Eyes on Ehlers

Unfortunate... (0.00 / 0)

Ehlers might have a reliably Republican voting record, but he's also one of the few Republicans who is scientifically literate.

Among the Trees

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by: Eric B. @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 14:17:26 PM UTC

The Ds (0.00 / 0)

Any idea who the Dems could run for this seat? It's a Republican-leaning district, but has been trending more and more blue, and the right person might be able to give the Republicans a fight for the open seat (at the very least, helping to divert attention from the 11th). Any ideas?

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by: Bootsy @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 14:21:03 PM UTC

Exec Meets Tonite (0.00 / 0)

Guess what we'll talk about?  Oh, besides replacing the now-retired Phil Skaggs as our chair.

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by: Harris @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 14:33:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Amash's employment history (4.00 / 2)

I'm sure Mr. Skaggs knows about Amash's past employment at Varnum, and the effort it took to get the job.  It may provide some political ammunition for any opponent of Amash.

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by: ibelieveinMichigan @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 15:59:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Seems principled? (0.00 / 0)

From what I gather regarding Amash he's a very principled person, but is certainly woven deep into the Tea Party movement. What was the issue regarding him getting the job at Varnum?  

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by: chuckyd @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 21:26:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm very curious about this, as well. (0.00 / 0)

Among the Trees

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by: Eric B. @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 22:32:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not so much getting the job (0.00 / 0)

as leaving.  

He came to Varnum with the right credentials: Michigan Law and family money.  Yet, it's clear he had a very short tenure -- maybe a year -- then left for the family business.  

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by: Harris @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 22:39:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

funny (0.00 / 0)

As far as amount of work he has now I wouldn't call him "retired" lol

Hi Bill!

"Kill the headlights and put it in neutral..."

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by: AikoAdam @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 22:03:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Amash... connected, but not much more (0.00 / 0)

Amash comes from a privileged and well connected family, but doesn't have much else going for him.  His state district, largely encompassing Kentwood, is a rather blue collar area.  While it is socially conservative, economically, it would seem that there would be little support for the big-business knows best campaign platform.  I would expect a socially conservative Democrat to have a very good chance.  Also, both Kent county and Kentwood voted for Obama.  http://www.mlive.com/news/gran...

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by: ibelieveinMichigan @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 15:53:47 PM UTC

Hate to disappoint (0.00 / 0)

Amash's district encompasses the city of Kentwood plus Casdade, Gaines, and Caledonia townships.  Of these, Cascade and Gaines are very much the economic conservative range, and vote somewhere close to 70% R.  Unpleasant places for Ds.  Caledonia has some prospects, being historically a village of dutch farmers, but it is swamped.  

The electoral calculus for the R is to win big in Cascade and Gaines, and be even or so in Kentwood.  Alas, not a lot of bright light for Ds.  Not that Al Abasse didn't try.  

Also, Amash is definitely not big-business, but more the entrepreneurial Tea Party crowd.  A screaming child of the libertarians.

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by: Harris @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 16:17:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Amash's image has been... (0.00 / 0)

...popping up on my Facebook page since November. His little FB ad paints him as 100% Tea Party...but I didn't even realize he was here in Michigan until the Ehlers annoucement.

Basically, he's been running for something for some months now...now we know which race.

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by: helzapoppn @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 17:21:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

strong rep. district (0.00 / 0)

I don't disagree that it is a strong rep. district.  However, it should be noted that the population of kentwood roughly equals that of the other portions of the district.  But of course, Kentwood by no means is a bastion of liberalism :)  I was merely trying to suggest that Dems at least have a chance in the district.  Also, while I acknowledge that Amash is a tea party favorite, it doesn't change the fact that his family has a successful small/mid sized business.  This family business ties him to the business interests of the republican party regardless of what rhetoric might currently be politically popular.  It would also be interesting to see how the xenophobic tea partiers would react to learning his family runs an import business.

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by: ibelieveinMichigan @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 18:38:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Amash not the favorite (0.00 / 0)

of the big money crowd.  Two years ago they put their money down on Mrs Steil, at least initially.  

As to Kentwood, the Ds have made some useful progress in the city, particularly on the west.  Nearly capturing Vandermolen's county commission seat was certainly a wake-up call, too.  It is roughly where the SE side of GR was say, a generation ago.  Ds could be competitive for the Commission seats in 2012, and certainly by 2016.

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by: Harris @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 19:08:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ehlers is gone (4.00 / 1)

This changes plans all over the place.

For Republicans, who wants it?  MLive has the list of names.  Does Terri Land run?  If so that's a big vote of no confidence in Bouchard.  What about Dave Hildenbrand (R Lowell? His running would really put 29th State Senate seat into play.  Bill Hardiman?  Ken Sikkema (my pick)?  Fire in that belly for sure.  He was doing the educational policy tour this fall, and has done some rehabilitation with the centrists.  

Dems, too, have their work cut out.  Dean would be a good fit for the race, meanwhile Mike Sak, now retired, has a pot of money -- another possibility.  More ideas certain to come.

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by: Harris @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 16:07:15 PM UTC