SPLIT SCREEN

You wouldn’t – and shouldn’t – call state Sen. Ruth Johnson (R-Holly) indecisive. Make it more torn between two loves. Johnson, who is a former county commissioner, Oakland County Clerk and Michigan Secretary of State, acknowledged that as soon as late Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced he would be stepping down in 2020, “people started speculating about me running for the post.” While the current shenanigans at the county board to appoint a temporary exec have folks on both sides of the aisle shaking their heads at the gamesmanship and attempted dealmaking, Johnson said she currently is concentrating on being the best senator she can be, focusing on the important work in front of her. But… “I love Oakland County, that’s for sure. It was an honor to be secretary of state, and tour the state.” But there’s no place like home. She said she’s not ruling anything out for 2020, noting she is still adjusting to being one of 38 senators “when you’re used to doing non-partisan work. And I’m not making the decisions.” This will likely give the Oakland GOP hope in a county where nothing is as endangered a species as a white male Republican.