CD-03 Details

by: Harris

Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 09:09:33 AM EST

I was going to write a reply to Scotty Urb, but then decided to make it a formal diary.

He has many of the players right, but leaves out some, as we shall see.

DEMOCRATS
So far, only Paul Mayhue has jumped in.  He represents a cross between an ideological True Believer run, and the usual token Kent County Dems have put up.

Pat Miles Jr. is the one to watch, but as of this morning, he is still in the "considering" mode.  He would be a formidable candidate, not only with a resume that includes Harvard Law (and Barack Obama as a friend), but as a member of the board for Aquinas College.  He brings a nice profile of civic engagement, and a plus for Dems, he has resources.  A real campaign could be possible. 

REPUBLICANS
Here is where the fun starts.

Rep. Justin Amash -- Lots of money, ideology and a fan base.  Plus he is energetic.  The question however is whether he has staying power.  He is only two years into his term in the State House and only four years out of law school. So will he be disciplined enough to win?  The DeVos family thinks so, and has endorsed him.

Sen. Bill Hardiman -- Has name recognition, both as senator and former mayor of Kentwood.  Undistinguished in the Senate (a disappointment, actually) whose main concerns have been those of the social conservative, Family & Mariage.  Although initially the protoge of Vern Ehlers, he is now more clearly identified with the Grandville crowd of Terri Land et al.  Downside is that his campaign starts with virtually a zero balance, and a barely operational staff.  He announced from over on the west side, a sure appeal to social conservatives, but it is hard to see how much more they want to give relatively to the fire of Amash.

Steven Heacock.  Head of the County Commission in the late 90s; lawyer; and executive with the Van Andel Institute (that's the place doing high tech medecine).  A serious man, with some serious links to money -- his web site is smart and professional from the get-go.  He announced on Wednesday and picked up the endorsement of former State Rep Jerry Kooiman.  The question will be whether Republican voters in the primary want this sort of seriousness?  Or will they go for the red meat and bomb throwing?  In any case Heacock's entry virtually dooms Hardiman.

Bob Overbeek.  Haven't heard of him?  Dollar Bob is a veteran and student at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.  He's running a quixotic campaign asking only for a dollar a person in contributions.  Nice Schtick.  That way he'll at least have enough for coffee.  He's from Wyoming, so the safe assumption this is another of those wacky west siders in action.