Editorial: Our picks in state House primaries for Oakland County

District 26 (Royal Oak, Madison Heights): Two Republicans and four Democrats are seeking to replace term-limited Democrat Marie Donigan. On the Republican side, Ken Rosen , 44, is the clear choice. His background as a lawyer and business owner has prepared him to be an effective leader. His goals include repealing the Michigan Business Tax -- "It's a job killer," he said -- reforming education and reducing the size of state government. In the more crowded Democratic race, our endorsement goes to Jim Townsend , 44. He has diverse experience in the private and public sectors, working in marketing and product development at Ford and as a staffer on Capitol Hill. And he's already proven an effective leader through starting organizations such as the Michigan Suburbs Alliance.

District 27 (Berkley, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Oak Park): Republican candidates Michelangelo Fortuna III and Ivan King are competing in the primary to run against incumbent Democrat Ellen Lipton in November. Ivan King did not respond to requests for an interview. And while Fortuna has some general ideas about lowering taxes and bringing jobs to the state, the photographer and Realtor does not seem to have a strong political platform nor any concrete proposals for how he'd reform.

District 35 (Lathrup Village, part of Oak Park, Royal Oak Township, and Southfield): Republican Michael Weinenger is running unopposed in the primary and will face either Eric Coleman or Rudy Hobbs in the general election. Our choice is Rudy Hobbs , who supports a strong school curriculum and says education is key to the state's turnaround.

District 39 (Commerce Township and part of West Bloomfield Township): Democrat Lisa Brown is running unopposed in the primary, but will face one of three Republicans in the general election. Karl Sipfle is our preference in this race. The engineer and product manager says lower taxes and small government will help create jobs and has experience working on overseas projects, which could help the state well as it diversifies its economy and seeks international partners.

District 43 (West Bloomfield Township, Waterford Township, Lake Angelus): Gail Haines is the best candidate in the Republican primary. Incumbent Haines opposes a graduated income tax and would support a part-time legislature. Democrat Regina Strong is unopposed.

District 44 (Highland Township, Independence Township, Springfield Township, White Lake Townships, and the Village of Clarkston): Republican Incumbent Eileen Kowall is facing retired engineer Rick Gutowski , who gets our endorsement. Gutowski says he's an independent conservative who has had enough of "professional politicians." He supports a thorough review of all spending and says "state government needs to go on an income diet and sustain itself at a new, lower weight."

District 46 (Addison, Brandon, Groveland, Holly, Orion, Oxford and Rose Townships): David Lillis is unopposed in the Democratic primary. Business owner Bradford Jacobsen , 53, is a strong Republican candidate who has political experience as a former Oxford Township trustee and a county commissioner.