Northwest Michigan to be exact. You see, here on the pinkie of the mitten we have been branded (and for a long time rightly so) as the stronghold of the Republican base. But we have many strong opportunities this election year. Our strongest is in my State House district(The Fightin' 101st!) with our candidate Dan Scripps.
Dan ran against a two term incumbent in 2006 and won just over 48% of the vote in a race that many thought wasn't worth running. With his hard work, dedication to the people of our region and his strong progressive values he has built a huge support base. This election he is running for an open seat. The republicans are in a four way primary battle that is literally tearing the republican county parties apart. Now, I could write about how great he is and how his ideas are what is needed to bring a needed change to our region and the state of Michigan as a whole. But I think his sentiments are best conveyed by him. Dan has a plan to move Michigan forward.
Here is Dan speaking his message. His Blueprint For Michigan's Future: Jobs, Schools and The Great Outdoors:
"On the jobs front, we absolutely have to start there, to get our people back to work, to diversify our local economy, to use our regional strengths in agriculture and tourism and our historic manufacturing base, as well as the natural resources we have in our communities and seeing those not a just a central part of our quality of life, but also a real economic engine, something that stands as a real economic advantage as we try to attract jobs here. I've been meeting with farmers to highlight how central agriculture needs to be and how central to an economic plan. Things like spurring venture capital and empowering local communities, making sure that they have a partner at the state level. To attract outside investment in a way that is consistent with the local community character and builds on those community strengths."
In response to a question: Large businesses leaving Michigan, small businesses struggling in Michigan, what is your plan to help business thrive?
"I've talked a little bit about building pools of capital so there is access to funds for business that want to grow and locate here. I also think we can do much more in building an entrepreneurial culture in Michigan and I think we're particularly positioned to do that here in Northern Michigan. I also think we need to move away from government by press release. It's what we often see happen and it's great for politicians to stand up and say this is the company that I brought into town, while ignoring the ones that were here before. A broad based competitive business climate and more transparency and predictability in both business taxes and regulation so that businesses who are looking at moving to Michigan at least know the obstacles they are facing."
On Schools:
"The long term economic strategy is in education and it has to be a world class education for every single Michigan student and we can't leave people out! I've heard stories tonight that "We're going to give diplomas to some students and certificates to others." That's not fair. We need a world class education for every Michigan student and it has to start before kindergarten....We can't afford to lose people in Michigan. From early childhood onto an affordable college degree to lifelong learning skills, for people who have been left behind by globalization and by the changes in the Michigan economy, so they can get the skills they need to reenter the work force. A comprehensive agenda for world class education for every Michigan student."
"We also need to make sure our schools are funded as well as any other in the state. The disparity in schools funding between rich suburban school districts downstate and what our kids and local districts receive is unfair. It's wrong and it needs to be addressed."
On The Great Outdoors:
"In terms of renewable energy, we have a massive opportunity and competitive advantage to lead the way. Not only in the state and nation, but in the world in renewable energy production and innovation. We need to invest in our natural resources. We need to protect our air and water. When you think about what makes this area great, whether it's Lake Michigan or the rivers that are world class destinations for fishing and recreation and our land policies that add so much for people who come here and obviously to those of us who are lucky enough to live here. We need to protect that central element that dominates our quality of life and is our economic advantage."
"I want to represent this district and I think that anybody who represents this district has to be, in some ways, not only a State Representative of the people of Manistee, Mason, Benzie and Leelanau Counties, but a representative of Lake Michigan as well."
"The energy issue has been one that's at the top of the agenda in Lansing. There are no answers yet. I'll start by saying I'm a huge proponent of renewable energy. I think that our future energy needs to be from sources that are renewable and sustainable. It also provides us with the opportunity in Manistee County and Northwest Michigan to really have an economic advantage. If we can create, invent and manufacture the renewable energy systems that are going to build that future here in Northwest Michigan, that's jobs! There are companies that are looking at Manistee County right now, there are companies that are have announce an interest in Mason county, right now, that would bring jobs to this area. So it's not only doing the right thing from an environmental and energy standpoint, it's doing the right thing from an economic standpoint."
In response to: Do you favor selling off rights to the Great Lakes to other states in need of water? Would you support Michigan joining the Great Lakes water compact? And, Why do you think we haven't joined it yet?
"This is not a theoretical question. This is something that is before the legislature right now. There is a bill that has been voted on by the House, that would protect Michigan's water, that treats it as the resource that it is. The defining resource of our state. There is legislation that has been supported by the Senate that aloows diversion of up to 42% of the water out of the Betsie River, 25% out of the Manistee River. Allows fish kills three times as high as sort of signed off on by Trout Unlimited. This is not a theoretical question. This is something that is pending today. I support protecting Michigan's defining natural resource. I will be a legislative champion for our water. I thionk it is far past time to enact the Great Lakes Compact. We're one of only two states, Pennsylvania being the other in the Great Lakes basin, that have not acted onthis yet. And the reason is that there are different approaches. The house bill, the bill that would protect Michigan's water is currently pending in the Senate and if you are concerned about our water, if you are concerned that private companies or other states could come in and take 25% of the water out of the Manistee River, I would encourage you to write to your State Senator, Senator McManus, and ask that she vote for the house version and not the Senate version that she has previously supported."
We have a perfect opportunity to win this seat this year. But we need your help! The next finance filing is June 20th. Dan has built his grassroots campaign on small donors. We have the wind at our backs, but as soon as the primary is over we will have an uphill challenge all the way to November. I am asking you to help, if you can. If you are in West Michigan got to Dan's site to see how you can help by volunteering. We are setting a modest goal of $1500 more before the filing deadline. Every dollar helps and every dollar will be spent getting voters to the polls to help bring progressive change and representation to Michigan. So I ask, Can you help?
Donate to Dan Scripps to help bring change to Northern Michigan!
Dan Scripps Website
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Dan Scripps is the only State House candidate in Michigan to be endorsed by the 21st Century Democrats.
Just in case you need more reasons, here's some munchkin Dan Fans