Brian Banks Seated in State House Without a Challenge

New state representative for Grosse Pointe Woods and Grosse Pointe Shores takes oath of office despite controversy about his past.

Brian Banks, a Democrat who will represent Grosse Pointe Woods and Grosse Pointe Shores in the state House of Representatives, was sworn into the legislative body on Wednesday, according to MLive. Banks easily won the newly drawn 1st District in the November election. But questions about Banks’ past—he had eight felony convictions from 1998 through 2004 for credit card fraud and passing bad checks— and other financial problems had some Republicans considering a challenge to his seating, according to the Detroit Free Press. But on Wednesday, Banks took his seat in the state House without a challenge, according to the Detroit News.  A 2010 amendment to the state's constitution bars felons from holding state office if they have a conviction …

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Will Felon Brian Banks Face Challenge to Being Seated in Michigan Legislature?

When the state Legislature convenes Wednesday, felon Brian Banks could face a challenge to being seated.

Top Story of the Week: Brian Banks

A look back at the most read story on Grosse Pointe Patch this week.

Brian Banks Responds to Questions About His Past and Present

Brian Banks says he is a changed man and that the economy has caused his recent debt problems.

Michigan State Rep-Elect Banks' Car Repossessed

The second of Banks' cars is repossessed

  Newly elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, Brian Banks is poised to be sworn in as the representative for District 1 in Lansing in January.  District 1 includes Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods and some of Detroit. There maybe some question as to how he'll get to Lansing though.  According to a Nov. 12 article by MyFoxDetroit.com, Banks' Land Rover was repossessed last week after more than four months of being followed by a recovery agent. Banks' 2003 Jaguar was repossessed earlier. Banks, an eight-time felon convicted of passing bad checks and credit card fraud from 1998 to 2004, has said publicly that he’s turned his life around after earning a Master's degree and a law degree. In October, Banks was …

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State House Candidate Brian Banks Evicted from Harper Woods Homes

Brian Banks, candidate for Michigan's House 1st District, could face new criminal charges for check fraud

  State House candidate Brian Banks may have bigger concerns than getting elected next Tuesday to represent Michigan's 1st District.  This past week Banks, 35, was evicted from the second of two homes he leased in Harper Woods and on Wednesday a judgment for $3751 was levied against him after checks he wrote to his landlord bounced. Ira Auslander, attorney for Dan Sylvester, who is the owner of the home Banks rented for his campaign headquarters on Fleetwood Dr., said his client is keeping all his options open—including filing criminal charges.  According to MCL 750.131, if Banks knowingly wrote a bad check over $500, he could be charged with a 2-year felony. “That’s an option we have and we’re considering all our options,” Auslander said …

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District 1 Race Narrows After Zichi Withdraws

Libertarian write-in candidate Zachary Zichi is ineligible to run for state legislature as he is under the 21-years-of-age requirement.

Zachary Zichi, the Libertarian write-in candidate for Michigan's 1st District seat to the state House of Representatives, has said he will withdraw his candidacy on Monday after learning that he is too young to run for state office. Zichi was a late add to the November race, only filing his candidacy papers in late September. A lifelong resident of Harper Woods and city parks employee, Zichi is a 19-year-old college student who took the fall term off to campaign for the House of Representatives seat. The Michigan Constitution requires that all candidates must reside in Michigan for at least six months, meet the requirements of local residence and be at least 21 years of age.  On Friday, Patch contacted Zichi about the age requirement.   In…

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Residents Heated at 1st District Forum for Banks, Schulte, Zichi

A group of residents accuse a candidate of lying about pending civil litigation during Grosse Pointe League of Women Voters forum on Wednesday.

What began as a run-of-the-mill candidates' forum between three local politicians escalated into a shouting match between audience members and organizers Wednesday evening, with police officers eventually summoned. Off With a Bang As more than 60 audience members crowded into the Grosse Pointe Woods city council chambers for the Grosse Pointe League of Women Voters forum for candidates in Michigan's 1st District race, volunteers handed each an index card to write a question to the candidates. The questions were collected by forum volunteers. Before the candidates could even give their opening remarks, members of the audience broke ranks and loudly accused LWV volunteer George McMullen of being a campaign contributor to Democratic candidate…

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Brian Banks: 'I've Made Many Poor Decisions'

Candidate for Michigan's 1st House District tells the Detroit Free Press that he has turned his life around after eight felony convictions from 1998-2004.