AnnArbor.com's endorsements for 52nd House District and 15th Congressional District seats
A wearying campaign season of bickering, distortions and downright nastiness is almost over. On Nov. 3, Michigan will wake up to a new governor, a mostly new Legislature and all of the same old problems that have plagued it for years.
Our ability to tackle these problems will depend on who we send to Lansing. We need legislators who have a record of accomplishment in local government, a spirit of bipartisanship and a commitment to structural change in state government. In the race for the state House 52nd District, we think Republican Mark Ouimet fits that bill over Democrat Christine Green.
A former Ann Arbor City Council member and current vice chairman of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, Ouimet helped guide the county through a difficult budget process, winning important concessions from employee groups. He also played a key role in the merger of the Chambers of Commerce in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. His pragmatic approach to issues has earned him respect and support across party lines.
Candidate profiles
To learn more about the candidates and where they stand on the issues:
Green, an attorney and Scio Township trustee, has strengths as well. Her focus is on making government more efficient and avoiding tax increases to make Michigan more competitive. She also has strong stands on such issues as tying tax incentives to real job creation.
While we agree with Green on some issues, we find that Ouimet shows a deeper commitment to the structural reform that Michigan needs, and his long public record of producing real results makes it easier to believe that he can be effective in Lansing.
We purposely delayed making an endorsement decision in this race until we had a chance to assess allegations that Ouimet collected per diem pay from the county that he wasn’t eligible for. We are disappointed in his lapse of judgment on this issue, and in his initial response to it. He claimed per diems for attending meetings that weren’t clearly covered under the county’s guidelines, and justified it, at least partially, by saying he gave the money to charity. Other county commissioners took similar reimbursements, though in much smaller amounts. Ouimet has asked for an independent, non-partisan review of reimbursements and says he will repay the county for any expenses that are found to be ineligible. That is appropriate.
Still, this incident shouldn’t be considered in a vacuum. When we look at Ouimet’s hard work on behalf of this community, his long record of service and his history of accomplishments, those things far outweigh this lapse. His body of work as a public servant demonstrates that he is well qualified to serve us in Lansing and can help bring about real change there. We endorse Mark Ouimet for the 52nd District House seat.
15th Congressional District
In this time of strong anti-incumbent sentiment, being the longest-serving member of Congress is no particular advantage for John Dingell. It’s more like a target on his back. Taking aim at the veteran Democrat is Republican challenger Rob Steele, an Ann Arbor physician.
Dingell has embraced Ann Arbor since it was added to his 15th U.S. House District in 2002, working closely with local officials to help secure federal funding for local needs. The $13.9 million in federal funds that Ann Arbor just landed for repair of the Stadium Boulevard bridges was huge, as was the recent $1 million grant to help pay for a new Blake Transit Center downtown.
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On the other hand, Michigan remains a donor state, sending more money to Washington than it gets back, and voters have every right to question why Dingell and other long-serving Democrats in Congress haven’t been more effective in correcting that imbalance. It also is troubling that Democrats removed him as chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, prompting the Washington Post to declare that his “time of grand power has passed.’’
Steele is waging a vigorous campaign, buoyed by polls that he says show Dingell is vulnerable. But we have trouble getting a read on Steele. His campaign web site and his announcements are conspicuous for their lack of specifics. Meeting with our editorial board, he was measured in his statements, but if you listen to his interviews on conservative talk radio shows, he spouts Tea Party rhetoric with the best of them.
Steele clearly has a strong understanding of the federal health care reform, which he calls “Obamacare’’ and vows to overturn. Otherwise, he often offers simplistic solutions to complex problems like immigration or job growth. We also disagree with his position on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, which he opposes.
Dingell, who has never received less than 60 percent of the vote in a general election, may or may not be at risk in November. At a time when people want change in Washington, his entrenched status is not a plus, nor are questions about whether his influence and effectiveness are on the wane. But his accomplishments and his dedication are epic, and we don’t find that Steele has made the case for replacing him. We endorse Dingell for another term, understanding that his future longevity depends very much on the actual accomplishments he demonstrates over the next two years and not on his laurels.
Click here to read AnnArbor.com's gubernatorial endorsements.
