Michigan to test whether independent can winas governor
Here’ssomebody to watch in next year’s elections: Mike Duggan. He’srunning for governor of Michigan as an independent. He’salready polling 25%. Pros frombothmajor parties fear he could turnthe raceupside down.
The66-year-old Duggan is the current mayor of Detroit. He formerly served as Wayne Countyprosecutor in addition tomanaging the Detroit MedicalCenter andSMART, theregion’s transit authority In 2013, Duggan jumpedintothe Detroit mayor’srace. Thecitywas in fiscal collapse withafallingpopulation,47,000 abandoned houses andthe highest unemployment and homicide rates in thenation.For years, Detroit hadbeen operating under stateoversight. Even though Duggan had to run formayor as awrite-in candidate due to residency andfilingissues, thatdidn’tstop him. He campaigned on the slogan, “Every neighborhood has afuture.” His platform wasbasedonfiscal reforms, crime reduction and economic development. He easily ledthe first roundofvoting. In thesecond round, he beat Wayne County Sheriff BennyNapoleon, aformer Detroit police chief, with 55% of thevote. He’ssincewon two landslidereelections. As Detroit’smayor for nearly 12 years, Dugganhas focused on city finances, street lighting,public transitand response times for emergency services.That’sinaddition to improving air quality andreducingblightand graffiti— practical issues thatcut across political ideologies.Healso strengthened park maintenance, converted vacant buildings into livablerentalhousing and establishedthe city’s first office of sustainability. Anew pollpegshis jobapproval rating in Detroitatastratospheric 84%.
Duggan’s point of pride:The 2023 censusestimate showed Detroit’spopulation growingfor the first time since 1957. Now he’s promising to bringhis brand of leadership to the governor’smansion. CurrentDemocratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmeristerm-limitedand will likely seek the presidency in 2028.
Michigan is aswing state withsqueakyhinges. Donald Trump carried it both times hewon. Four of its lasteight governors have been Democrats andfourhavebeen Republicans.That’swhy the2026gubernatorial race is nationally important.
TheDemocraticprimaryfront-runner is Secretaryof State Jocelyn Benson, 47. Recentpolling showsher dominating herparty’sfield. Oneofher opponentsisLt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, 42. The current Republican front-runner is U.S. Rep. John James,43, aformer two-time GOPcandidate forthe U.S.Senate. The primaries will beheld next August. If elected, either James or Gilchrist would be the state’s first African American governor
As an independent candidate, Dugganexpects to pull equally from both parties. Theformer Democratplans on appealing to Trump voters who, as hesays,“want to shake up thesystem,” but “withoutthe nastiness …[or]divisive language.”
Says Duggan on his website: “The political partiesare trapped in atoxic cycle of brutalelectionsand battlesfor a slim majority….only to have thefar right or farleftdrive theagenda. The only way to changethatisto forgeanew pathwhere people comebefore politics, apath that enables us to bridgethe divide andwork together to deliverresults.”
He adds, “I’m not runningtobethe Democrats’governor or theRepublicans’ governor.I’m running to beyourgovernor.”
TheGlengariffGroup poll shows Democrat Benson with 35%, Republican James with34% and independent Duggan with 22%. Other candidate combinations haveDuggan getting as much as 25% and26% of thevote, and with room for growth among voters outsideofDetroit whodon’tknow much abouthim
Both parties worry Duggan will take votes away from them. And he will. The Epic-MRA poll found him drawing 23% of Democrats, 21% of Republicans and 31% of independents
It’s difficult to estimatehow many votes an independent candidate willsiphon fromeach major-party candidate. That’sbecause independents often win according to something Icall the Layer CakeEffect.The first layermay comefromDemocrats and Republicans about equally.The second layer may come mostly fromone party’svoters; the third layer,from the other party Americans are fed up withthe current political system. One day,they may realize thatreal change will onlycome when candidates not beholden to eithermajor party start winning major elections Could that happen in Michigan next year?
Ron Faucheux is anonpartisan political analyst,pollster and writer based in Louisiana.
Issues with Mid-Baratariaproject viewed fairly
Quin Hillyer’sMay 11 column stands out as the most balanced reporting yet on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion by thepaper
It may be providential that this project now receives asecond look under theNational Environmental Policy Act. As anational co-chair in sediment transport along with credentials in port and navigation engineering, Imust notethat the recently disclosed 2022 modeling report projects land-building at one-third of theoriginalenvironmental impact statement estimate, while operations and maintenance
costs have ballooned to $50 million ayear
The project’scongressionally granted Marine Mammal Protection Act waiver wasnot based on science or sound marine ecology Its bypass of standard protectionswould allow lethal harm to dolphins and threatened species, while ignoring concerns raised by commercial fisheries, the parish floodplain manager and the deep draft navigation Iauthored the 2018 letters of objection for Plaquemines Parish working with the Marine Mammal
What happensnextatwhat’s
left of Nottoway matters
For 150 years, Nottoway Plantationwas aplace of grandeur to some and arelic of hate to others, and now it has burned to the ground for everyone. It was theSouth’smost enormous antebellum mansion, built in 1859 by theenslaved for a “sugar baron.”
Enslaved architects,mathematicians, artists, landscape designers, builders, healers, executive chefs and wet nurses created and maintained its ornate features. In 2019, hotel developer Joseph Jaeger Jr., owner of 16 New Orleans area properties, purchased the estate for $3.1 million (it’s currently owned by Dan Dyess,
who also owns the historic Steel Magnolia House Bedand Breakfast in Natchitoches).
