Ex-track athlete looks to oust Rogers

By Christopher Behnan

Former track athlete Kande Ngalamulume is running for Congress in more ways than one.

Ngalamulume said he's running around the entire 8th Congressional District to convince residents he's qualified to unseat longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton.

The East Lansing Democrat, 31, said he's not a cookie-cutter Democrat, and that he'll find common ground with conservatives: He supports lower business taxes and the free-market economy.

"I'm going to run around the whole entire district. I'm not going to be outworked by Rogers, certainly not in this race," Ngalamulume said.

"I think I'm going to surprise a lot of people," he added.

Supporters say Ngalamulume will draw a strong youth vote in the 8th District, which covers all of Livingston, Ingham and Clinton counties and part of Oakland and Shiawassee counties.

The district began to lean Democratic in the 2008 election, with most voters supporting President Barack Obama, but Rogers has always pulled higher percentages in the district than the top of the ticket.

Kande Ngalamulume's name may sound unusual (pronounced KON-dee GAL-a-ma-loom-ay): He emigrated with his family to the United States from Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, when he was 10. He attended high school in East Lansing, and ran track there.

Since his graduation from Michigan State University, where he studied general business and economics, in 2002, he has worked in the financial services sector. Most recently, he worked as a business analyst for Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia the past four years — a background he said has given him great insight into the health-care debate.

Ngalamulume said Rogers is "out of step" with his constituents and puts his party affiliation ahead of his district. He said Rogers' votes show support for lobbyists and special interests.

"He's always out of step with the people in his district. Come November, I want to give people a distinct choice," Ngalamulume said.

The spokesperson for Rogers' office, Sylvia Warner, said his voting record reflects the needs of constituents because they have "overwhelmingly sent him back to Congress to continue being their voice in Congress."

Warner said Rogers' mind is on the issues of the day, not on the upcoming election.

"The congressman is totally focused on his ongoing work on trying to get Michigan's economy turned around and rein in out-of-control spending in Washington D.C., not on an election that is 10 months away," she said.

"Mike Rogers will always be more concerned about his constituents' jobs than his own job," Warner added.

Kathy Carney, chairwoman of the 8th Congressional District Democrats, said Ngalamulume is a strong Democratic candidate, though it's very early in the election season.

"He's a really credible candidate. We're real excited about him," she said.

Debby Buckland hasn't met or spoken with Ngalamulume, but said she's impressed with his accomplishments and what he could bring to the Democratic party.

Buckland ran unsuccessfully for Hamburg Township clerk as a Democrat in 2008.

She said Ngalamulume has an opportunity to build on the Democratic sway in the 8th District, even Livingston isn't part of that trend.

"I think he's going to be strong in the youth sector, and I think that he's going to create some enthusiasm," Buckland said. The secretary of state's office said no one has filed for the 8th District race.

Learn more about Ngalamulume at www.kandeforcongress.com, and Rogers at www.mikerogers.house.gov.

Contact Daily Press & Argus reporter Christopher Behnan at (517) 548-7108 or at cbehnan@gannett.com.