The Adrian Insider

Schwarz to decide 2008 plans in six months

2007-02-03T10:43:00.000-05:00

The political bull's-eye on Tim Walberg's back gained the notice of The New York Times today.
NY Times carried a story from CQPolitics.com that Joe Schwarz will decide within six months whether he'll challenge Walberg in 2008 for his old seat in what's being plugged as "Round 3."
For those who followed this year's campaign and Walberg's primary win, it's common knowledge that Schwarz is resentful of losing to Walberg, a very conservative former preacher and state representative from Lenawee County.
Schwarz, R-Tipton, won the 7th District seat in 2004 in a six-man Republican primary, which included Walberg, R-Tipton.
The story also lays out previous speculation about potential Democratic candidates who some pundits say could put up a good challenge against the far-right Walberg.
Democratic candidates already being mentioned are former state Rep. Doug Spade of Lenawee County and state Rep. Marty Griffin, who was the mayor of Jackson.
Republican operatives have also suggested state Senator Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, should run in 2008 since his term does not end until 2010, ensuring his job security.
Walberg said he's prepared to "raise what it takes to win" -- which could be more than the almost $1.3 million he amassed for the last election.
Given the money spent in 2006 from out-of-district sources, it's likely somebody will be gunning for Walberg, the Jackson Citizen Patriot reported Friday.
"He won by an extremely narrow margin," DCCC spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield told the Jackson newspaper. "He represents the most extreme elements of the Republican Party.

IN OTHER NEWS...
Joe Schwarz, a doctor and former state senator, is part of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's emergency budget panel that is recommending a tax increase to solve Michigan's budget woes.
Schwarz will appear with fellow panelist S. Martin Taylor, a U-M regent, on WKAR's "Off The Record" this week.

Walberg: Don't adopt 'Hillarycare'

2007-01-24T10:36:00.000-05:00

In an op-ed piece today, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg rips the Democrats proposed changes to Medicare prescription drug plan.
Walberg, R-Tipton, likened the legislation to Senator Hillary Clinton's health care plan of the 1990s when she was First Lady. That plan has been called "Hillarycare" by some Republicans.
"A one-size-fits-all type of prescription drug plan denies seniors the right to choose a plan meeting their needs and limits their access to many of the newest prescription drugs on the market," Walberg wrote in an op-ed in today's Lansing State Journal.

Walberg's response to Bush's State of the Union speech

2007-01-23T23:32:00.000-05:00

Here's Congressman Tim Walberg's response to President Bush's State of the Union address tonight:

"I support the president's determination for victory and feel it is imperative we provide American men and women in combat with resources that will enable them to come home safe and victorious. The war on terrorism is the calling of our time, and we cannot shirk our obligation to protect our families and nation from the enemies of freedom." — Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton.

Coffee company setting up shops all over Lenawee County

2007-01-22T14:23:00.000-05:00

After enjoying a cup of coffee at the new Bearclaw Coffee Co. stand at Bixby Medical Center, the company's web site had some interesting local news.
The franchise is opening three new shops in Adrian, Clinton and Blissfield.
The Adrian shop will be located on M-52 near the Sears store, not too far from Stompin Grounds Coffee Shop on US-223.
Blissfield's shop will located on East Street and the Clinton shop is going to open on West Michigan Avenue.
There's also a login cabin-themed store in downtown Brooklyn.
In addition to the company's Onsted drive-thru in the Irish Hills, Lenawee County appears to be the company's largest expanding area in all of Michigan.

'The World According to Schwarz'

2007-01-11T23:28:00.000-05:00

The Battle Creek Enquirer has a long detailed story about Joe Schwarz, even as Tim Walberg tries to get his start as the new 7th District Congressman.

There were six Republicans in 2004, not five

2007-01-09T10:20:00.000-05:00

History tells us there were six Republicans who sought retired U.S. Rep. Nick Smith's seat in 2004, not five.

They were:
Brad Smith, an attorney and son of the retiring congressman from Addison
State Sen. Joe Schwarz of Battle Creek
Fmr. State Rep. Tim Walberg of Tipton
Fmr. State Rep. Paul Deweese of Eaton Rapids
State Rep. Gene DeRossett of Manchester
State Rep. Clark Bisbee of Jackson

The local newspaper eroneously reported Saturday that "Schwarz won the Republican nomination among a field of five Republican candidates."

Walberg names staffers; Schwarz considering 2008 bid

2007-01-08T19:12:00.000-05:00

Congressman Tim Walberg says he's hard at work to restore the Grand Old Party's traditional values.
"We lost our Republican ideals. We walked away," Walberg said recently in an interview with the Associated Press. "And now we have a chance to ... pay our penance and hopefully get ... the majority as soon as possible."
Walberg ousted U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz from office in the August primary.
Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, has not ruled out taking on Walberg in 2008, according to Matt Marsden, his fmr. chief of staff.
Schwarz will decide by next summer whether to run again, and "in the meantime, we'll watch the legislative record of Mr. Walberg," Marsden told AP.
Walberg's nasty 2006 battle for congress seems to continue haunting him as he settles into his new Washington, D.C. digs.
On January 3, a former Schwarz aide filed a complaint with the House ethics committee and House clerk's office alleging that Walberg violated House rules and federal law by sending reception invitations that included what may be the seal of the House of Representatives, according to a Gannett News Service report.
Marsden said neither him nor Schwarz urged former aide Eric Weiler to file the complaint against Walberg, R-Tipton.
The official congressional seal is supposed to be used only for official government business, according to Democrats.

Meanwhile, Walberg has appointed his staff:

Joe Wicks, chief of staff, overseeing all operations both in the district and in Washington D.C.

Rick Baxter will be the district director and will oversee all district operations. Baxter, a Lenawee Christian school graduate, is a former state representative from Jackson County. He was defeated after serving one term.

Marla Braun, constituent relations, and will be representing Walberg in Hillsdale, Calhoun, Eaton and Branch counties.

Keith Brown, field representative and agricultural liaison, in Hillsdale and Lenawee counties.
Ryan Boeskool, field representative, covering Eaton and Jackson counties. Brown was former U.S. Rep. Nick Smith's district director.

Steve Dennison, grants and special projects coordinator and will specialize in grants and special projects, helping communities in the process of applying for federal grants and loans.

Mary Ann Duffy, constituent relations, will serve Jackson, Washtenaw and Lenawee counties with their interactions with the federal government.

Jill Larder, field representative in Washtenaw and Jackson counties.

Chris Simmons, field representative in Calhoun and Branch counties.

Leeann Yamakawa, office coordinator, will assist with district scheduling and all office functions and duties.

Merillat laid off 32 workers this month; more layoffs could come

2006-12-11T09:15:00.000-05:00

Merillat Industries has laid off at least 60 workers in the past few months, including 32 on December 1st.
The 900+ employee plant in Madison Township asked for voluntary layoffs, the Jackson Citizen Patriot reported Saturday.
The layoffs are a result of the nation's weak new housing market.
A company executive said he wasn't sure if this was the last of layoffs at the company, which also has its corporate headquarters here in Adrian.
"We haven't had to deal with this in quite a while," Larry Wilson, director of marketing services for the Masco Builder Cabinet Group, which owns Merillat and Quality Cabinets, told the Jackson newspaper.

More Club for Growth drama

2006-12-08T13:51:00.000-05:00

This vindictive drama between Club for Growth and outgoing Congressman Joe Schwarz just continues.
The Washington-based lobby group that helped former state Rep. Tim Walberg beat Schwarz in the August primary has filed campaign finance complaints against Schwarz.

The Adrian Insider has obtained the complaint for readers to download.

