Editorial: For Congress

State voters have the rare opportunity to fill three open seats, with up to three more races hotly contested

The Detroit News

Michigan voters will refresh the state's congressional delegation this fall, filling three seats left open by retirements. Two to three other seats are also considered competitive, meaning our delegation in Washington could look sharply different in January.

Voters should support candidates who would make Congress more responsive to the will of the people and put an end to runaway deficit spending. Here are our choices in the district primaries, excluding those races where only one candidate is on the ballot:

13th District (Detroit, Grosse Pointes, parts of western Wayne and Downriver): This is the most-watched race locally because incumbent Democratic Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick is considered vulnerable due to the troubles of her son, jailed former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. One of her challengers, state Sen. Hansen Clarke, has adopted the campaign slogan, "Enough is enough," and that fairly well sums up the Kilpatrick weariness in Metro Detroit. She has been aloof from her constituents, and shares the sense of entitlement that got her son in trouble. Of Kilpatrick's five challengers in the primary, we feel John Broad of Grosse Pointe Farms is the best qualified. Broad runs the Metro Detroit Crime Stoppers program and has been a successful businessman. He would focus on the nagging crime problems of the district.

9th District (Oakland County): Republicans believe first-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Gary Peters is vulnerable, so this race has attracted considerable attention. Of the four Republicans, political consultant Paul Welday is the preferred choice. Welday spent years as the top aide to former Rep. Joe Knollenberg, whom Peters defeated, and is well schooled in both the needs of his district and the workings of Congress.

1st District (northern Michigan): The seat left open by the unexpected retirement of Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak has drawn a long list of Republican hopefuls. State Sen. Jason Allen of Petoskey is the best pick. Allen, term limited from the Legislature, was one of the Senate's most thoughtful leaders. He is also remarkably concerned, for an outstate lawmaker, with the problems of Detroit and southeastern Michigan, authoring several pieces of legislation to help the region.

2nd District (western Michigan): The retirement of Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra to run for governor leaves this seat open. In the GOP primary, we see Sen. Wayne Kuipers of Holland as the best choice. Kuipers has been particularly solid on education issues in the state Senate, working for passage of reforms, including the tough, new high school curriculum. On the Democratic side, Fred Johnson of Holland, an associate professor at Hope College, is the best qualified. He promises to focus on shrinking the federal deficit and creating jobs.

3rd District (western Michigan): This seat is open due to the retirement of Republican Rep. Vern Ehlers. Steve Heacock , a Grand Rapids, attorney and certified public accountant, offers useful skills in the current congressional debates -- he's specialized in both health care and tax law. His most recent job was as chief administrative officer of the Van Andel Institute. In the Democratic primary, business attorney Pat Miles brings experience working with Grand Rapids community and business groups. He would make a formidable candidate for Democrats in this traditionally Republican district.

5th District (mid-Michigan): Incumbent Democratic Rep. Dale Kildee of Flint faces a primary challenge and should be re-nominated. Business consultant John Kupiec is the choice in the Republican primary.

6th District (west and mid-Michigan): Republican incumbent Rep. Fred Upton of Midland faces a primary challenge and should be re-nominated.

7th District (mid-Michigan): Republicans intend to mount a vigorous challenge to first term Democratic Rep. Mark Schauer of Battle Creek. Of his would-be opponents, the best candidate is Brian Rooney of Dexter, an attorney and former Marine. He would bring a touch of youth to a congressional delegation that is heavy on senior citizens.

12th District (Oakland and Macomb counties): Democratic Rep. Sander Levin of Royal Oak faces a primary challenge and should be re-nominated.

14th District (Detroit and Downriver): A Republican primary in a district as heavily Democratic as the one held by Rep. John Conyers seems pointless. But of the two hopefuls, Riverview High School teacher Don Ukrainec is the best choice.

15th District : (western Wayne County, Ann Arbor): Incumbent Democratic Rep. John Dingell has served in the House longer than anyone in history. Four Republicans have lined up for the chance to end to his streak of election victories. Of the group, Dr. Rob Steele, a physician at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, is the best choice.