Editor’s note: The three community members who serve on our Editorial Board - David Mielke, Bob Guenzel and Marsha Chamberlin - did not participate in the endorsement interviews and were not involved in these endorsement decisions.
Comments
YpsiBronc
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 6:13 p.m.
A2.com's endorsement of John Dingell is actually an endorsement of Debbie Dingell. John Dingell is a shadow of his previously formidable self. The Dems in Congress obviously recognize that as they unceremoniously dumped him from his committee chair. Debbie is clearly the decision maker for him now. Unfortunately, her name does not appear on the ballot.
Roadman
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 5:09 p.m.
I applaud the Mark Ouimet endorsement. He is one of the most fair and hardworking public servants I have met.
JimFuester
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 2:19 p.m.
Literally, as I sit here reading the news, and this article in particular... the radio is (yet again) playing Ouimet's commercial asking the public to ignore his inappropriate ("lapse of judgment," as stated above by AA.com!) per diem collections that he wasn't eligible for. Hmmm... seems to me he should well have known just what he was eligible for and what not. Ignorance of such things is NO excuse. If I were found to have submitted inappropriate reimbursement request, repeatedly, I dare say that like most people I would have lost my job. Offering that monies were donated to charity is a weak answer. Offering to pay back- as Ouimet states in his radio commercial- any inappropriately received funds (if this turns out to be the case, as AA.com even implies it is) is a weak answer. Seems like career politician behavior of the most blatant sort. "Hand caught in the cookie jar" with a rather disingenuous apology and offer to put the cookies back! AA.com goes on to state that Christine Green "has strengths as well. Her focus is on making government more efficient and avoiding tax increases to make Michigan more competitive. She also has strong stands on such issues as tying tax incentives to real job creation." AA.com has lost a lot of credibility in endorsing Ouimet over Green, shameful. As a tax payer, I very much worry that Ouimet will transport his 'career politician' behaviors to Lansing, and find his hand in a much larger cookie jar! Chris Green is a fresh voice, looking to make positive changes on behalf of Michigan residents, coming from the trenches, and deserves public support at the polls. Michigan will never find it's way out of our current crisis if career politicians like Ouimet continue their careers! Again, AA.com has lost a lot of credibility here. Christine Green should have gotten the nod, as I hope she does at the voting booth.
Ted
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 12:47 p.m.
You can't be serious. After seeing the debate between Dingell and Steele, it is positively clear that Steele is the better choice. Dingell's tired rant about robbing social security cannot be taken seriously, especially given that it was Dingell who was in office when the trust was robbed to fund other government pet projects. Steele will put the funds back into a trust for the benefit of our children and grandchildren.
Bochum
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 1:05 p.m.
Funny that there are people accusing the Dems of being big spenders. Every time there's a Republican president, the debt and the annual deficit go up. You can look it up. The fiscal picture got better in the 90s due to the tax reforms of 1993 that passed without a single Republican vote. As for John Dingell, aacom endorsed him because of his record and his grasp of the issues. Steele is not ready for prime time. That might be great for Saturday Night Live, but lousy for setting national policy. In short, Steele is a joke, but not very funny.
Andrew Linko
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 1:05 p.m.
Congressman Dingell deserves the endorsemnt of the Ann Arbor news and I say thank you. The issue of Michigan being a donor state would not change with a Congressman Steele. GOP leaders, Beohner in particular are in seclusion planning a strategy if they were to win the majority, Steele is not a part of that discussion. Steele would be ineffective as President Obama, like him or not has 3 years of his term left and one of his primary goals was to reform healthcare. Dr. Steele's main issues is to repeal healthcare reform. If he were Congressman, his exclusionary party leaders have an agenda and this district is not included. However, another term for Congressman Dingell, who has delivered the support and funds would still continue to influence our President and has in the past reached across the aisle to work to obtain bipartisan support to deliver to his district. Dr. Steele would polarize any attempts to work together to achieve results for his constituents. You cannot only say 'No' you have to have a plan, and you must deliver. That is the primary reason John Dingell needs to be re-elected. Send Dingell to Washington where he is effective, send Dr. Steele back to the operating room and let him fight the insurance monopolies that our destroying this Country's inability to compete globally with the cost of health care.
