My Dinner with Stabenow, Dillon, Bernero, and more!

by: Butch Snider

Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 23:47:00 PM EST

The gubernatorial candidates all spoke briefly, then made the rounds of the room.  Of particular note was when Speaker Dillon turned to Mayor Bernero and said "And one of us will win in November!"  (Representative Wheeler Smith had not yet arrived.)  My wife and I did note that though the candidates for governor talked to the elected officials and state party chairmen at out table, they skipped over us, with the sole exception of Representative Wheeler Smith, who very politely requested our support.  

My wife did say that if Mayor Bernero had approached us, she would have brought up the subject of handicap parking in downtown Lansing.  Although federal law required that the parking lot at the new Michigan State Police HQ have handicapped parking, official MSP policy states that the lot at that building is for state-owned vehicles only, and the handicapped employees are not allowed to use the handicapped parking spaces at the building!

(Speaking of my wife, she also wanted me to note here that she did not care for the food this year.)

It was always good to see our progressive activist friends, both those from Ingham County and those from elsewhere.  MichLib poster "Progressive Female" and I had an enjoyable discussion with Eaton County state representative candidate Fred Fry.  I was able to offer a belated in-person congratulation to activist-turned-Ingham County Commissioner-elect Penelope Tsernoglou.  And we were glad to help raise funds for our favorite county party.