DETROIT - Michigan Democrats finalized their party tickets with less grandeur and only slightly more controversy than the national delegation did last month.
The party officially nominated its candidates for the state Board of Education, Michigan State Supreme Court, University of Michigan regents, Michigan State University trustees and Wayne State University governors, and gave the final nod to state candidates for House and Senate at Cobo Hall yesterday.
The Supreme Court race was the only contested nomination at the event, which simulated Chicago's convention with a "low-cost, low-key Levin for Senate" one-balloon drop by U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and la macarena playing in the auditorium.
State Rep. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor) called the convention a "morale booster."
"(The state convention is) an organizational tool to get all the precinct delegates to get to know the candidates," she said.
The nominations for University regents, made by Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer and Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Grand Haven), lacked the confrontation and tension of this weekend's Republican convention. Olivia Maynard of Flint and S. Martin Taylor of Detroit will face three-term University Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor) and newcomer Michael Bishop in November for two seats on the board.
Archer, who nominated Taylor, said after the convention that he is not concerned with the conflicts surrounding the Republican nominees, but with unifying the Democratic Party.
"I don't even bother to concern myself with that race," Archer said.
State Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem Twp.) praised Maynard, who holds a master's degree in social work from the University, and said Maynard's record shows a dedication to student issues and fiscal responsibility.
"She certainly knows how to stretch a dollar," Smith said.
Maynard's "liberal background" will be attractive to students, Smith said. "Libby Maynard stood for all of the civil liberties and believed that they extend to the schoolhouse door," Smith said.
Maynard said she and Taylor plan to work on campus with students before the November election, and that they would be campaigning together occasionally on campus and throughout the state.
If elected, Taylor would be the only black regent, after the departure of Regent Nellie Varner (D-Detroit) in January.
Archer said Taylor would bring "public and private experience to the (University) Board of Regents."
Candidates and speakers warned the dancing delegates to avoid overconfidence due to positive polls and encouraged them to spread the word - and the wealth.
"Now is not the time to be shy about spreading the word," Stabenow said. "If you have never written a personal check before, do it now."
Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) focused on women's issues and sexism in the workplace - even in Congress.
"Never, never underestimate the power of an angry woman in the voting booth," Rivers said.
The convention's only conflict, and loudest crowd reaction, was spurred by the nominations for Michigan Supreme Court judge. Youth percussion band in tow, Marilyn Kelley led a train of supporters on a rally around the hall, and captured one of the party's nominations. The other spot on the Democratic ticket went to Judge William Murphy.