A few bloggers have weighed in on Club for Growth decision to "fight" back.
"Being vindictive is a great first foot forward, so let's just hope that Walberg doesn't follow in the footsteps of his backers," a blogger at Walberg Watch recently wrote.

The complaint to the Federal Elections Commission comes after Schwarz filed a bunch of complaints against Walberg and the Club saying they stole the election.
Apparently the Club for Growth complaints are largely to get Schwarz some negative headlines, even though he's already lost.
"The primary reason was we were sick of Schwarz filing bogus complaints against us," David Keating, executive director of the anti-tax group, told the Jackson Citizen Patriot. "It appeared to us that he was the one violating the law."
At least one frequently quoted analyst says no matter if Walberg gets off, his image is hurt.
"Because it tarnishes Walberg in two years that he had participated in improper activity and fundraising and accepting money," Polster Ed Sarpolus told a Lansing television station.

Walberg getting orientated in D.C.

2006-11-17T14:54:00.000-05:00

Congressman-elect Tim Walberg has vowed to run a clean show now that has been elected to congress, following a nasty primary and general election.
Walberg promises to move forward with rolling back abortion rights, banning gay marriage coast-to-coast and lower taxes, even under Democratic control of the U.S. House and Senate.
The Battle Creek Enquirer has more in this news report from Washington...

The Jackson Citizen Patriot reports today that Walberg still appears hell bent on defending a former campaign worker who has pleaded guilty to beating his kids.

Walberg ready to be in the minority

2006-11-08T15:25:00.000-05:00

Tim Walberg's headed to congress and The Adrian Insider has all the information about his win over Democrat Sharon Renier.
Walberg said he's ready to be in the minority party after the Democrats stormed the U.S. House of Representatives.
"I have plenty of experience in that in the state Legislature, and we were able to accomplish a lot of good things there, in the minority, so it doesn't frighten me," Walberg told the Battle Creek Enquirer.
Walberg beat U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz in the August primary to go on and face Renier, who finished better than expected.
Not surprising to some, the Jackson Citizen Patriot called Schwarz for comment on Walberg's victory Tuesday.
"It's a win," Schwarz told the Citizen Patriot from home. "But it's a smaller win than Republicans usually get in this district."

Walberg wins, GOP loses

2006-11-07T23:50:00.000-05:00

At next year's State of the Union address, Tim Walberg will look up from his seat on the right side of the aisle at the President, the vice president and... Speaker Pelosi.
Tim Walberg won a seat in Congress tonight, but there will be just a few more to his left.
While a few remaining precincts are counted, Walberg appears the winner.

Schwarz is a write-in candidate

2006-11-07T08:18:00.000-05:00

U.S Rep. Joe Schwarz isn't on the ballot today, but you can add the Battle Creek Republican if you'd like.
At the urging of his faithful supporters, Schwarz filed for write-in candicacy on Wednesday in Calhoun County.
Schwarz's campaign says they're not trying to steal the election from Republican Tim Walberg but give his loyal supporters another choice over Democrat Sharon Renier or Libertarian Robert Hutchinson, who was endorsed by The Detroit News.
"This is not trying to upset the race," Matt Marsden, Schwarz's chief of staff, told the Battle Creek Enquirer. "This is not trying to pull any last minute hijinks."
Schwarz has refused to endorse Walberg after the Tipton preacher beat him in the August primary and then he accussed him of violating federal campaign finance rules.
"They can believe what they want to believe," Schwarz told the Battle Creek Enquirer for a story today, Election Day. "Our one goal and one purpose in filing was simply to allow people's votes to be counted."
This development comes just a day after the Jackson Citizen Patriot's Susan J. Demas wrote an interesting piece on "The Schwarz Factor" and who would his supporters vote for after that nasy primary.
Walberg's campaign doubts Schwarz will steal votes from him.
“It’s a free country and people can do what they want,” Walberg campaign manager Joe Wicks told the Jackson Citizen Patriot. “Tim’s going to win.”

Renier campaign spokesman Craig Holden doubts that Schwarz would be much of a factor in the race at this point.
"It's so late in the game, I can't see it having any effect," Holden told the Associated Press.
The only sure impact of Schwarz's decision is slower election results as poll workers have to hand count the write-in ballots, Calhoun County Clerk Anne Norlander told the Detroit Free Press.

This latest development on Election Day has made this campaign an interesting one to follow. Go Vote!

Ann Arbor News stiffs Walberg & Renier

2006-10-30T22:01:00.000-05:00

The Ann Arbor News' editorial board thinks neither Tim Walberg or Sharon Renier should be the 7th District's next representative in Congress.
In an editorial today, the Ann Arbor newspaper declined to endorse Republican Walberg or Democrat Renier. The 7th District includes most of Washtenaw County and all of Lenawee County, where the Ann Arbor News is widely circulated.
"Walberg's entrenched conservative stances on virtually every issue, from abortion to Iraq, offer no room for compromise - and that ideological rigidity should have no place in Congress," The News' editors wrote about Tim Walberg. "His unwillingness to engage in the necessary give and take of governance makes him an untenable choice."
The News' editors said Sharon Renier is no better.
"In meeting with The News' editorial board earlier this year, she touted job growth accomplishments on her part that bordered on absurdity and didn't seem to understand the basics of how government works," the paper's editors wrote.
For readers who want to respond to this editorial, here is the e-mail address for the paper's letters to the editor section.

Democrats smell blood

2006-10-29T16:45:00.000-05:00

The Battle Creek Enquirer's Andy Rathbun has a detailed story out today examining all that's gone wrong for Tim Walberg in the past month leading up to the Nov. 7 election.
Democrats and their candidate, Sharon Renier, smell blood after a poll showed Walberg's lead wasn't as good as it should be in the Republican-leaning 7th District.
Then there's this snafu with Walberg's campaign staffer Daniel Coons who pleaded guilt to beating his foster child last month.
Walberg's decision not to fire Coons when he got charged has drawn criticism from Renier and even Republicans.
"Definitely it will affect Walberg," Mike Troutman, 7th District Republican chairman, told the Battle Creek Enquirer. "Walberg tries to portray himself as the moral candidate. I think definitely the people will connect the two together."
One political pundit is suggesting that the Detroit News' endorsement of Libertarian Robert Hutchinson may create "a half-way home for Republicans that don't want to vote for a Democrat but want to protest."
Joe Schwarz supporters who despise Walberg may use Hutchinson as a safe haven, making it a vote against Walberg but not for Renier, said Craig Ruff, senior policy fellow at the Lansing-based Public Sector Consultants Inc.
"There could be a draining of votes away from Walberg," Ruff told the Battle Creek paper.

Walberg is a former state representative from Tipton who represented us Lenawee County residents in Lansing for 16 years.

Renier, D-Munith, has seized the moment, politicizing the Walberg-staffer issue.
"Do we send to Congress the small businesswoman farmer or a morally bankrupt politician who places his loyalty to a child abuser over the child?'' Renier said in an Ann Arbor News story today.

Pollster: $50K in TV ads would give Renier victory

2006-10-28T18:25:00.000-04:00

Tim Walberg may be out fundraising Sharon Renier 26-to-1, but just $50,000 and some network airtime would help Renier beat Walberg on Nov. 7, one pollster is suggesting.
Lansing pollster Ed Sarpolus of EPIC/MRA told the Jackson Citizen Patriot that Renier could pull an upset if she had at least $50,000 for network television spots.
Walberg is embroiled in a controversy over a campaign official who quit after the Citizen Patriot reported his guilty plea for beating his foster child in August.
"She needs the money to tell the story," Sarpolus told the Jackson paper's Susan J. Demas. "But it's so late in the race, the Democrats have to find the money quickly."
Walberg is now running an attack TV ad against Renier, paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Michigan's 7th District is one of 33 races the national committee is pouring last-minute cash into to secure victory.
Walberg's supporters appear concerned that Renier could ride a wave anti-Republicanism the national media believes is spreading across the country.
Club for Growth has renewed its call for cash for Walberg, moving him up to the No. 2 candidate spot on its website.

