West Michigan Rising: The Phoenix Rises from the Ashes After The Catastrophe
West Michigan Rising WMR is a community blog for Democrats and progressives in West Michigan. Join up, post your thoughts as comments or diaries, and rise up to build our left coast
The last thing this country needs is more Bushenomics. We're still trying to recover from the Bush Recession. You just don't solve a problem by doing the same thing twice.
Organizing for America Strategy Session on the 2010 Elections
Time: Saturday, March 13 from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Host: Jennifer Warner
Contact Phone: 269.270.9466
Location: Eberhard Center, Rm 215 AB
301 West Fulton
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Join Organizing for America for our 2010 Strategy Briefing in your area. The Strategy Briefings are a chance to talk with OFA staff and other volunteers in your area about our legislative and electoral plan for 2010. As an organization, we have come a long way in the past year. We have lessons to learn from the budget pledge drive, health insurance reform and the Massachusetts Senate Race. Now is the time to bring those lessons together and look forward to 2010. There are countless opportunities to create change in the coming year and we have an important role to play in making that happen. As a team, we will talk about how to be involved in creating change in our country, both legislatively and electorally. We will talk through national strategy and discuss together what that means for our local community.
Looks like at least 100 people will be attending. I encourage them all to find a Democrat and march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade starting at Ottawa and Lyon at 10:45 am before heading over.
... the study flies in the face of the popular wisdom that happiness resides in creature comforts and relative affluence. Perhaps activism gives people a sense of purpose, or of agency or just a chance to hang out with other people. Most likely it does all of the above.
So, get your butt out there and work to make the world and your neighborhood a better place. And smile why you do it. The first thing you can do is join the Michigan Democratic Party so you can vote for our next Secretary of State and Attorney General at the 17 April Endorsement Convention and sign up to run as a precinct delegate so you can play a role in your County Democratic Party when new executive committees are elected in December. You can find out how to do both in Scotty's great resource diary.
Races are getting more and more clear as we enter March.
On the Democratic side for Governor, Dan Kildee has decided not to run asserting that it would cause a split in in both labor and progressive organizations between himself and Virg Bernero. Not wanting to see that, Kildee has stepped aside. All due respect to Alma Wheeler Smith, I don't expect this field to change, we now have a Bernero v Dillon primary.
Former State Representative Jerry Kooiman also bowed out of a race for Congress in the 3rd district and endorsed Steve Heacock. Clearly, Kooiman didn't want to leave his high-paying and probably very fulfilling job with the new MSU medical school. And, the East/Business Establishment (minus the DeVos clan) are trying to rally around Heacock to prevent the Amash Catastrophe. So, I think we've got our field in the 3rd: Justin Amash, Bill Hardiman and Steve Heacock. The only other person who could still get in is Terri Lynn Land, who I think will eventually get in near the deadline after a Bouchard drop-out.
They've moved all the turbines to 4 miles offshore (the original proposal had some as close as two-miles). An improvement, though I'd still like to see them go out to at least 6-8 miles offshore. Let's get this right the first time. The big lake is transcendent since you can't see the other side. It tells us something about hte human condidtion. It's spritually meaningful, we shouldn't ruin that.
I'm pleased to announce that my uncle -- Gary Skaggs -- made it through the city commission primary today in Pratt, Kansas. Gary came in first place with 651 votes to 396 for his closest competitor (the current mayor). The general election is in April. The six remaining candidates will be run again for two spots on the 5-person commission. Gary is a born-and-raised citizen of Pratt (in southern central Kansas), a Vietnam vet, and successful small businessowner. He's the co-owner, with my cousin Bill, of a business my grandfather built -- Skaggs Ace Hardware in downtown Pratt. Gary is everything you'd expect from a successful small-town shop owner -- he's hard-working, friendly, and down-to-earth. He'll make a great public servant (FYI: I've encouraged him to run for about the last 20 years and he's taken the plunge now that he's retired and handed the daily operations over to his son). Congrats Uncle Gary, I join all Skaggses today who have pride in another family success.
Sean Egan wrote the following and was gracious enough to allow me to reprint it here. I agree, down with apathy and inaction. Real change isn't going to happen after just one or two elections.
What's the Real Message to Progressives in the 2010 Congressional Elections? By Sean Egan
I, like many self proclaimed progressive liberals, have been disappointed, shocked, discouraged, and downright pissed off at the lack of progress on the liberal agenda we had hoped our Democratic Representatives would deliver. At every turn in the history of the United States it has been the progressive thinkers, without regard to party labels, that have moved this country in a new direction toward liberty, equality, and justice for the masses over the few.
As we have been watching these first years of the Obama administration relying on those hopeful campaign speeches and promises to produce results, it seems many have vested too much stock in Obama himself and forgotten the legislative process necessary to accomplish any goals. Historically the United States Senate has been the cog in the wheel of movement. With Senate rules, filibusters, cloture motions, etc, it is often much too simple for a small minority to delay and stop the legislative process in spite of the enormous need and public support for regulation or programs to aid a hurting country. We see this now with John McCain's stall of NLRB appointees, something rarely if ever done before.
