Paul H. Scott

Scott ran for the Michigan State House of Representatives in 2008. He first faced off against pilot James B. Swenor and businessman Vince Lorraine in the Republican primary^[1] and won with 41 percent of the vote. He then stood against Michael J. Thorp in the general election^[2] and defeated him.^[4]

After one term as State Representative, Scott ran for the Secretary of State nomination in 2010 but lost the nomination at the Republican State Convention to Ruth Johnson.^[5] In 2010, he won reelection to the 51st district of the Michigan House of Representatives, defeating Art Reyes.^[6]

Scott was one of roughly 20 Michigan elected officials targeted for recall efforts in 2011, primarily by voters and interest groups opposed to changes in state education funding mechanisms, taxation of some retirement income and opposition to labor unions.^[7] Voters and the Michigan Education Association,^[3] opposed to Scott's actions as the chair of the House Education Committee, launched a recall effort against him. After recall supporters collected enough signatures to put the recall on the November 2011 election ballot in his district, Scott launched a legal challenge against the recall,^[8][9] but the appeal was denied unanimously by the Michigan Supreme Court.^[10][11] On November 8, 2011, Scott was recalled.^[12]