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VOTE NOW! for 'Michigan First!' endorsed U.S. House candidate

by: matt

Wed Aug 30, 2006 at 18:49:43 PM EDT


(Deadline is 5pm tomorrow, Labor Day. - promoted by lpackard)

Time to pick Michiganliberal.com's "Michigan First!"-endorsed U.S. House candidate. As before, only Democratic challengers running against a Republican (or for an open seat) AND with the ability to accept contributions online on their website were considered elgible to participate. The winner gets their picture and links to their campaign site in the "Michigan First!" box at left. It's theoretically possible you might get a contribution or two, but really what you win is bragging rights - and some free exposure for your campaign.

Voting comences immediately and continues through 5PM Monday (Yes I know it's Labor Day - my hope is this little contest will help prop up site traffic over the holiday!) You must be logged in as a Michlib user to participate. Vote in the box at left. If you don't have a Michlib account, click here to make one.

Again, voting ends at 5PM Monday!

Now let's meet our candidates...

Kimon Kotos (CD02 - North Muskegon)

Kimon has a background in organic food production and sales and is a professional musician. He's running against U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Holland).
Campaign website
Michlib district profile

Jim Rinck (CD03 - Grand Rapids)
An attorney, scoutmaster, and member of the Grand Rapids Board of Education, Jim is taking on U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids)
Campaign website
Michlib district profile

Mike Huckleberry (CD04 - Greenville)
Mike is a restauranteur and member of the Greenville Opportunity Task Force. He's gunning for U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-Midland)
Campaign website
Michlib district profile

Kim Clark (CD06 - Three Oaks)
An adjunct professor at DePaul University, an ordained minister, and owner of Three Oaks' Acorn Theater Kim is challenging U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph)
Campaign website
Michlib district profile

Sharon Renier (CD07 - Munith)
Sharon is a paralegal and organic farmer. She's taking on the infamous Tim Walberg (R-Tipton), who beat incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-Battle Creek) in the recent primary.
Campaign website
Michlib district profile

Jim Marcinkowski (CD08 - Lake Orion)
An attorney, Navy veteran, and former FBI & CIA agent, Jim is running against former FBI agent and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Brighton).
Campaign website
Michlib district profile

Nancy Skinner (CD09 - Royal Oak)
A former radio talk show host and TV commentator, Nancy also worked for the Ilitch family, helping with their development efforts in downtown Detroit. She is taking on U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Bloomfield Twp.)
Campaign website
Michlib district profile

Tony Trupiano (CD11 - Dearborn Heights)
Tony is a former restaurant owner, radio talk show host, and former trustee of North Oakland Medical Center. He's competing against U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Livonia)
Campaign website
Michlib district profile
matt :: VOTE NOW! for 'Michigan First!' endorsed U.S. House candidate
Tags: , (All Tags)
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Tough choices... (4.00 / 2)
There's some good folks on this list. But in the end, as a Lansing resident and someone who once ran himself for CD08, I have to go for the home team: Jim Marcinkowski gets my vote.

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never." - Winston S. Churchill

Agreed (4.00 / 2)
Matt, I'm in such a weird position. I live in Marcinkowski's district (and being a Lansing native, it's where my heart is), but I'm registered in Renier's Congessional district (where my dad lives). Nancy Skinner strikes me as the most netroots-friendly candidate though, and I really like the way she's running her campaign.

It's definintely a tough call, but for selfish purposes, I'm going with Marcinkowski too. Good luck to all the candidates though!

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few


[ Parent ]
Great Lineup (0.00 / 0)
With all of these great candidates, it is hard to choose.  I would urge a vote for Jim Rinck in Michigan's 3rd.  Jim's opponent has spent his career claiming to be a moderate, based on his environmental record.  He has held his seat since 1993.  Last I checked, we are still warned against eating too much fish from our Great Lakes.  Global Warming has been ignored.  Where is this so-called leadership on environmental issues?  Meanwhile, our congressman votes in lockstep with our President.  We must not continue to allow our congressman to falsely characterize himself as a moderate.
Help Jim receive more attention as he brings attention to the real issues we face.  He's ready to confront the problems in our Public School systems and Health Care policies.  He is ready to fight for alternative energy.  He will stand up for us if we can offer enough support to send him to Washington.  Standing up for everyday Americans is what Jim has been doing his entire adult life.

[ Parent ]
Addition to Jim's Bio (0.00 / 0)
Along with being an attorney and Scoutmaster, it is also worth noting that Jim Rinck is also an elected member to the Grand Rapids Public School Board, where he is serving in his 4th term

[ Parent ]
Added (0.00 / 0)
What can I say? My mind is mush.

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never." - Winston S. Churchill

[ Parent ]
i remember (0.00 / 0)
he got some really good press when he declared.  he seems like a good fellow, but i think it would take more than a tidal wave fore him to win in his district.  (not saying there isn't going to be more than a tidal wave).  what is happening in the race these days?

[ Parent ]
I voted for Skinner (4.00 / 1)
Out of all of the candidates that came to the Blogger's Caucus, she seemed to be the most in touch.  I was really impressed with her and think that she will bring something unique to the US Congress if elected.

Check out my mediocre blog.

