ALLEGAN, MI (WHTC) – In what was not seen as a surprise by political pundits, Mary Whiteford on Monday submitted papers to the Allegan County Clerk’s office seeking the Republican nomination in the November 3rd special primary election to fill a vacant state House seat.
Whiteford, a South Haven-area financial advisor, announced last month that she would be seeking the 80th District position. She lost to Cindy Gamrat in last year’s GOP Primary and was willing to take her on again, but Gamrat was expelled by the House last Friday in the wake of a scandal involving fellow freshman Republican Todd Courser of Lapeer.
Whiteford is the vice-chair of the Allegan Co. Republican Party and was named a Republican State Committeewoman this past February. She is expected to be challenged for the Legislature by Allegan County Commissioner Jim Storey of Holland, who also announced his candidacy on Monday.
MIRS News is reporting that former Allegan County Commissioner Bill Sage also submitted his paperwork at Clerk Watts’ office. Sage had joined Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema in an unsuccessful lawsuit following the forced cancellation of a scheduled speech by former Islamic terrorist Kamal Saleem at Allegan High School in 2012 due to safety concerns. Agema had backed Gamrat’s successful state House run last year.
MIRS is also reporting that a David Athena had asked for paperwork to file as a Democrat for this electiobn, although not much is known publicly about him.
The filing deadline for the special primary election is this Friday afternoon, with a March 8th General Election slated to fill Gamrat’s seat. Her office staff remains in Lansing, under the direction of the House general office, to handle constitutent matters, while Ken Yonker (R-Caledonia), whose district includes the Wayland area, said that he would vote for all of Allegan County in the state House until Gamrat’s successor is elected and sworn into office.
