1.   But when a House seat opened, friends encouraged him to run.

2.   In past years, governors have left seats open on the traditionally sleepy commission for as long as a year.

3.   The plush, upholstered seat on top opens to a finished interior.

4.   The seat opened when Rep. Bob Wise ran for governor, and Jim Humphreys, a Democratic lawyer and former legislator, is still favored.

5.   They leaned against the walls, sat on the floor and lined up on the marble stairs outside in hopes a seat would open in the audience.

6.   But the prefecture only had three seats open, so Tsurunen lost.

7.   The Michigan seat opened when Democratic Rep. Debbie Stabenow decided to challenge GOP Sen. Spence Abraham.