Judge rules Suzanne Ostosh eligible to run for state rep seat

Challenger claimed she resides outside of the district

A Michigan Court of Claims judge ruled Monday Democrat Suzanne Ostosh is eligible to run for the Michigan State House of Representatives District 13 seat vacated when Lori Stone was elected as Warren’s mayor in November.

Last month, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a special primary election for two vacant House seats in the 13th and 25th districts will be held on Jan. 30, 2024, and the general election to be held on April 16, 2024. The 13th District includes parts of Warren and Detroit.

Warren resident Linda Koch filed the complaint against Ostosh on Nov. 30 alleging she did not live in the 13th District for 30 days prior to her filing to run on Nov. 27, making her ineligible to be a candidate.

According to Macomb County Clerk campaign finance records, Koch has contributed $218 to Macomb County Commissioner Mai Xiong’s campaigns for commissioner and Warren City Clerk since March of 2020. Xiong is one of Ostosh’s Democratic opponents in the race for the 13th District seat.

Ostosh said she has lived in the 13th District since February of 2022, but that she and her husband, Curtiss Ostosh, who is running for the 13th District seat as a Republican, use the address of their Harvest Time Christian Fellowship Church on Nine Mile Road as their primary address.

“It is not our residence, but we use that as our primary address because people sometimes like to give church people a hard time,” Ostosh said.

Ostosh listed her District 13 residential address on her Affidavit of Identity and submitted a letter dated Dec. 6, 2023 from Sean Clark, Director of Administration for the Warren Housing Commission, stating Ostosh has resided at the address listed on the AOI since February of 2022. The address of Harvest Time Christian Fellowship Church was listed on Ostosh’s Qualified

Voter Form until Nov. 17, 2023.

In her written decision, Judge Elizabeth Gleicher stated there is sufficient evidence to verify Ostosh’s residency within the 13th District for more than 30 days prior to filing to run for office and dismissed Koch’s complaint.

“I just prayed on it and asked God to clear this obstacle out of the way if this is what He wanted me to do,” said Ostosh. “I chose to run because I care about the community and feel like we have a good understanding of what people need.”