In other news, Sharon Renier has made significant improvements to her website. The biggest new feature if a PDF file of U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz's Federal Elections Commission complaint against Club for Growth and Tim Walberg about alleged campaign law violations.

Walberg's page scandal? Renier thinks so

2006-10-28T18:07:00.000-04:00

The fallout continues from revelations that a staffer for Tim Walberg pleaded guilty last month to beating his foster children.
The story isn't boding well with Walberg's chief campaign priority: family values.

Political observers, Walberg's opponent and even Republican candidate Dick DeVos appear to be questioning why Walberg kept Daniel Coons on his congressional campaign staff.
"The individuals working with you are a reflection of who you are," DeVos told the Jackson Citizen Patriot, which first broke the story Wednesday that led to Coons' resignation later that day. "Therefore, as a leader, you have a responsibility to make sure individuals on staff reflect our values, our views."
It's unclear if this story will impact Walberg's vote tally on Nov. 7, when he's expected to easily defeat Democrat Sharon Renier.
The story made the Associated Press wire and then websites of Lansing television stations.
Renier, D-Munith, has called Walberg, a former preacher, "morally bankrupt."
In an interview with the Battle Creek Enquirer, Renier compared Walberg's staffer's personal problems to the Mark Foley congressional page scandal.

Walberg also told the Jackson paper that he knew of the alleged abuse "on or about Sept. 12."
Walberg, a former state representative from Tipton, also claims Coons never told him of the guilty plea.
"I learned that Tuesday from (the Citizen Patriot)," Walberg said.

Walberg staffer quits after domestic violence plea

2006-10-25T23:01:00.000-04:00

A staffer for Tim Walberg's congressional campaign quit today after it was reported that he plead guilty to domestic violence of his own foster children.

Daniel A. Coons, 30, of Eaton Rapids, plead guilty on "Sept. 18 to domestic violence, a lesser misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail or a $500 fine," according to the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

The Battle Creek Enquirer reported today in a online story that Coons had quit. But it appears the story first appeared on the top of the Citizen Patriot's website.
"The state's Foster Care Review Board investigated this matter and recommends that this family be reunited. I support that decision," Walberg said Tuesday in a written statement, the Jackson paper reported.

Walberg declined further comment on the matter for the Citizen Patriot's report.

Walberg and his campaign director, Joe Wicks, declined to say when they knew about Coons' charges, which apparently stemmed from an incident in August.

But Walberg told the Battle Creek Enquirer's Andy Rathbun that he did not fire Coons because the charges had no impact on Coons’ work, “putting up yard signs and answering phones.”

There's telling what the political ramifications of this could be for Walberg, who faces Democrat Sharon Renier in the Nov. 7 general election.
But the National Journal picked up on the news in its blog today.

Detroit News: Walberg too conservative for us

2006-10-23T23:29:00.000-04:00

The Detroit News' decision to endorse Libertarian candidate Robert L. Hutchinson over Republican nominee Tim Walberg in the Nov. 7 general election has become news itself.
Wow," Hutchinson, an 83-year-old World War II veteran, told the Battle Creek Enquirer. "I hadn't heard, no. But the reaction is 'wow.'"
Walberg downplayed the fact the state's second largest daily newspaper thinks he's too "far-right" for its own conservative principals.
"It's unexpected," Walberg told the Battle Creek Enquirer. "Bottom line is the Detroit News is not a paper in our district. They don't understand our community."
In 2004, the Detroit News endorsed U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, who was ousted by Walberg in the August primary.
The endorsement has gained noticed around the blogsphere, including this posting by Third Party Watch.

In other news, U.S. Taxpayer candidate David Horn continues to tells voters to vote for Walberg. Can anybody explain this?

Walberg, Renier race heating up?

2006-10-17T17:14:00.000-04:00

The Jackson Citizen Patriot reports today that "the only thing standing between Tim Walberg and Congress is a chicken farmer from Munith."
But Democrat Sharon Renier still thinks she has a chance to win Michigan's 7th District congressional seat, the Jackson paper reports.
"I'm everywhere I can be," said Renier, who even attended the Tecumseh's apple festival. "I tell people to think of Mount Rainier -- anything to remember my name."
A recent poll shows Walberg leading Renier by 43-35, a smaller than expected lead.
Whether the remaining 12 percent is undecided or where Joe Schwarz's old votes remains unknown until election day, which is November 7th.
Walberg, R-Tipton, and Renier will face off in their one debate tonight at 8 p.m. at Siena Heights University.

Walberg, Club for Growth deny any wrong doing

2006-10-02T08:42:00.000-04:00

The Ann Arbor News has picked up on Congressman Joe Schwarz's FEC elections law complaint against Club for Growth and former state Rep. Tim Walberg.

"The FEC complaint filed last week contends the Club for Growth coordinated expenditures from its political action committee and 527 organization, listing common political strategists and pollsters who were paid by the Club for Growth, Walberg and three other campaigns of senate or congressional candidates in Rhode Island, Nevada and Idaho," The Ann Arbor News reported.

Walberg and the club deny all of Schwarz's charges.
Joe Wicks, Walberg's campaign manager, told the Ann Arbor News that his camp is "sad and disappointed that after losing the election they'd stoop to this.''

Details of Schwarz's FEC complaint

2006-10-01T21:57:00.000-04:00

A Barry County blogger has posted excerpts of U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz's election law complaints against Club for Growth and Tim Walberg, his Republican opponent who beat him in the August primary.

The nine point complaint outlines violations including: • The illegal coordination of campaign resources between Club for Growth Inc. and at least four Club for Growth-endorsed candidate committees including Walberg for Congress.• Club for Growth Inc. and Club for Growth PAC funneling illegal campaign contributions to the Walberg for Congress committee.• Club for Growth Inc.'s failure to register as a political action committee and failure to file legally mandated reports of receipts and disbursements. • The violation of federal campaign law by Walberg for Congress committee for accepting in-kind contributions in excess of $5,000.

Walberg's infant grandson dies

2006-09-27T09:49:00.000-04:00

Republican Congressional nominee Tim Walberg's grandson died late Sunday night from complications caused by his premature birth.
John Timothy Walberg, born Sept. 16, died in Evanston, Illinois, the Battle Creek Enquirer reported today.

Schwarz taking on Club for Growth, again

2006-09-26T22:00:00.000-04:00

Some might call it being a poor sport.
Others call is justice.
U.S Rep. Joe Schwarz filed a complaint on Monday with the Federal Elections Commission alleging election laws were broken by Club for Growth, the special-interest group that poured $1 million into Tim Walberg's Aug. 8 GOP primary victory.
The nine-point document alleges the group broke the law in three other 2006 federal primary campaigns involving Steve Laffey of Rhode Island; Bill Sali of Idaho; and Sharon Angle of Nevada, the Jackson Citizen Patriot reported today.
"This is an indication of a pattern of behavior by Club for Growth, which flies in the face of federal election law," Schwarz told the Citizen Patriot.
After the Citizen Patriot apparently broke the story, the Associated Press jumped on it.
Club for Growth executive director David Keating told the AP's Ken Thomas that Schwarz's allegations are "ridiculous" and "a waste of government resources," denying charges that the organization wrongly coordinated with Walberg and others.
Keating called Schwarz a "sore loser."
Club for Growth also created the website, JoeSchwarzIsALiberal.com.

Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, and his campaign manager, Matt Marsden, are no strangers to pursuing potential FEC violations.
Prior to his Aug. 8 defeat to Walberg, R-Tipton, Schwarz and Marsden filed a complaint against Schwarz that alleged Walberg's campaign was using the same consulting firms employed by Club for Growth.
In 2004, Schwarz filed a complaint against then-opponent Brad Smith that also involved Club for Growth.
Almost a year after the his defeat to Schwarz, Smith eventually paid a fine for violating the so-called Millionaires Act of the newest campaign finance reform laws.

Renier: 'I'm poor,' lets tax the rich

2006-09-25T09:05:00.000-04:00

After saying her opponent is going to be rich from the state pension system, Democratic congressional candidate Sharon Renier is broke.
""I took in pop cans and beer bottles yesterday to get gas," Renier told the Battle Creek Enquirer for a story today. "I'm poor. I'm very poor. But it doesn't mean I'm not smart."
Renier, a paralegal and organic farmer from Munith in Jackson County, recently said her Republican opponent, Tim Walberg, will reap "millions" from the his state lawmaker pension.
Now, she is coming out swinging against the rich, calling for more taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Or maybe just a repeal of the Bush tax cuts.
"Anybody that makes $20,000 dollars or less," Renier told the Enquirer's Andy Rathbun for a single-source story. "I would like to see them have no taxes taken away from their check."

Renier also said Walberg, who was not quoted in the story, created "blatant lies" about U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz to win the Aug. 8 primary.
"I think that this man needs to have his mouth washed out with soap by his mother," Renier said about Walberg.

Renier: Walberg will reap 'millions' from state pension

2006-09-23T14:22:00.000-04:00

Nirmal, a liberal blogger at Who Got The Gravy?, has what he calls an "exclusive" interview with Democratic congressional nominee Sharon Renier.
Renier, a Munith organic farmer and paralegal, said she expected former state Rep. Tim Walberg to win since U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz won with 27 percent of the vote in the six-man GOP primary in 2004.
Walberg and Renier will face off in the Nov. 7 general election. Renier was the 2004 Democratic nominee, but lost to Schwarz.
Renier takes a shot at Rev. Walberg's staunch anti-gay marriage stance.
"As a Reverend he should realize that these people are the children of God," Renier said about gays.
Who Got The Gravy's post got a lot of play from Walberg Watch, a blog launched after the election to keep an eye on Walberg and root for Renier, the clear underdog.
Renier goes on to make claims that Walberg will reap "millions" from the state's pension system for retired/term-limited lawmakers.
"...don't tell me he doesn't spend the people's money," Renier said.

Opera house, orchestra and a local band get state arts grants

2006-09-21T13:32:00.000-04:00

Croswell Opera House, Adrian Symphony Orchestra and River Raisin Ragtime Revue were named recipients of state arts grants yesterday.
The three local groups were among nearly 300 arts and cultural organizations around the state to get a share of the $10.1 million in grants, the Jackson Citizen Patriot reported today.
Croswell Opera House got $7,500, the Symphony Orchestra will receive $10,000 and the River Raisin Ragtime Revue of Tecumseh will was awarded $10,500 for its programs.

Schwarz's Washington Post column: 'Don't Lose Like Me'

2006-09-18T22:42:00.000-04:00

In a guest column in Sunday's Washington Post, U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz says it wasn't "President Bush who proved to be the kiss of death to my candidacy for a second term in the House."
"What did me in was voter apathy, and moral absolutist groups supported by a vitriolic negative-ad campaign funded by organizations on the far right," Schwarz wrote.
Schwarz appears to be still searching for answers to his Aug. 8 defeat to Tipton preacher Tim Walberg.
But he knows one thing: "...Fewer and fewer sensible "let's take the broad view" candidates will have any chance of being elected.
Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, issues a challenge to centrists, of whom he says are going extinct.
"Somehow, some way, moderates must understand that they will go the way of the moa, the dodo and, appropriately, the woolly mammoth unless they learn to fight as hard for the policies of the sane and rational center as the far right and far left fight for the extremes," the Battle Creek physician and former state senator writes.
Schwarz has said he will be backing U.S. Sen. John McCain's presumed 2008 presidential bid if the moderate senator from Arizona decides to in fact run.

Here's Schwarz's e-mail address.

Grant could help Lenawee County develop jobs

2006-09-17T17:35:00.000-04:00

The state is giving Lenawee County a $25,000 grant to foster agricultural innovation.
The grant is designated for developing, tasting and marketing of new food products in a “kitchen incubator” in Lenawee County and creates jobs and markets for locally grown produce, state Rep. Dudley Spade told the Toledo Blade.
Michigan’s Agriculture Commission approved the local project as part of $4.7 million in grants under Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s $2 billion 21st Century Jobs Fund.
The Granholm administration says the Agricultural Innovation Grants program “could generate as many as 267 new jobs and over $43 million in capital investment.”
Lenawee County has to provide $2,500 in matching funds, Randy Yagiela, chief strategic officer for the Lenawee Chamber for Economic Development, told The Blade.

Flint, Detroit & Warren police back Dudley Spade

2006-09-06T21:16:00.000-04:00

Police from Detroit, Flint and Warren are backing state Rep. Dudley Spade's re-election effort in Lenawee County.
In addition to many other statewide police organizations, the Detroit Lieutenants and Sergeants Association, Detroit Police Officers Association, Warren Police Officers Association and Flint Police Officers Association have endorsed the freshman lawmaker from Tipton.
The endorsements are odd because Lenawee County's 57th House of Representative's District doesn't spread anywhere near Wayne or Genesee counties.

Schwarz: Republicans leaving the party

2006-09-04T14:47:00.000-04:00

Lifelong members of the Grand Old Party are tearing up their Republican Party membership cards after feeling thrown to the curb by Tim Walberg and his "right-wing intimidators" who ousted Joe Schwarz from office.
That's Schwarz's own views in what the Detroit News calls "his first extensive interview since losing the Aug. 8 primary to Tim Walberg."
Schwarz continues to stop short of saying the only way to remedy the radicals is to form a centrist party for moderates and independents.
"We've created a situation, more and more, where centrist moderates who once identified with the Republican Party find themselves with no place to go. That will have national implications," Schwarz told The Detroit News for a story today.
Joe Wicks, Walberg's campaign manager, denied they ran a negative campaign.
"This election suggests that Republicans want Republicans representing them that reduce taxes and defend traditional values. That's what we ran on," Wicks told the Detroit News.

Schwarz, who has not ruled out running for elected office again, has been mum on his activities in Washington on his Legislative Journal since July 24.

Political free agent

2006-09-02T12:07:00.000-04:00

No news on whether U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz has a new job after he leaves office in December following his Aug. 8 defeat to Republican Tim Walberg.
But Schwarz is among a growing number of politicians who are becoming political free agents as voters are putting some incumbents in the unemployment line, The Washington Post reports.

