Two former lawmakers who were forced from Michigan’s Legislature for an extramarital affair and a strange cover-up scheme have lost bids to win back their seats. Mary Whiteford of South Haven declared victory in Tuesday’s special Republican primary election in Allegan County. She had roughly 52% of the vote with 90% of precincts reporting, far more than second-place finisher Jim Storey. Cindy Gamrat, who in September became just the fourth lawmaker in state history to be expelled, had just 9% and admitted she made mistakes.
|
Listen: |
Former legislator Todd Courser, who resigned rather than be expelled, finished sixth in a primary won by farmer Gary Howell.
|
Listen: |
Courser sent a phony email that said he was caught having sex with a male prostitute. He said the tale would make his affair with Gamrat less plausible in case it were revealed by an anonymous extortionist.
Whiteford lost the primary to Gamrat last year. Congressman Fred Upton chimed in, saying the primary means “this embarrassing nightmare now seems over.” He said Allegan County voters made a “wise decision,” and said Whiteford will lead in the House in similar fashion to previous Representatives Bob Genetski, Fulton Sheen, Patty Birkholz and Paul Hillegonds.
