  Zulu_warrior Member Username: Zulu_warrior Post Number: 3081 Registered: 10-2003 |
Anderson's 'journey' lands him in Senate Toy voted out after 26 years in elective office BY MATT JACHMAN AND DAVE VARGA STAFF WRITERS Glenn Anderson walked the Michigan Senate's 6th District for so long, he told supporters early Wednesday, he's seen the trees green up and their leaves change colors. Those months of campaigning paid off Tuesday for the Westland Democrat, as he won a squeaky-close state Senate race against incumbent Republican Laura Toy. Anderson, a term-limited state representative from Westland, edged Toy, of Livonia, in the district, which is made up of Livonia, Redford Township, Garden City and Westland. "I think we have a new state senator. I guess I'm going ... ," Anderson said, pausing to acknowledge rising cheers and applause, as he announced his win just after midnight at the Quality Inn on Plymouth Road. The victory was a highlight during local Democrats' celebration of wins for their party. "It's just been incredible. What a journey it's been," Anderson said. Anderson, a former Westland City Council member, took just under 51 percent of the nearly 97,500 votes cast in the race, totaling 49,492 votes. Toy, who rose to prominence in Livonia city politics and has held elected office for 26 years, took 47,590 votes. Viewed as an underdog until recently, Anderson said economic issues gave him an edge with voters. He supported the 21st Century Jobs Fund, an effort to diversify the state's economy, while Toy did not. "I knew we had to do something innovative," he said. Toy, who called Anderson Wednesday morning to congratulate him, said she knew the election would be close. She took Livonia by a comfortable margin, but won barely one-third of the Westland vote and also lost in Garden City and Redford. "We didn't expect to win Westland. He did very well there. I don't think it's anything we did personally, my staff or my supporters," she said by phone Wednesday. Toy said national politics had an effect on her race. "There was a lot of discord out there from the federal level," she said. "Instead of a person thing going on, it was a party thing." Both candidates were the targets of negative campaign fliers and television ads. Toy said she heard complaints about what some viewed as race-baiting ads. "So many of these things come from the state party and there's so much coming fast and furious," she said. She said she hadn't seen many of the mailers. "You don't have any control over it, so help me God." Said Anderson of the attack tactics: "We didn't initiate that." Anderson offered thanks to family members, campaign staff members and volunteers in brief remarks at the Quality Inn. Later, he said the new state Legislature will focus on improving Michigan's sagging economy. The state's Democratic governor, Jennifer Granholm, was elected to a second term Tuesday, and the party also gained a majority of seats in the state House of Representatives. "We're going to be able to do some innovative things to turn Michigan around," Anderson said. Toy, who co-owns Cardwell Florist in Livonia, said she plans to stay active after catching up on her rest. "There are other opportunities out there," she said. Originally published November 9, 2006 | ||
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus Post Number: 344 Registered: 06-2006 |
I didn't know the site was at war with Livonia... please elaborate... | ||
Spiritofdetroit Member Username: Spiritofdetroit Post Number: 36 Registered: 11-2006 |
check the HOF threads... | ||
Wilus1mj Member Username: Wilus1mj Post Number: 142 Registered: 05-2005 |
So how many former Detroiters moved to Livonia to vote for Glenn Anderson?? | ||
Amy_p Member Username: Amy_p Post Number: 723 Registered: 10-2003 |
It was a no-brainer vote for me after seeing an expensive, full-color, 8 x 10 piece of crap my sister got in the mail, listing Anderson's support of LGBT rights, and asking ominously: "Whose rights is Glenn Anderson fighting for?" If I'm explaining this shitty, sorry --- it was basically a huge piece of hate mail about LGBT people, and it made me sick. It made my conservative Republican sister so sick she didn't even go vote. To think of the homes that went to, and the hurt caused... Idiots. What ignorance. Go Glenn. | ||
Amy_p Member Username: Amy_p Post Number: 724 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wilus1mj, the war had some safehouses in Livonia. | ||
Wazootyman Member Username: Wazootyman Post Number: 150 Registered: 02-2006 |
I don't get what this has to do with the DetroitYes "war" with Livonia? Am I missing something? | ||
Yvette248 Member Username: Yvette248 Post Number: 102 Registered: 10-2006 |
I think we're all missing something. | ||
Sarge Member Username: Sarge Post Number: 400 Registered: 10-2003 |
It was a cool thread. Check it out.... https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/6790/68357.html?11417873 04 | ||
Llyn Member Username: Llyn Post Number: 1708 Registered: 06-2004 |
I loved that thread! | ||
Mayor_sekou Member Username: Mayor_sekou Post Number: 259 Registered: 09-2006 |
I was a mere lurker during the war but that was an awesome thread. | ||
Warriorfan Member Username: Warriorfan Post Number: 565 Registered: 08-2005 |
And yet, I can't help but think that if the shoe was on the other foot and it was a LivoniaYES website talking about a "war on Detroit" and throwing out some not-so-subtle jabs at the racial and class makeup of Detroit and utilizing stereotypes about Detroit, it would not have been so well-received among the members of this site. Ah, C'est la vie. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 3285 Registered: 10-2003 |
Lost amid all the uproar of the the overthrow of the Republican Congress in Washington was a nearly similar coup here in Michigan. The State House of Representatives went Democratic for the first time in this millenium and while the Senate missed doing so by two 500 vote difference races. The Anderson upset of Toy was just one of many surprises that night. Granholm, following her stomping of DeVos, will have a freer hand to pursue her policies. Bills that could never get to floor will now see the light of day. | ||
Llyn Member Username: Llyn Post Number: 1711 Registered: 06-2004 |
Heh, heh, yes, yes, yes, Lowell, that's all good to know, but let's get back to the serious stuff. About those livonians... Warriorfan, I think it was pretty fair. I mean, what about this plea from alsodave?  | ||
Ray Member Username: Ray Post Number: 817 Registered: 06-2004 |
This poor pathetic state has signed its economic death warrant. | ||
Detroitduo Member Username: Detroitduo Post Number: 748 Registered: 06-2005 |
Oh please! Michigan was DOA after the "saviour" republican previous Governor drove it into the ground. While I am independent, Engler was a horrible Gov. At least Granholm has brought back a pulse; a weak one, but a pulse nonetheless. | ||
Zulu_warrior Member Username: Zulu_warrior Post Number: 3084 Registered: 10-2003 |
The Toy defeat signals that we have "won the peace" in Livonia.... | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 35 Registered: 10-2006 |
I think that Michigan was better off during the Depression era of the 1930s than it is now. Fortunately the state has Detroit to hold it together. | ||
Udmphikapbob Member Username: Udmphikapbob Post Number: 202 Registered: 07-2004 |
Toy's anti-Anderson hate mail was the very epitome of tense suburb-city relations. Some were pretty overtly racist, I thought...one showed some black prisoners on one side, and then showed some wholesome white construction workers on the other...asked who deserved to have more job-training funding. Her whole campaign was that Glenn Anderson will support Detroit, and she doesn't think a dime of our money should go to the City. Shameful. I think that if the prisoners had better job training, they could perhaps escape the institutional life. I think the construction workers can take some classes and find a job on their own. Disclosure - I volunteered on Anderson's campaign (and Trupiano's) in Livonia. |
