Andy LaBarre makes bid for county board official, will face former commissioner Christina Montague

Only 50 signatures are required to appear on the ballot, but candidates may submit up to 100 on a petition. In a broad showing of support, LaBarre this past week turned in 100 signatures from voters in all 16 Ann Arbor precincts in the district.

Along with filing, LaBarre released a list of more than 100 supporters, including Dingell, state Sen. Rebekah Warren, State Rep. Jeff Irwin and Sheriff Jerry Clayton, as well as all Ann Arbor members of the county board and all Democrats on the Ann Arbor City Council. (Download LaBarre's list of supporters)

"I am thrilled to have garnered such strong support from a wide array of community members," LaBarre said in a statement. "I’m already getting out and talking to voters about why I am running and how I will work to advance the solutions needed to keep Washtenaw County a prosperous, welcoming, and innovative community."

Every seat on the county board is up for grabs this year. LaBarre will face off in the August primary against former county commissioner Christina Montague, who filed last fall.

Montague has not returned phone calls or emails from AnnArbor.com.

Commissioner Barbara Levin Bergman, D-Ann Arbor, isn't running for re-election, leaving open the seat LaBarre and Montague are seeking.

Montague has been distributing campaign literature saying she wants to enhance county fiscal stability, provide support for families and children, be an ear and voice for senior citizens, seek federal project dollars and focus on jobs for county residents.

"My experience, leadership and knowledge of the inner workings of county government as former chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners have prepared me for this job," her flier states. "I promise to work vigorously to represent the citizens of District 7."

LaBarre serves as vice president of government relations for the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Born in Ann Arbor and a product of the Ann Arbor Public Schools, LaBarre is a lifelong resident of Washtenaw County. He lives in Ann Arbor with his wife, Megan, who works as a special education teacher at Dexter High School, and their two dogs.

He is a graduate of Wittenberg University with a degree in religion and political science and is finishing his master's in public administration this semester at Eastern Michigan University.

For a list of candidates who've filed for county and state races in the 2012 election cycle, go to the county's website. For city and township candidates, go here.