Big news in Macomb County today — times three.
First, an Israeli delegation of about a dozen defense contractors met this morning with county officials and military brass from the Army Tank-Automotive Command (TACOM) in Warren. The reception at Andiamo’s in Warren with the delegation marked the first of its kind. Officials are hoping it leads to new defense contracts and additional jobs for Macomb’s vaunted defense cooridor.
Next, at a sold-out Macomb County Chamber of Commerce luncheon attended by about 450 people, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley seemed to deliver his first campaign speech based on his expected candidacy for governor in 2018. The speech followed on the heels of an online Calley ad that debuted in the past 24 hours that strongly hints at the tone of his gubernatorial campaign.
Calley received strong, complimentary words from term-limited Gov. Rick Snyder, who also spoke at the event, and the LG was shepherded from table to table by Candice Miller, a former secretary of state and congresswoman who now serves as the county public works commissioner.
Finally, controversial county Clerk Karen Spranger learned today that her eccentric ways might lead to more than just constant criticism from county officials and an ethics violation.
The Macomb Daily reported that, while Spranger swore under penalty of perjury a year ago that she lives at 7520 Hudson in Warren, she now won’t say where she resides. Neighbors told the Daily they haven’t seen Spranger at the ramshackle house in months. A former aide who has filed a federal whistleblower lawsuit against Spranger said the county clerk has admitted to her that she hasn’t lived at the Hudson house in years.
“Right now, I’m in transition,” the clerk told the Daily.
Spranger house/Macomb Daily photo
According to Michigan law, prison could become the home for any candidate for public office who lies about their residency. For Spranger, who turns 65 later this month, the issue is where she was residing when she formally declared herself a candidate. In a notarized affidavit of identity filed at the county clerk’s office April 6, 2016, Spranger wrote that her residence at the time was 7520 Hudson.
By signing that document –- an official state form for candidates that includes date of birth, the office they’re seeking and party affiliation –- she acknowledged that making a false statement on the one-page affidavit is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine up to $1,000. For campaign finance purposes, it’s also the address she used for her candidate committee.
In addition, city records show that four citations — seven code violations in all — were issued against the Spranger house over the past several years due to blight conditions. In three cases, the unsightly conditions were fixed before a fine was issued. The house on Hudson is the same property where, as has been previously reported, no water usage has been detected for about two years and the property taxes have not been paid on time for most of the past 14 years.