Walberg reduces scope of his Website

2006-08-28T14:35:00.000-04:00

Now that he's won the Republican congressional primary, Tim Walberg's campaign website is nothing more than a couple of election night victory photos and a plea for more money.
There's a big "Thank You" with Walberg's 53 percent to Joe Schwarz's 47 percent of the vote posted.
Then there's a link to send money to the campaign via Paypal.
www.walbergforcongress.com

In contrast, Walberg's Democratic challenger, Sharon Renier, has a long letter to supporters posted as well as her position on issues so you can actually see what she stands for.
"You did your part too. You got up off the couch and made this a possibility," Renier writes supporters. "Because you ... decided that you weren't going to take what Washington is shoving down your throat anymore. Now, you have to make a difference again on Tuesday, November 7th."
www.renier4rep.com

The Minuteman factor

2006-08-28T14:02:00.000-04:00

The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps., an Arizona immigration watchdog group that patrols the Mexican border, now says it spent $50,000 on TV and radio ads on Tim Walberg's behalf, not the $150,000 the group was threatening to spend to defeat Joe Schwarz.
The Minuteman's political action committee "spent nearly $50,000 informing voters of Schwarz’s insistence on political pandering to the pro-illegal immigration crowd and to his support for bilingual election ballots and Amnesty schemes.," the group states on its Website.
As it turns out, the group's spending as well as the generous outlay of other nationally known special intersts helped Walberg win the Aug. 8 primary over the incumbent from Battle Creek.

Libertarian joins 7th District congressional race

2006-08-27T17:52:00.000-04:00

Robert L. Hutchinson of Dexter has entered the fall General Election ticket for Congress as a Libertarian Party candidate.
He will face GOP nominee Tim Walberg and returning Democratic nominee Sharon Renier in November.
"I don't have the intention to win, but hope to get things going a bit because I can't tell a Democrat and Republican apart anymore,'' Hutchinson told the Ann Arbor News.

'Walberg Watch' blog launched

2006-08-27T11:21:00.000-04:00

A Michigan resident launched a new blog that is devoted to keeping former state Rep. Tim Walberg out of congress.
Walberg Watch aims to cover "Tim Walberg, the Radical Right's Republican Nominee for Congress in MI-07, and Supporting Democratic Nominee Sharon Renier," the site's homepage states.
The blogger, named Fitzy, seems to supportive the newly former Republicans for Granholm group founded by Gil Ziegler, a former Northern Michigan University trustee who was appointed by Gov. John Engler.
"More and more Republicans are realizing that their party has been taken over by the far right. What once was a party devoted to fiscal responsibility and limited government has become a party of men like Tim Walberg, whose extreme social positions divide the country today," Fitzy writes.
Walberg, R-Tipton, soundly defeated U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz in the Aug. 8 primary.
Walberg Watch is also part of a growing network of liberal bloggers in Michigan, led by MichiganLiberal.com's Matt Ferguson.

Walberg victory prompts founding of Republicans for Granholm

2006-08-27T11:10:00.000-04:00

Tim Walberg's Aug. 8 Republican primary victory over U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz has prompted a pro-Gov. Jennifer Granholm group of Republicans to form.
Republicans for Granholm was founded this week by Gil Ziegler, a former Republican Candidate for U.S. Congress and John Engler appointee to the Northern Michigan University board of trustees.
“This was a hard decision,” Ziegler said in a statement.“I’m going to disappoint some people in the Republican party. But, those are the extremists in the party who want to block stem-cell research and who turned out of office a good man like Congressman Joe Schwarz (MI-R 7th district).”
Republicans like Ziegler say they're fed up with religious zealots and special interests buying elections.
Washington, D.C.-based Club for Growth poured over $1 million into Walberg's sound victory over the incumbent Schwarz.

Local teen graces cover of Catholic magazine

2006-08-21T17:03:00.000-04:00

Local youth Ben Creger is featured on the cover of the September 2006 issue of FAITH Magazine, a product of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing.
The story tells how Ben (pictured right), who never knew his father and his mother left at an early age, often on drugs, and was raised by his grandmother.
Then in the 3rd grade, he grandmother got him into the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program where he met his mentor Rod Pender, a local Realtor.
Ben talks about how his experience with Mr. Pender changed his life and now he wants to be a Big Brother when he is older.
On a sad note, the story ends with the death of Ben's grandmother, but adds that Mr. Pender has offered to bring Ben into his home and continue to raise him as his own.
It is nice to see local teens being shown in a positive light in area publications.

Lenawee schools getting $4.5 million more

2006-08-18T22:34:00.000-04:00

For whatever reason, it seems its gone unreported in town that Lenawee County schools are getting $4.5 million more this year in state funding.
State Rep. Dudley Spade, D-Tipton, has given himself some credit for the hefty increase, but nobody else has taken notice until now.
Well, The Toledo Blade thought it was worth telling Lenawee County newspaper readers on July 28.
Apparently Spade's coffee hours and ice cream socials are more important news.

Let's Go Surfing Now

2006-08-18T22:25:00.000-04:00

There's still tickets available for Saturday night's Beach Boys concert at the Lenawee County fair.

JCC, YMCA of Lenawee team up

2006-08-18T19:59:00.000-04:00

Jackson Community College @ VO-TECH is teaming up with the YMCA of Lenawee County to offer health and physical fitness courses.

“This is another collaborative effort, and the YMCA is all about collaborating with partners in the community to provide excellent programming," Bev Thiel, associate executive director of the YMCA, said in a statement.

Classes begin Monday.
The community college's Adrian campus north of town along M-52 also has classes begining after Labor Day for student-parents waiting until the new school year begins after the holiday weekend, as mandated by new laws.

T e c u m s e h

2006-08-18T19:52:00.000-04:00

Tecumseh isn't spelled with a "Y" at the end.

Novak: Schwarz 'too liberal'

2006-08-17T07:14:00.000-04:00

Columnist Robert Novak says it's not surprising U.S. Joe Schwarz lost last week's Republican primary to Tim Walberg.
"In the end, though, Schwarz was probably too liberal for the district. He won in 2004 over a crowded field full of conservatives, and it made him a target for the Club for Growth," Novak wrote Wednesday in his daily Novak-Evans Political Report.
"Even before Schwarz's downfall, several primaries had shaken out in a way that ensures that sitting and exiting congressmen will be replaced by more conservative lawmakers," Novak wrote in his column on HumanEvents.com.
Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, is contemplating his next move in politics as he vacations at a home he owns in Montana.

More election analysis

2006-08-16T17:26:00.000-04:00

The Washington Times and Jackson Citizen Patriot have interesting post election analysis stories out this week.
They give an in-depth look at the 7th District primary for those who feel they haven't read much locally written commentary and analysis about how Tim Walberg ousted incumbent Joe Schwarz.
Sarah Chamberlain Resnick, executive director of the Republican Main Street Partnership, says Club for Growth clearly "tried to buy the election" for Tim Walberg, a former state representative from Tipton.
"Republicans the same day learned, 'Don't spend too much money. It's not good for your political health,' " Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, told the Washington Times.
A Michigan analyst has a different take on things.
"Walberg enjoys campaigning," Craig Ruff, senior fellow with Lansing-based Public Sector Consultant, told the Citizen Patriot. "One never gets the sense that Joe Schwarz does. He enjoys governing."

Spade signs stolen

2006-08-16T16:54:00.000-04:00

Anybody else get their re-elect state Rep. Dudley Spade yard signs stolen?
Some Lenawee County citizens have reported their yard signs endorsing the Tipton Democrat missing.

