MITTEN CONNECTION
Michigan Democrats continued to get their fair share of attention on the national stage as President-elect Joe Biden worked his way through building his cabinet to lead the 15 executive departments prior to formally taking over after the January 20 inauguration. Last month we noted how the name of Bloomfield Township Congressman Andy Levin was being bandied about for possible appointment as labor secretary, a post still open. Add to the mix Oakland Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, whose name has been circulating as possible director of the CIA, where she worked under two past presidents as a CIA analyst prior to running for the 8th district that takes in part of north Oakland, along with parts of Livingston and Ingham counties. Post also still open at this writing and word is that House leadership is concerned that its narrow margin of control of that chamber would be razor thin if more members leave for the administration. Also getting some notice, progressive Democratic groups (Justice Democrats and the Sunrise Movement) were petitioning on behalf of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel for U.S. Attorney General, along with former gubernatorial candidate Dr. Abdul El Sayed, a Bloomfield Hills Andover grad, for Secretary of Health and Human Resources. He lost out to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Likewise, the groups were lobbying for Detroit Democrat Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib for the top spot at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which was ultimately given to Congresswoman March Fudge, a six-term Representative from Ohio.