Marvin Gerber
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 12:58 p.m.
The reasons for endorsing Dingell are exactly the reasons for voting against. Congress uses the treasury buy votes. E.g. Dingell bragged about bringing jobs to Mi. He didn't say the the jobs cost taxpayers $625,000 and 1,163,000 per job at LG Chem and A123 respectively. Or that the state kicked in 250,000 and 333,334 for each job. The debt has to be paid either by cutting funding for other things or through inflation-BAD FOR JOBS. Dingell supports crony capitalism,wasteful spending and Obamas' terrible foreign policy. Dingell is absolutely hostile to Israel. Do I agree with Steele on every thing? No. But I, do not believe we can create a perfect world. For example, politicians who caused the housing bust are now writing the financial reform laws. The post office can't compete fairly with Fedex. But Dingell thinks the Feds can run the health care system. Voter beware!!!.
Neil
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 12:40 p.m.
Congressman Dingell is the right choice for these difficult times. His opponent does not provide any specifics to the issues that matter the most to the people of the 15th District. Congressman Dingell will continue to fight to protect Social Security, Medi-Care, and to bring jobs back to Michigan. His opponent will support the corporate fat cats who ship jobs overseas to boost profits and put Michiganders out of work.
Neil
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 12:38 p.m.
Congressman Dingell is the right choice for these difficult times. His opponent does not provide any specifics to the issues that matter the most to the people of the 15th District. Congressman Dingell will continue to fight to protect Social Security, Medi-Care, and to bring jobs back to Michigan. His opponent will support the corporate fat cats who ship jobs overseas to boost profits and put Michiganders out of work.
Bablat
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 12:38 p.m.
What a Joke!!! AnnArbor.com cannot expect to be taken seriously after endorsing someone whom even the Democratic party has given up on. Backward looking and very disappointing.
David Parker
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 6:01 a.m.
' It also is troubling that Democrats removed him as chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, prompting the Washington Post to declare that his time of grand power has passed.. '. Maybe the dem leadership were on to something......that voters hopefully finish. Simple solutions work better. Virtue is it's own reward. Despite bridge payoff just before the election.
Milton Shift
Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 1:44 a.m.
When the Republicans screw us, we will forget the past and vote Democrat. When the Democrats screw us, we will forget the past and vote Republican. When the Republicans screw us, we will forget the past and vote Democrat. When the Democrats screw us, we will forget the past and vote Republican. When the Republicans screw us, we will forget the past and vote Democrat. When the Democrats screw us, we will forget the past and vote Republican....
L. C. Burgundy
Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 11:35 p.m.
AA.com, are you serious? Not rest on his laurels? Dingell is 84 years old! His prime legislative years are clearly well behind him at this point. Dingell will accomplish nothing in 57 years that he didn't achieve in 55. He will fill the seat for two more years and be likely be a part of a Democratic minority that more or less let us know this session that they don't even care to have him around anymore, at least wielding any level of influence. There is no sense or honor in sending someone back to Congress like this. Send Dingell home. Give Rob Steele a try - 2 years is not too long to let some fresh air go to Congress for us.
Milton Shift
Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 4:45 p.m.
Clinton was party to the Social Security raiding bonanza of the 90s.
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 4:44 p.m.
Which entrenched, 55-year-in-Congress lifetime-politician voted in 1965 to allow politicians to raid the Social Security Trust Fund for their re-election efforts? Dingle that's who.. And who is the second-largest recipient of PAC money from BP? The same Dingle. The original raiding of Social Security? Oil Money? How can the AANews look past this?
Milton Shift
Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 3:35 p.m.
"We need legislators who have a record of accomplishment in local government [slashing wages and jobs], a spirit of bipartisanship [no one breaking the line to help the working class] and a commitment to structural change in state government [slashing wages and jobs]." You have endorsed the destruction of living standards of your friends, family, and neighbors.
michigan face
Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 1:56 p.m.
Of course you support Mark Ouimet - when it's a toss up in your view - A2.com always goes for the Republican. Your endorsements become less meaningful everyday. Voters are tired of being swayed by your supposed unbiased research that has no merit or basis.