Rep. Chuck Moss Looks Ahead to Senate Seat in 2014

Birmingham resident Chuck Moss may have another year left in his third term as a Michigan state representative, but he’s already looking ahead to what could be next: a seat in the state Senate.

“I think I’ve done a pretty good job in Lansing,” said Moss (R-Birmingham), who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to the seat in 2012. Moss said he is considering running for the seat held by state Sen. John Pappageorge (R-Troy), who is also term-limited and must give up his Senate seat in 2014.

Moss represents Michigan’s 40th District, which includes Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake and Orchard Lake Village. State representatives are elected for two-year terms and limited to three terms.

State senators, meanwhile, are limited to two four-year terms. Pappageorge, who is in the middle of his second term, is currently facing a recall petition, . Pappageorge represents Michigan’s 13th District, which includes Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Troy, Clawson and Royal Oak.

In the July 26 broadcast of Eye on Oakland, a current events television show on local access Channel 15 hosted by Moss and County Commissioner Dave Potts (R-20th District), Moss said he isn’t worried about the recall efforts.

“I think John (Pappageorge) has done a great job the past few years,” Moss said.

Moss said he’s always fundraising, but recent efforts have been geared toward 2014 and a potential run for Pappageorge’s seat. What else he does during the two years in between is still up for discussion, Moss said.

“I know I can’t go back to my old job at the Detroit News,” he said, referring to his time as an editorial page columnist and freelance writer for the daily newspaper. “But if I got an offer to yak on talk radio, then I would open to that.”

Moss, chairman of the state House Appropriations Committee, cites the House’s work with the state budget as its most important accomplishment and said the budget will continue to be a front-of-mind issue for years to come.

While his plans for much of the next few years are not yet set in stone, Moss said he’s sure about two things: He won’t be running for Debbie Stabenow’s (D-MI) seat in the U.S. Senate, and he won’t be running for the Republication nomination for president.

Potts considering a seat in Michigan House

Who might take over the 40th District seat in the House after Moss leaves? During the Eye on Oakland broadcast, fellow Birmingham resident Potts admitted that he is considering running for the state House but said he is waiting until the fall to make any official announcements.

Potts, a family practice lawyer, is , which released its redistricting plans for the county in late June.

Under the new plan, Potts' 20th District would be combined with the neighboring 16th District, represented by fellow Republication Shelley Goodman Taub. If the redistricting plans survive, Potts and Taub would be pitted against each other if they choose to run for re-election in 2012.