Looking for answers

2006-08-13T10:38:00.001-04:00

Two of the biggest newspapers based solely in the 7th District pontificated today on reasons why U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz's political career went up in flames in Tuesday's primary loss to Tim Walberg.
"In simple terms, Republican Joe Schwarz lost his seat in Congress because social and religious conservatives went to the polls, while the turnout of moderates and crossovers by Democrats was less than expected," The Jackson Citizen Patriot editors wrote in an editorial today.
Walberg, R-Tipton, got 33,144 votes to Schwarz's 29,349. That's 8,500 more votes cast than in the six-man primary Schwarz won with 27.7% of the vote in 2004.
As others have already wrote, Schwarz's endorsements from local, state and national Republican power brokers may have backfired on him.
"These prominent Republicans gave sound reasons for re-electing Schwarz, yet many voters rejected that," the Citizen Patriot editors wrote, adding "They seemed to be saying, "Enough already! We want a new approach, and an end of the cozy fraternity of mainstream politics."
The district leans Republican. But Bill Clinton won the district in 1996 over Republican Bob Dole.
There are Democratic state senators and representatives with districts in Calhoun, Washtenaw, Jackson and Lenawee counties.
But the Battle Creek Enquirer seems to leave open the chance that Munith organic farmer Sharon Renier, the Democratic nominee, could give Walberg some serios competition in November.
"The conventional wisdom in the 7th Congressional District is that the winner of the Republican primary ... But conventional wisdom doesn't elect congressmen. Voters do. And with so few voters participating in Tuesday's election, we'd like to think that the rest of the electorate could at least muster the will to test conventional wisdom, get out to the polls this November and make it a real referendum on the candidates' qualifications," The Battle Creek Enquirer wrote in an editorial today.
Both papers endorsed Schwarz, as did the Adrian Daily Telegram, over hometown favorite Tim Walberg.

Some political observers say Walberg's win was more of a victory for Club for Growth and special interests with deep wallets.
Walberg too had issues to use against the incumbent. But more importantly, he also had support from groups like the national Club for Growth, which spent heavily so that voters might know exactly what those issues were," Paul Jacob writes on Townhall.com today, in a column titled "Thank goodness the rich are still free to speak."

The Citizen Patriot editorial sends a strong message to Walberg that his special interests election cash will not be an acceptable way of representing the district.
"We appreciate his convictions, but we also seek a congressional representative who will play a part in the economic future of this district."

Bush's support may have hurt Schwarz

2006-08-13T10:19:00.000-04:00

Washington Post Columnist Chris Cillizza writes today that President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush may feel some political pain from Joe Schwarz's congressional primary loss on Tuesday.
It's the president who may have sent fed up voters Walberg's way, according to the WashingtonPost.com political commentatory.
"Schwarz touted his endorsement from President Bush, who, with Laura Bush, did automated phone calls on Schwarz's behalf, which may have done more harm than good," Cilliza writes.

On Friday, July 28, Club for Growth posted a message on its Web site about a "rumor" that President Bush would travel to the district to stump for Schwarz in the wanning days of the campaign.
"Joe Schwarz is so desperate for help," wrote Andy Roth of Club for Growth, the organization that backed Tim Walberg with a million dollar ad assault on Schwarz.
Bush never showed up and no other media or blogger, except The Adrian Insider, took notice.

'Congressman Club for Growth'

2006-08-13T10:05:00.000-04:00

The post-election letters to the editor to newspapers in Michigan's 7th District are starting to come in, with some making predictions of how former state Rep. Tim Walberg will represent as the regions next congressman.
Here's a letter in today's Jackson Citizen Patriot.
"With Congressman Club For Growth, don't expect any more I-94 projects, Air Guard base jobs, Armory Arts project funding, and other constituent services that came with a caring, experienced and connected congressman." --Anne E. Noble, Jackson

Adrian without Delphi: How will the city survive?

2006-08-12T18:21:00.000-04:00

What will Adrian look like without Delphi Corp.?
It's a reality that hasn't been written about in Adrian, but the Detroit Free Press recently took note of the problem.
The automotive parts supplier is going to vacate the building by January 2008.
The Delphi plant's tax assessment is the fourth largest in the county, topping $15.8 million in taxable value.
Not only will the city suffer tax losses, it will also lose $100,000 a year in water-related fees that Delphi pays the city.
That means the city will have to pass many of those lost revenues on to residents and businesses in Adrian and surrounding townships.
Relationships between the city and Adrian and Madison township are already volatile.
There will also be lost economic impact and consumer spending when Delphi's 407 jobs disappear.
Delphi employs 407 workers in Adrian, but it is not the city's largest employer.
Delphi is the fourth-largest private employer, ranking behind Lenawee Health Alliance with 710 employees, Adrian College with 688 and Merillat Industries Inc. with 670 workers, The Free Press reported on July 16.
The Free Press story details other problems that will possibly plague our community, like a loss of $80,000 in United Way donations from Delphi employees and UAW officials.
Adrian Public Schools could suffer even more declining enrollment, a problem that's only gotten worse in recent years with people moving to Blissfield, Onsted, Morenci and Tecumseh.
"It's tough for us because we just passed a $50-million bond issue in May 2004," APS Superintendent Del Cochran told the Free Press. "Many of the Delphi parents were pretty supportive of it."

Schwarz supports a third party

2006-08-12T10:52:00.000-04:00

Congressman Joe Schwarz said this week he supports a third party, but is not running as independent to avenge his primary loss to Tim Walberg of Tipton.
"I am a lifelong Republican, and I don't like what's happening," Schwarz told the Jackson Citizen Patriot. "There's a good argument to be made for a third party."
Schwarz, a moderate, appears fed up with the far right-wingers of his party, saying his "dream ticket" in the 2008 presidential campaign would be senators John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., who lost his own high-profile race Tuesday, the Citizen Patriot reported.
Schwarz also said he'll be helping McCain with a presidential bid if the Arizona senator and famous POW decides to run.
Schwarz, a former state senator, ran McCain's Michigan campaign in 2000 to victory over then-Texas Governor George W. Bush.
Dr. Schwarz will likely go back to practicing medicine in Battle Creek when his short two-year term ends in January.
But the political job offers are flying in, campaign spokesman John Truscott told the Citizen Patriot.
Schwarz won President Bush's endorsement, and there's always a chance that he could get appointed by Bush to a spot in his administration's final two years.
But he may want to focus on getting McCain into the White House. If that were to happen, Schwarz's experience in medicine/health care and foreign policy may give a shot a cabinet-level or deputy position under a President McCain.
One Adrian Insider reader has suggested Schwarz would make a good Lt. governor and running mate for Dick DeVos, who is mounting an expensive campaign to unseat Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
"His political star has not set," wrote another anonymous reader, who noted any Lt. gov. to DeVos would be No. 3 behind the millionaire's wife, Betsy.

Spade votes to abolish Single Business Tax

2006-08-10T22:20:00.000-04:00

State Rep. Dudley Spade, D-Tipton, joined with Republican lawmakers Wednesday in "an act of extreme cowardice" according to Gov. Jennifer Granholm in voting to abolish the SBT without a plan to make up for the $1.9 billion in revenue it generates.
Granholm, also a Democrat, can't veto the move, as she did earlier this year, because it was brought to legislators through an initiative petition drive led by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, as reported by the Associated Press.
Spade was one of 7 Democrats to join with the Republican leadership to vote for the repeal, which was lauded by GOP gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos, Booth Newspapers' Peter Luke reports.
“Lenawee County and the State of Michigan have needed this tax repeal for a long time,” Spade said in a statement released Wednesday. “I voted in March of this year to accelerate the repeal of the SBT and my position has not changed. I was disappointed that this initiative failed the first time, but I am pleased that we are now moving forward. Accelerating the repeal of this tax will put us in a more competitive position to create jobs and attract businesses to our state.”

2006-08-10T12:18:00.000-04:00

Defeated U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz said Wednesday he's being urged by supporters to run as an Independent in November and take Tim Walberg out.
Walberg, R-Tipton, defeated Schwarz in Tuesday's Republican primary soundly by about 4,000 votes.
Schwarz called the idea of throwing out his Republican Party membership "intriguing," but said he is not interested, The Detroit Free Press reported today.
But Michigan law wouldn't even allow Schwarz to run as an Independent, "leaving an impossibly daunting write-in campaign as the only alternative," the Free Press reported today.

