfield Township, based on the official candidate filings as of now.