Shores Resident Mounts Write-In Campaign

A longtime St. Clair Shores resident has filed to run as a write-in candidate for city council.

Joe Backus, a 40-year resident of the Shores, joins 10 other people who are in the city council primary. The top six candidates in the Aug. 2 primary will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

The 47-year-old has already started his door-to-door campaigning for the spot on the general election ballot after he said numerous residents approached him wishing him luck in the election.

"Several times people came up to me saying 'I'm voting for you. Good luck in the election.' I was surprised by this because my name isn't on the ballot," Backus said. "Then a couple times people came up to me saying, "You should run for council."

"I decided that now is the time to run because people were coming up to me suggesting this," he added.

Backus, an active volunteer in the community who can often be found in the audience at city council meetings, has a master's degree in educational leadership and is a teacher at East Detroit High School.

To help his campaign, the 47-year-old resident is distributing fliers with biographical information and how to write in a candidate.

"Yes, a write-in campaign is a tough and rough mountain to climb, but it is not impossible," he added. "I am on vacation this whole month of July from work. I have the time, energy and the heart to get there and do this."

City council candidates who filed in May with the city clerk to be on the ballot are:

• Patrick Biange
• John D. Burtch
• Henry Castro
• Jack Downey
• Ronald J. Frederick 
• Chuck Hall 
• Randy Rose
• Chantel L. Ticconi
• Anthony G. Tiseo
• Chris Vitale