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| Miller and Roberts |
Inside Michigan Politics is out with their 2015 list of
the most liberal and most conservative state House members, and Macomb County stands
as the anomaly with both ends of the spectrum covered.
Democratic Rep. Sarah Roberts of St. Clair Shores, after
winning the “most liberal” title last year, is tied for second place in the 2015 rankings. And three
Macomb Republicans – Jeff Farrington of Utica, Ken Goike of Ray Township and Pete
Lucido of Shelby Township – are near the most-conservative end of the scale.
members by analyzing voting patterns on 28 bills that represented the gamut
– issues that deal with social services, the economy, taxes, environmental
protection, civil rights and public health and safety.
For decades, Macomb has stood out as Michigan’s ultimate toss-up
county in partisan elections, with a distinct geographic mix of Republican and
Democratic areas. Some legislative districts straddle the line between conservative
and liberal enclaves, and in many cases ethnic and Catholic influences
result in pockets of the electorate that are still considered independent-minded,
substantially conservative Democrats.
of Warren, Marilyn Lane of Fraser and John Chirkun of Roseville – that are in
the middle of the pack.
Under the IMP system, a 100 percent score is considered
the ultimate liberal; 0 percent is the ultimate conservative.
Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores) – 93%
Henry Yanez (D-Sterling Heights) – 75%
Marilyn Lane (D-Fraser) – 72%
John Chirkun (D-Roseville) — 71%
Derek Miller (D-Warren) – 64%
Tony Forlini (R-Harrison Twp.) – 29%
Andrea LaFontaine (R-Columbus Twp.) – 29%
Jeff Farrington (R-Utica) – 21%
Ken Goike (R-Ray Twp.) – 21%
Pete Lucido (R-Shelby Twp.) – 21%
liberal House member for 2015 at 96%.
The most conservative members (at 5% each) for the year
were two ex-lawmakers who voters may remember – Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat.
