Dem candidates fire up faithful at Pasta & Politics

By DICK CAMPBELL, For The Argus-Press

CORUNNA — Nearly 150 attended the Shiawassee Democratic Party’s 2010 Pasta & Politics event at Gi Gi’s to hear State Representative Alma Wheeler-Smith and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero voice their ideas as candidates for Governor of Michigan.

Also on the program, Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer outlined the party’s 2010 outlook.

Other major Democratic candidates, including Jocelyn Benson, secretary of state; David Leyton, attorney general; Kande Ngalamulume, 8th Michigan Congressional District; Chuck Fellows, 22nd Michigan Senate District; and Pam Drake, 85th Michigan House District — made for a longer than usual Pasta & Politics event.

Leading off, Bernero said, “We have our work cut out for us, this is a fight for our life, to restore Michigan. It is a time for us to stand together again.”

Among his qualifications for the state’s top job, Bernero noted he was a county commissioner, a state representative, a state senator and now mayor of Michigan’s capital city.

“Lansing’s not waving the white flag in this economy,” he said. “The city is growing; it is not business as usual. Our two biggest obstacles are Democrats and Republicans. We can’t create jobs without business. We can’t be pro-labor without being pro-business.”

And, Bernero added, “We’re going to go out and fight for the American dream. And the Democratic Party will turn it around.”

Smith, a former state senator and now a state representative from Washtenaw County, said she “grew up in a family active in civil rights and her continuing goal is to create quality of opportunity, to assure our children have a future.”
Along that line, she advocates education starting at age 3 and universal education at age 4. Like an expanded “Kalamazoo Promise,” she promotes free higher education. “We are closing the door on two-thirds of our young people in the state because college tuition is so high.”

It is time, she said, “for providing Michigan solutions to Michigan problems.”
Business coming to Michigan, she said, “is not looking for a tax break, rather a good place to live and work. My goal is to assure that every business has a chance to be successful.”

Among other ideas, she promoted looking at a graduated income tax and, in the process, closing all the tax loopholes. And she advocates expanding the sales tax to services.

And, she said, “I’m the only pro-choice Democrat running for office.”

As the Democratic candidate for secretary of state, Benson said she would make sure that Michigan’s secretary of state office “is the best in the country, a leader in fairness.” Putting the people first, she would “assure elections are fair.” And she advocates state license plate renewals for three or five years, rather than the current just one.

Leyton who, like Benson for secretary of state, is the only Democrat running for attorney general, is in his second term as Genesee County prosecutor.

“We have a long row to hoe against the Republicans,” Leyton said, adding, “The Republicans say ‘no’ to the American dream; this is not a Republican year.”

Ngalamulume, who quit his job with Blue Cross in the Philadelphia area to enter politics, is running against incumbent Republican Mike Rogers. “We are losing too many young people, leaving Michigan because of a crippled infrastructure and underfunded education system,” he said. “If the Republicans want to stand on the sidelines, let’s put them there permanently. Republican perception is that this will be a tough year for the Democrats. I don’t buy that.”

Fellows is after the state senate seat now held by Valde Garcia. A former worker at Ford who rose from the assembly line to the corporate offices, he more recently became a teacher (“the toughest job around,” he said). As a state senator, he said, “I will be responsive to the people I work for.”

Drake, who is pursuing the 85th District House seat now occupied by term-limited Dr. Dick Ball, assured the Pasta & Politics crowd she is determined to “bring that house seat back to the Democrats.”

Wrapping up the Friday night event, Brewer said, “The Republicans say this is their comeback year. No way.”

He listed three important aspects of the 2010 election year:

First, “A very important race is that for Michigan Supreme Court. Our priority is to beat Bob Young. We need a fair and moderate candidate.”

Second, redistricting. “Ten years ago, the Republicans ‘gerrymandered’ the state to assure advantage for their party. This year it is most important we win the governor, both houses of the legislature and the supreme court as redistricting will take place next year and be in place for another 10 years.”

And third, “why the Democrats can win. This year is one of choices. As obstructionists, the Republicans are not suitable. We should ignore the polls. By the time November rolls around, the voters will vote for people. We have the best, well-trained army in the state in getting out the vote. And that’s how we’ll win.”