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SENATE PRIMARY: Green, Daley Swap Right Crosses, "Sacrificial Lamb" Lurks
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Accordion playing and singing are part of Ron Mindykowski's campaign.
Primary challenger Kevin Daley,with wife Debbie at their farm, seeks to supplant Sen. Mike Green on GOP ballot.
As the state's top pundit sees it, Republican "wolves" are fighting it out to get at the Democratic "lamb" in Michigan's 31st State Senate District.
State Senator Mike Green of Mayville touts his "Second Amendment" pro gun rights record and claims he is "more conservative" than primary challenger State Rep. Kevin Daley of Lapeer.
Green notes in a campaign website that he is sponsor of a bill that has passed the Senate to end county sheriff's oversight and "gun boards" and make Michigan a true "shall issue" state. County clerks would be in charge of issuing gun permits and while the state police would have oversight they would be unable to reject an applicant's permit.
One of the most powerful leaders in state agriculture, Daley aims to be the first state senator from Lapeer County in 60 years and says the numbers created by redistricting are in his favor.
He is president of the Michigan Milk Producers Association and chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He too claims "Second Amendment" (read National Rifle Association pro-gun) credentials.
Daley's campaign states: "Daley is a Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, Pro-Jobs, Republican who believes 'we the people' should be in charge of our government."
Meanwhile, Ron Mindykowski, Bay County's Democratic candidate labeled a "sacrificial lamb" by political analyst Bill Ballenger of the newsletter "Inside Michigan Politics," lurks in the weeds hoping somehow to be transformed to a more ravenous wolf by the November general election.
Mindykowski, 51, is a Bay City Western High School teacher and drama director. He attended Delta College, has an education degree from Western Michigan University and a masters from Marygrove College.
For his part, Mindykowski says: "Over the last few years, the continued attacks on public education have inspired me to run for office and get involved at the state level. I will fight to increase education funding, cut taxes on middle class families and seniors and promote higher education and job growth to help keep our kids here after they graduate."
He sees the GOP passage of added taxes on senior pensions as a key issue. His "Pure Mindy" t-shirts and campaigning as a Polish American, both in the Thumb and elsewhere in the district, delighting crowds with his accordion and singing, are striking a chord with voters. Mindykowski also seeks to restore education funding, an issue that has motivated many of his supporters.
Although Ballenger has projected Green as the eventual winner, "the seat is clearly one that Daley can win," says his campaign leadership.
The 31st District now contains the counties of Bay, Lapeer and Tuscola. When Green was elected in 2010, the district was comprised of Arenac, Bay, Tuscola, Huron and Sanilac counties.
The average turnout of likely Republican primary voters: Lapeer County 43 percent, Bay County 36 percent, and Tuscola County 21 percent.
"Lapeer County has not had a State Senator from their county in more than 60 years, but this is now possible due to redistricting," Daley's pals state.
The 31st Senate District was redrawn during the 2011 redistricting process and has a Republican base average of 50.3 percent, according to Inside Michigan Politics.
Daley made the following statement after turning in his paperwork:
"I made my intentions clear months ago, formed my campaign committee and this was the last step to make my candidacy official. We're meeting a lot of voters in the district and they are quickly turning into supporters. I'm blessed to have committed friends and supporters from my home county Lapeer, as well as a growing list of community members and officials endorsing me as their candidate for State Senate from Bay and Tuscola Counties too."
"Those who knew me before and those that are getting to know me now are supporting me because they know I am a consistent conservative they can count on in Lansing.
"I can assure all the voters in this district, whether in Lapeer, Bay, or Tuscola, that I'll represent the values and issues my constituents elect me to represent. They'll always know where I stand on an issue."
"I will not reverse myself just because opposition becomes loud and vocal. I said I would vote for Right-to-Work and I never flinched. I voted for it despite heated opposition and large demonstrations in Lansing."
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