In order to put this in perspective we must look to our past to plot our future. As Harry S. Truman said, "There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know." When the nation was crumbling in the early stages of the Great Depression thanks to years of "Free Market" Republican logic, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected to rush in a new era of progress to aid the American people. With his inauguration in 1933 came a 59 seat Democrat majority in the Senate. Those remarkable first 100 Days that brought much legislation were accomplished with this majority and an economic climate that did not allow Republicans to object or stall progress for fear of retaliation at the polls. However, for the much larger progressive movement the mid-term elections of 1935 increased this majority to 69, a ten seat gain, and again in 1937 an increase of seven to a 76 seat majority. With these large majorities finally came Social Security, the Wagner Act which is the National Labor Relations Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act which created a minimum wage, the Works Progress Administration, and a great deal of Federal spending to support these programs. We often hear of the first 100 Days, but the later progressive legislation remains the bedrock of a strong middle class in this country.
One of the next major pieces of middle class support from the Federal Government came with the passage of Medicare in 1965. With his inauguration in 1965, Lyndon Johnson also had a 68 seat Democrat majority in the Senate. In June of that year, progressives were able to pass the Medicare programs which continue to be arguably the most important piece of legislation in supporting a middle class America. During the lead up and passage of this legislation the Republican Party, including Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, called this socialism and uttered the same chants as the Republican Party today. In fact, the Republican Party has been overtly and covertly attempting to destroy all of the legislation referred to here and more since their passage. It seems that any type of efforts supporting the middle class, working classes, and poor in this country are met with cries of Socialism by the Republican Party, which is why again the great quote maker Harry S. Truman said, "If you want to live like a Republican, vote for a Democrat."
So what's the point of all this history stuff? Simple, for progressives like me that are currently frustrated with the lack of progress on President Obama's agenda including passage of health care reform, stronger banking regulations, strengthening the ability and right to collective bargaining, and many more the message is elect more. As you read above and can find throughout the history of the United States, the way forward is with larger and stronger majorities of progressives in the United States Congress. So as our friends, members, neighbors, and others are looking to these mid-term elections with great fatigue and discouraged fervor we must educate them that the way forward is not electing less Democrats, it is electing more Democrats. We must tell them that without large majorities in both Houses of Congress, we don't have Social Security, banking regulation, Medicare, and other great programs that support the American middle class and the poor in this country. And without strengthening the current majorities in Congress, we don't get the progressive agenda the majority of Americans supported when casting their votes for Barrack Obama.
So stop blaming President Obama and the Democrats for the lack of progress, because, as our history shows, progress requires large majorities.
Democrat Andy Dillon Governor
Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University
Monday, 1 March, 9:00 am
17 Fountain Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Dillon becomes the third Democrat to come to Grand Rapids to announce for a state-wide office, following Jocelyn Benson and Virg Bernero (Gretchen Whitmer was everywhere in Grand Rapids, but never officially announced).
Republican Bill Hardiman Congress: 3rd District
Monday, 1 March, 10:30 am
Hascall Steel Corp, Grandville
Looks like the efforts by the Establishment to have a one-on-one with Teapublican Amash have fallen through. Expect Steve Heacock to announce later this week.
Republican Bing Goei State House: 75th District
Tuesday, 2 March, 10:00 am
Rylees Ace Hardware
Goei announces for the right for the Republican nomination to then be crushed by incumbent Robert Dean or the brilliant Brandon Dillon. Goei is a two time loser in his two campaigns for elective office.
Rumors that Heacock is the establishment candidate. They want a one-on-one with Amash and fear the Tea Party. Will Hardiman fold? I still believe that eventually Terri Lynn Land will get in.
On our side, I hear very positive things and believe we'll get a big announcement within 10 days.
Five people applied for the Second Ward Grand Rapids City Commission seat. The seat became available when David LaGrand had to resign to run for State Senate (an odd part of the 1916 City Charter, another reason it ought to be revised). The applicants were:
* Michael Booker, a nursing aide for Grand Rapids Home for Veterans who has run and lost elections for mayor and library commission.
* James Burr, Jr., attorney
* Eric Foster, fund developer for diversity at Hope College
* Anna R. Rapa, attorney
* Ruth Straayer-Kelly, a retired teacher and local activist who ran for the seat in 2007 and lost in the general election to LaGrand.
The shocker was that Dave Bulkowski, executive director of Disability Advocates of Kent County, was not among the applicants. Bulkowski, the brother of County Commissioner Dick Bulkowski, told his Facebook friends he got the dates confused for the deadline to apply for the post.
With Dave out of the race, it looks like this will come down to Eric and Ruth.
