State Sen. Doug Wozniak’s announcement he is running for the 59th District state House of Representatives drew criticism from his primary foe in the race, Terence Mekoski, whom he defeated in a primary last year.
Wozniak, who is currently serving the rest of former senator Peter Lucido’s seat, surprised some political observers last week when he indicated he would not seek re-election to the Senate because he resides in the new 24th District, which already includes incumbent Republican Ruth Johnson of Oakland County.
Wozniak hinted he would run for the House and late Monday afternoon made it official with a formal announcement at the Tap & Barrel Grill, in Shelby Township, followed by a late-night press release.
Instead of facing Johnson in a “contentious campaign, I have chosen to withdraw to allow Senator Ruth Johnson to continue her service in the state Senate,” Wozniak said last week.
The announcement drew criticism from Mekoski, who has filed for the 59th District post, accusing him of backing down from a battle against Johnson, a strong incumbent. She is a former Michigan Secretary of State and one-time lieutenant governor candidate.
“I think it’s a shame,” Mekowski said. “He’s wasted our district’s time. Now he’s run back to Shelby Township because he’s afraid of a fight against Ruth Johnson. I don’t think somebody who gives up so easily should represent us.”
Mekoski said he does not fear a battle against Wozniak.
“I’m not afraid of anyone in my life,” he said. “I’m afraid of God, that’s it.”
He pointed out Wozniak will be able to serve only one term because he already served two terms as a state representative.
“We need somebody who’s going to be there the next two, four, six years,” Mekoski said.
The Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission created a new 24th district that spans four counties from the Flint suburbs south to Shelby Township, including portions of Genesee, Lapeer, Oakland and Macomb counties.
Meanwhile, the 59th District is comprised of Shelby Township and the northwest corner of Macomb Township.
In his announcement, Wozniak “spoke of looking forward to continuing to serve as a strong voice for his home and heart — Macomb County.”
“I lived, raised a family, operated a business and served the community in Shelby Township for the past 30 years, and when I ran for the Senate to represent our community in Lansing last year, I could not have been more honored to have been chosen by my neighbors and friends to represent them,” Wozniak said in the release. “But the ICRC took what was a Macomb County legislative district and stretched it across four counties, so I have decided – with a lot of input from family, friends and supporters – to return for a final term of serve in the House of Representatives, representing Shelby and Macomb township residents in the new 59th District.”
Wozniak could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday to respond to Mekoski’s statements.
Wozniak defeated Mekoski and several Republicans, including state Rep. Pamela Hornberger of Chesterfield Township, in last year’s primary to serve the final years of the Senate seat previously held by Pete Lucido, who moved on to become county prosecutor.
On March 1, Mekoski rebounded and won his first election in three tries as he prevailed in the Republican primary over Sylvia Grot and two other Republicans to run May 3 against lone Democrat James Diez for a short, eight-month stint in Wozniak’s old seat, representing the 36th District, under the boundaries that remain in effect until next Jan. 1.
Mekoski is now in the rare situation in which he is simultaneously running for two offices.
Mekoski, 57, came onto the scene in 2020 when he performed well in defeat to Democratic incumbent Sheriff Anthony Wickersham.
He works full time as a senior investigator in financial crimes for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and retired in 2016 as a command officer from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