Walberg a uniter?

2006-08-09T21:28:00.000-04:00

Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis says he's confident Tim Walberg can "unite the party" after wagging one of the nastiest campaigns in recent memory to unseat fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz.
Anuzis endorsed Schwarz in the race, a backing that's unusual for a party chairman.
"Tim will be a great team player and addition to our Republican ticket," Anuzis wrote in his blog today. "When I talked to Tim last night, he stressed that part of his goal was to help unite the party and make sure we win in November. I look forward to working with Tim and know he’ll be an asset to our delegation."

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman issued a similar statement praising Walberg.
“Tim Walberg is an experienced legislator and principled voice for less government spending, lower taxes, fewer regulations and a compassionate voice for the culture of life and traditional values," Mehlman said in a statement. "The Republican Party fully supports his candidacy on behalf of the hard-working families in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.”

But healing the wounds with the 7th District's power brokers - past and present politicians and newspaper editors who backed Schwarz - will likely be easier said than done for Walberg.
But maybe President Bush's endorsement and John McCain campaigning harmed Schwarz.
"The biggest thing here scary to some bigwigs is that establishment endorsements really don't matter all that much," blogger Republican Michigander wrote today.

Walberg's march to Washington: Up next, Sharon Renier

2006-08-09T21:23:00.000-04:00

Munith organic farmer Sharon Renier won her second Democratic congressional nomination, beating three men from Washtenaw County.
She won the 2004 primary before losing to Joe Schwarz in the general election.

"I wore out two pairs of shoes on the campaign trail. Sharon probably wore out four," Daryl Campbell, 35, a Washtenaw County sheriff's deputy who finished third with 15 percent, told the Jackson Citizen Patriot for a story today.

Tim Walberg, who ousted Schwarz from office Tuesday, is heavily favored to win the general election.

The 'Schwarz' was not with them

2006-08-09T21:02:00.000-04:00

Tuesday's primary election may be a turning point for the Republican and Democratic parties.
Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and Michigan Congressman Joe Schwarz, both self-proclaimed moderate centrists, were ousted from office.
It may just be a case that moderates are no longer welcome in the bitter divide of partisan politics as Dems and Republicans get more ideologically radical.
"Moderates are a dying breed," Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics, told the Jackson Citizen Patriot. "They're not going to be elected."
Schwarz's loss is the first of any incumbent Michigan congressman since 1992, The Detroit Free Press reported today.
At this point, it doesn't appear that Schwarz will be following Lieberman's frustrated lead and running in November as an Independent.
Schwarz said "distortions and fabrications" of his voting record by Club for Growth cost him the election.
"You have a one-issue group with unlimited funding," Schwarz said. "I did what I thought was right. I will not compromise on principle. I will not pander."
Club for Growth started the Web site, JoeSchwarzIsALiberal.com months ago and advertised a ugly mug shot of Schwarz and the site on Mlive.com, the online home of the Jackson Citizen Patriot and Ann Arbor News, which have coverage areas in Jackson, Washtenaw, Lenawee, Hillsdale and Calhoun counties in the heart of the 7th District.
The anti-tax lobby celebrated its victory for Walberg on its Web site today.
"Michigan voters made it clear that they still want Congress to limit government, reduce wasteful spending and cut taxes," Pat Toomey, President of the Club for Growth, said in a statement. "The Club for Growth PAC is proud to have played a major role in helping Tim deliver his pro-growth, winning, message."
Bill Ballenger, a former state senator, said the congressman's "anger and arrogance," which he displayed during the July 21 debate, caught up with him.
"This is a real personal rebuke to Joe Schwarz," Ballenger told the Citizen Patriot.

Schwarz concedes

2006-08-09T00:14:00.000-04:00

Joe Schwarz has conceded the race to Tim Walberg.

Up to date election results

2006-08-08T21:14:00.000-04:00

11:06 p.m. With 55% of precincts reporting district-wide, Walberg has a 20,544 to 15,308 lead over Schwarz.

10:56 p.m. Schwarz is leading Walberg in Eaton County, by a count of 3,257 to 2,962, with 31 of 53 precincts reporting. Renier is also winning there for the Democrats with 1,173 votes.

10:47 p.m. Congressman Schwarz told a group of supporters the "numbers don't look good," the Jackson Citizen Patriot reported.
Walberg has now claimed victory in Lenawee and Hillsdale counties, and leads district wide by a 57 to 43 percent margin.
Schwarz, who is in Marshall tonight, said he "can't be optimistic."

10:42 p.m. Tim Walberg continues to hold his lead over the incumbent Schwarz. With 138 of 336 precincts reporting district-wide, Walberg has a 57 to 42 percent lead.

10:36 p.m. Walberg wins Lenawee
With 41 of 42 precincts reporting, it is clear Tim Walberg, as expected, can put Lenawee County in the win column.
He has a 2,836 vote lead over Schwarz, while waiting for Blissfield #1 precinct to report its totals. That precinct has 1,232 registered voters.

10:22 p.m. With 39 of 42 precincts reporting, Walberg leads Schwarz 4,874 to 2,291 in Lenawee County.
The Associated Press has the district-wide results giving Waberg a 10,467 to 7,643 edge.
Those AP figures are with 98 of 336 precincts reporting, which is a total so far of 29.17%.

For the Demorats, Sharon Renier is winning in Lenawee County with 851 votes.
According to the AP, Renier is pulling away district-wide with 2,576 votes. Her nearest competitor is Fred Strack with 1,084 votes.

9:42 p.m. With 36 of 42 precincts reporting, Walberg leads Congressman Schwarz 4,592 to 2,167 in Lenawee County.
The Associated Press is behind in its tally, but is reporting that Walberg is leading district-wide 6,336 to 3,732.
Those AP figures are with 58 of 336 precincts reporting, which is a total so far of 17.26%.
On the Demoratic side, Sharon Renier is winning in Lenawee County with 807 votes. According to the AP, Renier is pulling away district-wide with 1,298 votes. Her nearest competitor is Fred Strack with 601 votes.

9:30 p.m. With 35 of 42 precincts reporting, Walberg leads Congressman Schwarz 4,454 to 2,138 in Lenawee County.
The Associated Press is behind in its tally, but is reporting that Walberg is leading district-wide 3,128 to 1,779.
Those AP figures are with 30 of 336 precincts reporting, which is a total so far of 8.93%.

9:14 p.m. Walberg's lead in Lenawee County continues to climb.
With 33 of 42 precincts reporting, Walberg leads Congressman Schwarz 4,023 to 1,967.
The Associated Press is behind in its tally but is reporting that Walberg is leading district-wide 2,605 to 1,517. Those AP figures are with 23 of 336 precincts reporting, which is a total so far of 6.85%.

The Insider plans to bring you updates throughout the night, so check back often for the most up-to-date information regarding Lenawee County and the 7th District race.

Early results

2006-08-08T20:57:00.000-04:00

As expected, Tim Walberg has jumped out to an early lead in Lenawee County, which he is expected to win.
With 28 of 42 precincts reporting, Walberg leads Congressman Schwarz 2635 to 1208.
In other news, the proposed funding for the enhanced 911 capabilities in the Lenawee County seems set to pass with 3162 votes for and 1383 against, with 24 of 42 precincts reporting.

The Insider plans to bring you updates throughout the night, so check back often for the most up-to-date information regarding Lenawee County and the 7th District race.

It's Election Day

2006-08-08T09:36:00.000-04:00

Go out and vote today. Polls close at 8 p.m.
Follow tonight's election results after 9 p.m. on this Web site.
If you don't know where your voting precinct is, go to this Secretary of State website and search your name.
Check back with The Adrian Insider late tonight or early tomorrow morning for all the results in local, state and federal races Lenawee County residents will decide on today.