Roy Schmidt announced yesterday that he is seeking a second term in the State House (District 76), which is akin to an announcement that Roy was reelected. Still, expect Roy to work like he isn't in a Safe Democratic seat and be out talking with constituents and voters at their doors and in their communities to earn there vote and maybe push past the 75% mark. Here's the press release:
Schmidt Will Run for Second Term
Cites Accomplishments in Freshman Term
Grand Rapids---State Representative Roy Schmidt announced today that he will be seeking another term to the 76th District Michigan House seat. Schmidt has amassed an impressive war chest and is ready to campaign hard throughout the spring and summer months. There are no other announced candidates for the seat. If there is no opposition in primary Schmidt will move on to the November election in a decidedly Democratic district.
Schmidt has been successful in bringing home several millions of dollars in benefits to the taxpayers of this area. He skillfully guided a bill through the House that will change the number of parking tickets any person can have before renewing their driver's license from 6 to 3. That simple change will mean about $500,000 in immediate benefits for Grand Rapids and about $250,000 per year after that. Schmidt also got a bill passed that will include Ferris State University in a tax credit program allowing the university to refurbish the old Federal Building in downtown Grand Rapids that once housed the Grand Rapids Art Museum. That bill not only allows the project to move forward after sitting idle for lack of funding for three years but it also relieves the City of Grand Rapids of about $150,000 per year in handling costs.
Schmidt was asked last session to lead his freshman caucus toward passage of the bill that will end life time health benefits for legislators who complete six years of service. He is presently driving the Michigan Business Leaders model through the caucus hoping to reform the tax structure in Michigan and aid in some regulatory reform. Schmidt's main focus is on governmental reform initiatives being worked up in the House. He is part of the team working with Speaker Dillon to get people to the table and pound out these reform issues and get the budget done by July 1st.
Shocking! The Amash train continues to pick up steam on its journey to ....
Former Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema announced this morning he won't be a candidate to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers. "After a thorough review of what changes in my life would need to be made in order to run a winning campaign, I have decided to not run for the Congressional seat being vacated by Vern Ehlers, an outstanding public servant," said Sikkema.
Update, 12:49 pm: The Grand Rapids press has a story.
The Michigan Democratic Party will be holding an Endorsement Convention to endorse state-wide candidates for Attorney General and Secretary of State. The event will be held the same day as the Jeff-Jack annual dinner at Cobo Hall in Detroit on Saturday, April 17, 2010.
Anyone who is not a precinct delegate and wants to vote must be a Michigan Democratic Party member by March 17, 2010. Make sure you are signed up so your vote counts!
Tea Party activist Michael VanKleeck announced Monday that he ad withdrawn from the race for the 3rd Congressional District. He simultaneously endorsed fellow Teapublican Justin Amash (R-Amway) in the primary.
VanKleeck is picking up his carpetbag and moving to Montcalm County in search of another office to run for -- the 70th State House seat held by Mike Huckleberry (D-Greenville).
Patrick Miles Jr., an attorney with Dickinson Wright's Grand Rapids office and a former classmate of President Barack Obama at Harvard Law School, continues to think seriously about running for congress in the 3rd District. If he can get DCCC support, he would be a strong candidate who could pull an upset after a bruising Republican primary.
In case you don't know Pat, here's a run down of the highlights of his community service:
* Grand Rapids Bar Association, Past President, continues to serve on the board
* Aquinas College Board of Trustees, Past Chair, continues to serve on the board
* DeVos Children's Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, Vice Chair
* Spectrum Health Hospitals Board of Trustees, Treasurer
* Metropolitan YMCA Board of Directors, Treasurer
* Hope Network Board of Directors
Pat was born and raised in Grand Rapids and graduated from Aquinas College.
Are you a progressive thinking of running for any of the following:
* County Commissioner
* School Board
* City Commission?
Then you should attend the West Michigan Tri-County Candidate Training Seminar. Hosted by the Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa County Democratic Parties, this one-day event gives you the training you need on:
* Recruiting, Training, and Organizing Volunteers
* Fundraising and Campaign Finance
* Field Operations, Canvassing, & GOTV
* Media and Communications
* Working with other progressive organizations
* And more!
Lunch and dinnner will be provided, along with a
chance to meet and talk to sitting county commissioners about the process of getting elected.
West Michigan Tri-County Candidate Training Seminar
20 March 2010 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
OCDP Headquarters
1 W 5th St., Holland, Michigan
Early Registration: $10 by March 6th
Late/Onsite Registration: $20
E-Mail: info@ottawademocrats.org for more information or to register
Michigan State House Candidates
59, 61, 63, 78, 79, 80, 87, 88, 72, 73, 74, 77, 89, 90, 100, 101, 104 District 60 (Kalamazoo) Sean McCann
Chris Praedel District 61 (Kalamazoo) Thomas Batten District 75 (Grand Rapids) District 76 (Grand Rapids) District 80 (VanBuren)
Tom Erdmann District 91 (Muskegon)
Ben Gillette
Branden Gemzer District 92 (Muskegon)
Marcia Hovey-Wright
L. Scott McNeill
Charles Nash Scott Nesbit Sean Mullully
Steve Markel District 101 (Northwest) Dan Scripps
