Flattered by all the text messages etc that urged me to consider running for Mike Rogers seat in Congress. And I am going to hit the trail--but not the campaign trail--at least not for myself. I will be back on the Appalachian Trail beginning April 11, for about six weeks. Here is my take on the Rogers seat though: To Virg, stay here--even though it is a free shot, Lansing is improving and you can make a bigger difference for the people of this region by staying put. To Barb Byrum, we do need somebody in that seat that can spend 30 years there because the seniority system in DC demands it--but it will be better for the folks here if you stay put, and run for Secretary of State in four years and then...To my Democratic colleagues--we do need to run a viable candidate with a proven record and a base, but it doesnt necessarily do us any good for that base to be in Ingham County. In considering this, I thought about the difference I could make for the people of the District and I came to the conclusion that I can make more of a difference right here doing the things I have been doing: As President of the Kiwanis Club that makes sure that needy kids are taking food home every Friday for the weekend; As a Board member of Hometown Housing Partnership making sure that low to moderate income families live in quality housing; as a volunteer at the Food Bank; as a county EDC Board member trying to increase the number of good paying jobs here; as a member of the EL Housing Commission trying to make sure that the local quality of life is protected; and. as a member of the non-partisan Sierra Club Political Committee. I also got the word from Mrs. M that she wasnt real keen on another campaign or the inevitable absence that would result from a job in DC. Being a member of Congress is a real good paying job and a wonderful ego boost but whoever goes there should realize that if you are going to promote good public policy--it is probably not going to be accomplished there--at least not in the current environment. And--to whoever the candidates are: I will vote for whoever, democrat or republican, promises to bring home the bacon. No tea party bullshit about earmarks. Your job is to bring home in some form every dime Mid-Michigan sends to the Federal Government. I might add, that although I disagreed with Mike Rogers on most of the policy positions he took, he was really good at bringing home the bacon.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 14:40:58 +0000
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