Jeff Irwin and Ned Staebler compete for endorsements in state House race

(This story has been revised to include updated endorsement information.)

The state House race between Democrats Ned Staebler and Jeff Irwin is shaping up to be a battle of who's backing who — and, perhaps, who's greener.

Both campaigns have announced a number of endorsements recently, including ones from environmental groups, labor unions, local elected officials, education advocates and other community leaders in Ann Arbor.

Ned Staebler

Staebler is outpacing Irwin with endorsements from large organizations like the United Auto Workers and the Michigan Education Association.

The candidates will face off in the Aug. 3 Democratic primary for a chance to replace Rebekah Warren in the 53rd District state House seat. Warren, who is running for state Senate, is backing Irwin's bid to fill her shoes.

Irwin and Staebler, both of Ann Arbor, announced major endorsements this week from environmental groups.

Irwin picked up support from the Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club, one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organizations. The club claims Irwin, more so than Staebler, has a proven track record when it comes to environmental advocacy in Michigan.

But Staebler this week received the sole support of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, an environmental advocacy group both he and Irwin have experience working with over the years. Staebler has served on its board of directors, and Irwin previously served as its executive director.

The LCV chose to endorse Staebler over Irwin, saying he has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the environmental issues central to its cause.

"Michigan LCV is dedicated not only to supporting environmental advocates to the Legislature, but identifying and electing true leaders on the issues. We believe Ned is such a leader," Bob Martel, president of the LCV's board, said in a statement.

The LCV cited Staebler's experience as a vice president of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., saying it adds credibility to his campaign message of a long-term vision for Michigan where green jobs and innovation play a vital role.

Staebler said he considers protecting the environment a moral obligation and an integral component of getting the state's economy back on track.

"I've been an advocate of environmental issues for two decades," Staebler told AnnArbor.com on Friday. "I worked at the EPA back in the early '90s, I was on the board of the League of Conservation Voters. And obviously, you look at the League of Conservation Voters, which has been on the front lines of environmental advocacy and knows both of us very well, and they chose to endorse me."

But the Sierra Club said this week that Irwin is the leading environmental candidate in the race. Richard Barron, chairman of the club's political committee, said Irwin shares the Sierra Club’s values and has a track record of supporting the issues that its members deem critical to the health and economic well-being of Michigan.

During his tenure on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners for the last 10 years, Irwin said he has fought to increase land preservation in the county, instituted an environmentally-friendly purchasing policy, and taken serious steps to reduce the county's energy consumption for a savings of more than $300,000 a year.

While working on clean air and clean water issues in Lansing, Irwin said he joined with environmentalists across Michigan to pass landmark environmental bills, ranging from protecting Great Lakes beaches to the 2002 ban on Great Lakes drilling. More recently, Irwin has been a leading proponent of energy efficiency and conservation measures he says will save taxpayers money and reduce pollution.

Jeff Irwin

Warren, D-Ann Arbor, currently serves as chairwoman of the Great Lakes and Environment Committee in the state House.

“Ann Arbor has a long history of electing legislators who work to ensure our progressive values are represented in Lansing," Warren said. "I have been proud to serve in this capacity for the last three and a half years and strongly endorse Jeff’s candidacy because I know he will carry on in this important tradition."

Irwin adds the Sierra Club's endorsement to a list of supporters that includes the Michigan Farm Bureau, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan National Organization of Women. He and Staebler also share a dual endorsement from the 15th Congressional District Democrats.

Staebler picked up support recently from the Police Officers Association of Michigan, the American Federation of Teachers, the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors, the Michigan Credit Union League and the Michigan Laborers Union. He also has backing from the Ann Arbor Education Association, Michigan Education Association, AFL-CIO, the Michigan Democratic Party's LGBT & Allies Caucus, the United Auto Workers and numerous elected officials, business leaders and fixtures in Ann Arbor's progressive community.

"I'm honored to have the support of so many diverse groups," Staebler said. "We've knocked over 17,000 doors and it's clear that the people of Ann Arbor agree with me that, at this point in Michigan's history, we need leaders with long-term vision and a track record of accomplishments."

Irwin recently relayed a list of local elected officials endorsing his campaign. It includes state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, D-Salem Township, Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton and Washtenaw County Clerk Larry Kestenbaum.

"I have worked closely with Jeff on a number of county issues," Kestenbaum said in a statement supporting Irwin. "As chair of the Board of Commissioners in 2007-08, he proved himself as a knowledgeable, principled and inclusive leader, and I know he will be an outstanding state representative."

Irwin also has backing from his colleagues on the county board, including Leah Gunn, Barbara Levin Bergman, Ken Schwartz and Conan Smith, and from Ann Arbor City Council Members Mike Anglin, Sabra Briere, Stephen Kunselman and Sandi Smith.

Other notable progressive community leaders backing Irwin include Mike Garfield, Keith Orr, Martin Contreras, Rich Sheridan and Mary Bejian. He also has support from Ann Arbor school board members Deb Mexicotte, Glenn Nelson and Simone Lightfoot, and John Austin, vice president of the State Board of Education.

Staebler has support from Ann Arbor City Council Members Christopher Taylor, Margie Teall, Marcia Higgins, Tony Derezinski and Stephen Rapundalo, as well as University of Michigan Regents Julia Donovan Darlow, Olivia Maynard and Katherine White.

Local progressive stalwarts such as Jean King, Doug Kelley and Eunice Burns also are getting behind Staebler's campaign, along with environmental leaders like Lisa Wozniak, Claudia Rast, Skip Pruss and Bruce Wallace.

Other community leaders backing Staebler include Yolanda Whiten, Mark Bernstein, Wendy Woods, Joan Lowenstein, Helen Starman, Brit Satchwell, Helen Ho and Susan Baskett.

"Ultimately, leadership is measured not by votes but by one's ability to inspire others to follow," Staebler said in a statement this week. "In these difficult times in Michigan, I believe we need leaders who are able to bring parties together to invest in a long-term vision for our state and most importantly bring that vision to reality."

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.