Green, Socialist will challenge Warren for state rep
By Judy McGovern
The Ann Arbor News
Saturday, 3 May 2008

An Ann Arbor man will challenge incumbent state Rep. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, with the backing of two political parties this fall.

Matt Erard, a Socialist, recently announced his candidacy for Warren's 53rd District State House seat. It's the second time the 23-year-old recent University of Michigan graduate has run for the seat.

Erard said he will appear on the ballot as a Green Party candidate but will campaign representing both the Green and Socialist parties' agendas.

Erard, then representing just the Socialist Party, received 847 votes - nearly 3 percent of the vote - in a three-way race that Warren won handily in 2006.

Erard advocates an end to what he describes as attacks on the rights and living standards for Michigan workers. Referring to them as "corporate" parties, Erard said Democrats and Republicans alike have made no progress on job losses, record home foreclosures and other economic issues facing the state.

"Michigan voters are only more fed up with being ignored by the major parties than they were in the early '70s," Erard said.

"In this race, our campaign will have the support of two parties committed to challenging the corporate politics that dominate our state Legislature." Warren has not yet filed for re-election.

Judy McGovern can be reached at jmcgovern@annarbornews.com.

This story can be read online at www.mlive.com.