I'm happy to see State Rep. Hank Vaupel continue the fight against age limits for judges in Michigan. Judges are elected and I believe the voters can and should determine if an individual is fit to serve. Nationally, we recognize that there is no age limit on wisdom, allowing our Supreme Court Judges to serve at any age. Let's end age-ism in our modern society.

Update 6/28/16: You can read more detail on progress of the different bills and Judge O'Connell's re-election fight here.

It's an age-old story. Billy wants to impress Suzie. You and Suzie are up for the same part. Billy decides to get you in trouble by telling everyone that you skipped class. But you didn't. If it sounds childish and weirdly familiar...that's because it is.

Apparently Bill McCririe (the husband of my opponent) has nothing better to do these days than wait outside my fund-raising event to take pictures of me. He recently posted pictures of me at one such event and cried to the press that I "had called in sick and gone golfing". That sounds pretty bad and so naturally, the press picked it up. The only problem was that it wasn't true.

1. I plan all my fundraisers pretty carefully. I also plan when I need time off to attend them. I had asked for that day off weeks in advance.
2. I didn't golf. In fact, I was at the event for about an hour to thank my supporters but I didn't stay and I didn't shake hands because....
3. I was still sick from an infection that I caught traveling to a national conference on Veteran’s Courts. I spent most of the week in bed or my doctor's office. I also missed the follow-up fundraising dinner at the American Legion – thank you again to those who did attend.
   

Now why would I do that if I was faking? And what should I do about it?

I think I'll trust the smart people of Livingston Count to figure out who the adult in the room is here. Let's just hope Billy is tired of playing games with other people's careers.