WRITING ON THE WALL

Republican Michael Goetz of Lake Orion, a 20-year veteran prosecutor who has served in the Oakland prosecutor's office, the Michigan Attorney General's office and as an investigator for the Supreme Court Attorney Grievance Commission, withdrew in early January as a candidate to once again seek the post held by incumbent Democrat county prosecutor Jessica Cooper. Goetz had filed in May of last year for a rematch in 2020, after only attracting 45 percent of the votes in a 2016 effort against Cooper. At this point, no other GOP contender has surfaced. But don't think Cooper will have a free ride. She has a Democratic primary challenge from former circuit court Judge Karen McDonald, who is racking up both donations and a who's who list of endorsements that includes Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy, Fems For Dems founder Lori Goldman, along with most Oakland Democrats now serving in the Michigan Senate and House, among them local Senators Mallory McMorrow, Rosemary Bayer, Representative Mari Manoogian, along with and House Minority Leader Christine Greig from Farmington Hills.