What can I say? I'm in the 9th, Knollenberg sucks... (4.00 / 1)
...and Nancy Skinner has the energy, the buzz and the general mojo going to take him down for the count.

I second that (4.00 / 1)
because Knollenberg MORE than sucks. The prospect of Nancy Skinner beating him gives me hope.

[ Parent ]
Cruel Matt! (0.00 / 0)
Making us choose between so many good candidates brave enough to run against the GOP's All-Star Evil Minion Lineup.

Before I vote, I'm going to sit back and savor the fact that four years ago we would have been lucky to field candidates in three of these districts who could have garnered more than 35 percent of the vote.  Along with credit to the candidates themselves, credit belongs to the democratic grass roots of Michigan, the state's bloggers, and not least, all of us here at MichLib and Matt himself.

We still have a lot to do, but progress is such a great motivator.


I'm in the 11th.... (0.00 / 0)
And Tony is my boy, so I'm voting for him.

If we had a second choice, I'd definetely go with Nancy, though.

Putting conservatives in charge of our government makes about as much sense as GM hiring a CEO who hates cars.


was tony at the convention? (0.00 / 0)
i didn't see him

[ Parent ]
Absolutely (0.00 / 0)
Every time I turned another corner I saw him. He was even at the next table over from Hy, Christine and myself during the lunch break on Sat.

He gave a great speech at the 11th caucus on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday he was on stage with all the other challenger candidates. (& of course he was with the 11th's caucus).

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." The Importance of Being Earnest, Act I, Oscar Wilde, 1895


[ Parent ]
Vote Tony! (0.00 / 0)
McCotter MUST go!

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." The Importance of Being Earnest, Act I, Oscar Wilde, 1895

Tony has my vote (0.00 / 0)
I am sick of the Capital updates McCotter sends out about every other month. The last one probably cost $5 each.

Still, it is a hard choice. So many good Dems.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal. - Winston Churchill  


[ Parent ]
Unseating the 6-term popular Ehlers is going to be a monumental task ... (4.00 / 1)
Jim Rinck needs help from ALL of us! My home Kent County is as staunchly Republican as you're gonna get and it's DeVos' stomping grounds. Plus there's plenty of longtime love here between Vern and his constituents (not to mention Paul Henry before him). My vote goes to Rinck!

Mine too (4.00 / 1)
Just to support the hometown.

It's too bad Vern is so popular- the man has a little problem with the credit cards and has enabled the Bush team at almost every step of the way. People aren't going to see that unless Rinck can get some press and advertising out there.


[ Parent ]
Sharon Renier (0.00 / 0)
When did Sharon become an attorney?

Looks like (0.00 / 0)
that's an oops.

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." The Importance of Being Earnest, Act I, Oscar Wilde, 1895

[ Parent ]
Fixed (0.00 / 0)
You are correct. Her bio actually lists her as a paralegal. My bad. I just saw "Dickinson-Wright" and "Catherine Mackinnon" and somehow just assumed she was an attorney. Forgive me, my brain is fried.

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never." - Winston S. Churchill

[ Parent ]
Huckleberry... (0.00 / 0)
He's a nice guy, and a damn hard campaigner.

But his website sucks, I sent a message through his site to volunteer, no word 1 week later.

No netroots at all.

My vote will go to Skinner, as much as it breaks my heart.

Pray for the dead, fight like hell for the living. - Mother Jones


No "All of the Above"? (0.00 / 0)
Heck, I'd even settle for "Four of the Above" - Skinner, Trupiano, Marcinkowski, and my own district's Renier.

Forced to pick one, though, I vote for Sharon Renier. Tim Walberg has got to be stopped, and she needs all the help she can get.


First robocall (0.00 / 0)
Got my first robocall of the campaign season tonight, bashing Marcinkowski for first running as a republican, then as a liberal democrat.  It ended with, "Call Jim Marcinkowski at XXX-XXX-XXXX and ask him what party he plans to run with in the next election," which sounds like a 527 issue ad.  Unfortunately, my machine cut it off before I could find out who sponsored it.

I'm in a conservative area, but this flip-flop smear is aimed at dems as much as GOP voters.  This tells me the Rogers team is feeling unsure of themselves even out here on guns/yellow ribbon turf.  Go Jim!


Thanks to all (0.00 / 0)
This past weekend at the Convention was a great experience for my campaign, as I am sure it was for all of the campaigns.  It was wonderful to get to speak to the convention crowd and I so enjoyed meeting so many readers of this great website.  I do believe we are having a major impact on the November elections and have a change to pick up a few seats here in Michigan.

All of the campaigns need help.  Whether it's bodies, money, or other resources, please give when and where you can.  It does smake a difference; a huge difference.

I want to encourage all of you to check out the webite, sign up for the newsletter, and donate, if you can. 

I will do my best to check in more often, but I wanted to be sure and wish all of you a happy Labor Day!

Let's finish the job!  I'm ready.  Onward!


I voted for Nancy (4.00 / 1)
I've been working my tail off for her the last six months or so.  I'm in the 12th, but since Sandy Levin is so safe, I've decided to work hard for Nancy.  I think she will truly bring new energy to Congress, both literally and figuratively.

And, she really "gets" the netroots and has used them to her advantage.

Go Nancy!



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