Jeff Phillips and backer Scott Martin.
SPOILER ALERT: Kingston School Trustee Jeffrey Phillips Vies for Senate
Senator Green Schedules Coffee Thursday with State Chamber Chief
July 22, 2014
By: Dave Rogers
State Senator Mike Green has called in the heavy hitters to bolster his campaign for re-election in the 31st District.
The State Chamber of Commerce is giving Green a "meet and greet" Capitol Connection Coffee at the favorite political watering hole, Old City Hall, 8-9:30 a.m. Thursday.
Kevin Daley, term limited state representative from Lapeer, is giving Green a run for his money in the Republican primary.
However, there is another Republican candidate, conservative education activist Jeffrey Phillips, 33, of Caro, a member of the Kingston Board of Education.
Phillips has so far barely been a blip on voters' radar screens, but who knows what he is mounting behind the scenes?
Although a political neophyte, Phillips had the panache to show up last year at a State Board of Education meeting to talk about the controversial Common Core curriculum.
Also, last April Phillips was attempting to gather signatures for a nomination to run against Republican Member of Congress Candice Miller, who he said "has a horrible voting record."
Red Racing Horses, a conservative blog, comments on the race:
"Green beat Jeff Mayes in 2010, picking up the seat formerly held by Democrat Jim Barcia. The new district drops Huron, Sanilac and Arenac, and adds Lapeer. It is unchanged by 2008 Pres and moves 0.3 percent left by 2006 avg, though Lapeer is less prone to large swings than the Thumb counties.
"Green is the strongest gun rights advocate in the state senate. He voted against Right to Work, likely for political reasons in this union-friendly district."
The vote against Right to Work may generate opposition from conservatives and Tea Party types who are unyielding on the issue.
Such an outcome would definitely benefit Daley, who boasts of his "courage" in voting for the bill and perhaps even Phillips who appears to have stellar right-wing credentials.