The Nov. 5 election isn't the only election this month. Democrats and Republicans are selecting legislative leaders to head next year's caucuses.
Republicans will hold a 63-47 lead - the biggest advantage the party has held in the House in a half century. Rep. Rick Johnson, R-LeRoy, was elected Tuesday night to continue as House speaker. Democrats selected Sen. Dianne Byrum, D-Onondaga, who was elected to the House last week, as their leader. Byrum couldn't run for re-election in the Senate because of term limits.
Sen. Ken Sikkema, D-Grandville, will become Senate majority leader for the Republicans, who will hold a 22-16 advantage. Sen. Bob Emerson, D-Flint, will become minority leader for the Democrats and Senator-elect Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, will become floor leader for the Democrats.
Term limits also meant Gov. John Engler couldn't run for re-election this year. Engler has focused on unemployment throughout his tenure as governor, and on Wednesday he announced Michigan's unemployment rate has fallen below the national average for October. Michigan's rate was 5.6 percent for the month, while the national average was 5.7 percent.
The October mark was the lowest since September 2001 when it was at 5.5 percent. Last month's rate was the first time since November 2000 that Michigan's rate fell below the national average.
"This is definitely a sign of better things to come for Michigan's economy and our state," Engler said in a statement. "Having our unemployment rate again below the national rate is proof positive that Michigan's economy is fundamentally stronger today than it was a decade ago."
While Engler's political career is coming to an end for now, Richard Bernstein's just beginning; he became the first blind candidate elected to a statewide office in Michigan. He was elected to the Wayne State University Board of Governors on Nov. 5.
U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, who beat East Lansing attorney Frank McAlpine 68-32 percent, said he's going to work on bringing the rare isotope accelerator to MSU.
He's on the short list of candidates to become chief deputy whip, which is the top assistant for the majority whip in charge getting enough votes for a bill to pass, said Rogers' spokeswoman Sylvia Warner.