Descendants whose labor built and sustained this place deserve thefirst say in whathappens next
The real tragedy isn’tjust the fire. It’sthat Nottoway endured as aglorified tourist attraction while hiding the violence and forced labor behind its walls. We must stop romanticizing plantations as charming relics. They aremonuments to cruelty
Let us honor the lives stolen, preservetheir stories and demand an honest history
I’dliketoask letter writer Jim O’Neill (“CatholicChurch’s exclusion of women ignored”) if he is familiarwith the gospels?Itseems his issue is with Jesus Christ, notthe Catholic Church. For O’Neill’sbenefit, all 12 of the apostles Jesus chose were men. Women played crucial roles in his ministry,but none were chosen or appointed as apostles to go outtoall the world and preach thegood
news. As acradleCatholic and an actual woman, what Jesus ordained is good enough for me. It’sthe Catholic Church, not the U.S. government. However,there are some places, countries, religions that actually do repress women that O’Neill may want to take alook at, if he’s concerned about that.
LINDAWATROUS Harvey
Commission and other nongovernmental organizations whoopposed the project. Those filings outlined the modeling discrepancies, permitting conflicts, endangered species violations and NEPA procedural flawsthat now undermine the project. All options must be back on the table, including cost-effective dredging alternatives. Louisiana deserves the review in process, and Iapplaud the Landry administration fortaking this on.
DENNIS LAMBERT Lettsworth
Second Amendment fans siton sidelines amid unchecked tyranny
For decades, supporters of the Second Amendment have been espousing that their right to own agun was to protect themselves and their family from governmenttyranny.Wenow have uniformed, unidentified people kidnapping people off the street that are going about their lives. It has been presumed that these uniformed people are government agents doing aduty to round up illegals. It seemsthat it may include indiscriminate pursuit of citizens or legal immigrants, and the government is secret about this. What we are seeing in these actions is exactly what tyranny looks like. It maybebrownskinned people now.InNazi Germany, it started with disabled, intellectuals, homosexuals and the Romani being sent to camps. It turned into arresting political opponents and eventually millions of Jews. Where are the Second Amendment proponents? Or weretheir protestations only justification forhatred and bigotry of “others” that had little to do with tyranny?
EARL PRATZ Metairie
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Speak up and stand behind your word. Protect and take care of your home and take advantage of any efficiency-related rebates available.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Stay focused on what's important to you, and finish what you start. Social events will lead to interesting connections that can offer insight into how you can avoid setbacks.
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Refuse to let stubbornness become your downfall. Put ego aside and show resilience, integrity and foresight. If you play it cool you will receive the support you require to reach your destination.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Say a little, do a lot. The less conspicuous you are, the easier it will be to address your agenda. You are overdue for a change, so visit a place that inspires you.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Updating your skills and qualifications, attending a networking function and engaging in discussions that offer insight into trends will help you make wise choices. Expand your mind and your longterm goals.
scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Emotions will surface regarding your relationships. Limit spending, overreacting and joint ventures. Concentrate on how you look and feel, and choose a path that offers peace of mind.
sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Get into the swing of things, attend functions that make you happy or spend time
with someone who makes your heart flutter. Changes at home will encourage you to reevaluate what's important to you.
cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You'll meet with opposition, denial and false information. Hasty decisions will lead to regret and lifestyle issues. Distance yourself from those tempting you with indulgent suggestions.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Make your surroundings more efficient Personal and financial gains are apparent. A social event will lead to interesting concepts you can integrate into your lifestyle.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Verify everything you hear before passing it along or incorporating that information into your plans. When in doubt, take a pass and protect your interests.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) You are better off than you realize. Observe, and you'll see a path forward that can help you get involved in something essential to reaching your goals.
tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Taking risks will leave you in a weak position Whether it's a physical, financial or emotional chance you take, expect to face last-minute changes. Too "much of anything will work against you.
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
toDAy's cLuE: E EQuALs G
CeLebrItY CIpher
For better or For WorSe peAnUtS zItS FrAnK And erneSt
SALLY Forth
beetLe bAILeY
Mother GooSe And GrIMM SherMAn’S LAGoon
bIG
Sudoku
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
nea CroSSwordS La TimeS CroSSword
THewiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS CurTiS
Bridge
By PHILLIP ALDER
Christian Nestell Bovee,anepigrammatic writer who died in 1904, said, “Musicisthefourthgreatmaterialwant —first food, then clothes,then shelter, thenmusic.”
Ifalivetoday,hewouldsurelyrelegate music to fifth behind food, clothes, shelterand bridge. In bridge, the fourth bid in an uncontestedauctionisgame-forcing when it is in thefourth suit. Usually, responder is hunting for the best game, but sometimeshewantstosuggestaslam.
Lookatthisdeal.WhenNorthhearshis partnerrebidonespade,heknowsgame in spades shouldbeeasy and that aslam mightbepossible.Jumpingimmediately to four spadesdoes not do justice to his hand. Instead, he first forces to game withtwo diamonds. Then,after opener continueswiththreeclubs,Northjumps to four spades, which logically is aslamtry. Now South, with such agreat hand, cantakecontrolwith(RomanKey-Card) Blackwoodbeforebiddingsevenspades or seven no-trump.
After West leads the diamond queen to thebare ace, how should South plan the play?
If declarer can play spades safely, he will have 13 tricks:four spades, one heart,two diamonds and six clubs.
Therightplayistocashthespadeking, planning to cross to dummy’s ace. That works great here, uncovering the 4-1 break.However,EastmightthrowSouth off the scent by playing his spade nine underdeclarer’s king. If South thinks that is asingleton, he will next cashhis spade queen and go downone. Watch out for thisfalsecard.
Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON
Previous answers:
word game
InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed toDAy’s WoRD HERALDs: HER-ulds:Announces.
