Former State Rep. Todd Courser Planning Run For Lapeer County Prosecutor

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Former state Rep. Todd Courser has filed to run for Lapeer County prosecutor.

Courser resigned last year to avoid expulsion for trying to cover-up his affair with another former state Rep, Cindy Gamrat. He's still facing criminal charges for misconduct in office.

The House later expelled Gamrat, and both made failed attempts to win back their House seats.

Courser, who has a law firm specializing in bankruptcy, has not yet commented on his latest career move which came as a surprise to his incumbent opponent Prosecutor Tim Turkelson.

"Given Courser's prolific self-promotion through campaign emails and social media," Turkelson told The Detroit News. "Normally he likes to announce to much fanfare."

The two Michigan lawmakers, who were forced from office over an extramarital affair and a convoluted cover-up scheme, lost their bid to win back their seats in November in a crowded primary field.

Tea party leaders Todd Courser, who resigned in September while facing expulsion, and Cindy Gamrat, who was expelled, sought the Republican nominations in special primary elections, coming less than two months after their Sept. 11 ouster.

Gamrat had 912 votes, or 9 percent, with 90 percent of precincts reporting in her former southwestern Michigan district – finishing third to Mary Whiteford, a former nurse who helps run her family's wealth management business and had 5,065 votes, or nearly 52 percent. County commissioner Jim Storey was in second with 24 percent in the eight-candidate primary.

Courser had 415 votes, less than 4 percent, with all precincts reporting in his old Thumb-area seat – coming in fifth in an 11-candidate primary. Farmer Gary Howell won that race with 3,070 votes, or 26 percent.

"I told the voters they should have the opportunity to decide," Courser told WWJ. He said he could not overcome the "political headwinds," which "were unlike anything I'd ever experienced."

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