MichiganLiberal: Walberg will win today

2006-08-08T09:09:00.000-04:00

Two widely read Michigan bloggers are predicting Tim Walberg will win today's 7th District Republican primary over incumbent Joe Schwarz.
Matt Ferguson of MichiganLiberal.com predicted yesterday in a blog posting that former state Rep. Tim Walberg will win today's primary.
"It's not like Bush's endorsement means a hell of a lot these days," Ferguson wrote about Schwarz. "If Schwarz does go down, though, Dem. Party should make much noise about how this is one more indication that the Republican Party is sliding off the right side of the map and moderates just aren't welcome in the once-Grand Old Party anymore."
Ferguson also predicts Chuck Ream will win the Democratic primary.

Bill Nowling, a political observer and consultant, blogs at Lunch Bucket Conservative and also predicts a Walberg victory by a six point margin, 53 to 47 percent.
Nowling plans to blog tonight's election results.

UPDATE 10:37 a.m.:
Republican Michigander, a blogger from Howell, predicts Joe Schwarz will win 52 percent to 48 percent over Tim Walberg, who he endorsed and is rooting for.

Walberg on MySpace

2006-08-08T02:43:00.000-04:00

It may be Election Day, but the battle between Joe Schwarz and Tim Walberg just took an interesting, if not hillarious, turn on MySpace.com.
MySpace, the social networking Web site blamed for all sorts of mischievious behavior, has a site devoted to making fun to Tim Walberg called "Wannabe."
The Web site makes fun of Rev. Walberg's percieved fundamentalist preacher views and "family values," which he touts on his real campaign home page.
"Family Values, Harley Davidsons!!! Pretending to Hunt (whatever is moving), I luv Moody Bible Institut, GO LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!," 'Wannabe' states in the general interests profile.

Television?
"Good for advertising."

Books?
"Books are bad. They open the mind."

To poke fun at all the money Walberg got from special interests, under the category "Who I'd like to meet," the profile lists Pat Toomey, president of Club for Growth, the Washington group that's either donated or raised $1 million on Walberg's behalf.
Beacuse of MySpace's anonymity, it's possible this Web site was created by somebody in Schwarz's camp.
But it's also possible somebody in Beirut launched the profile, which was last updated July 1. The answer may never be known, especially since voters may decide later today to send Walberg back to Tipton, rather than the U.S. Congress.
MySpace users can log in and view these photos of Harley-loving Walberg, many of which appear to be fake, but some are straight from Walberg's campaign homepage.

Latest Schwarz, Walberg headlines

2006-08-07T22:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a brief rundown of the latest headlines in the 7th District Republican and Democratic congressional primaries:

Republicans turn against incumbent, Ann Arbor News - 7 hours ago, BY KEN THOMAS, AP repoter.... Republican Rep. Joe Schwarz is backed by President Bush, Arizona Sen. John McCain and the National Rifle Association....

A battle of a lifetime, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Sunday, Aug. 06, By Susan J. Demas - Armed with his pedigree as a surgeon, state senator and CIA spy, the centrist Joe Schwarz is wrapping up his first term as a freshman congressman. Tim Walberg -- a religious right icon known for never having met a tax cut he didn't like as a legislator -- is back in the political fray.

Democrats compete for shot at 7th District House seat ... Ann Arbor News, Sunday, Aug. 5

Primary elections come down to the wire, Contra Costa Times - CA,USA... won two years ago and stymie a well-financed effort by former state Rep. Tim Walberg of Tipton to nab the seat for conservatives. ...

Key Races in Tuesday's PrimariesForbes - USA... Joe Schwarz faces a serious challenge from former state lawmaker Tim Walberg. Schwarz, a moderate Republican, is backed by President Bush...

The Dems' primary: Strack is best of four, The Jackson Citizen-Patriot (editorial endorsement), - Aug 4, 2006... Joe Schwarz and challenger Tim Walberg. ... Though he views himself as a middle-of-the-roader, he also observes that "there's nothing moderate about Joe Schwarz."

PACs spending big on attack ads, WWMT - Aug 4, 2006(NEWS 3) - If you've watched TV lately, then you have probably seen political ads attacking Congressman Joe Schwarz and his opponent, Tim Walberg.

Pro-Life Voters Head to the Polls Tuesday, Abortion Battles in ...LifeNews.com - Helena,MT,USA... former state Rep. Tim Walberg has a very good shot and defeating Rep. Joe Schwarz, who has a mixed voting record on pro-life issues. ...

Race is rife with 'noise' The Jackson Citizen-Patriot - Jackson,MI,USA... day. It's a rematch from 2004 between US Rep. Joe Schwarz, aka the outspoken doctor, and Tim Walberg, the polished preacher.

Democrats are having a primary election, too, Coldwater Daily Reporter, MI - Aug 3, 2006... This includes Sharon Renier of Munith, who won the Democratic primary in 2002 and lost to US Rep. Joe Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, in the general election.

GOP looking to define itself, Detroit Free Press - By DAWSON BELL.

Top Ten Reasons Joe Schwarz Must Go: 4. He's Anti-Free Speech & 3. ... RedState, VA - 19 hours ago

Is Joe Schwarz a liberal?RedState, VA - Aug 3, 2006Most recently, Erick posted a link to the RedState radio interview with Tim Walberg that suggests that incumbent Joe Schwarz is indeed a liberal.

Primary elections come down to the wire, By Kathy Barks Hoffman, LANSING AP writer - Candidates for tight races in the Republican primaries for U.S. Senate and the Seventh District U.S. House seat campaigned hard and appealed to supporters to go to the polls tomorrow. They're hoping to energize voters busy with vacations and summer outings.

The Dems' primary: Strack is best of four, The Jackson Citizen-Patriot - Jackson,MI,USA... Joe Schwarz and challenger Tim Walberg. Then there's the low-key contest among four Democrats: Sharon Renier, Chuck Ream, Daryl Campbell and Fred Strack.

Republican Main Street Partnership Urges Michigan Voters to Say No ...U.S. Newswire (press release) - Washington,DC,USA... 8 Michigan Republican primary, the Republican Main Street Partnership (RMSP) PAC is urging voters to say no to Tim Walberg.

Midterm Roundup, TPMCafe - New York,NY,USA... term incumbent Representative Joe Schwarz (R) faces a second consecutive primary challenge from 2004 challenger, state Representative Tim Walberg (R).

Minuteman director stops in Adrian during state tour, Adrian Daily Telegram - Adrian,MI,USA... Garza is also talking up the immigration stance of Tim Walberg, a Republican from Tipton who is challenging US Rep. Joe Schwarz....

GOP spars over Mich. congressional seat, San Jose Mercury News - CA, USA... groups and generated bad blood between the two candidates, Schwarz faces a serious challenge from conservative former state lawmaker Tim Walberg in Tuesday's...

If Schwarz loses, will he run as an Independent?

2006-08-07T19:42:00.000-04:00

If U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz loses tomorrow's Republican primary to Tim Walberg, will he run as an Independent in November?
This question hasn't been raised in the local and statewide media, but the possibility is there.
In 2004, when Schwarz was running neck and neck with Brad Smith for the right to succeed Brad's father, Nick, in congress, it was rumored if Schwarz lost, he'd try to get himself on the November ballott as an Independent.
A self-proclaimed moderate, Schwarz has in the past disagreed with his own party on taxes, abortion and other wedge issues.
So becoming an Independent wouldn't be anything radical for the Battle Creek doctor, former state senator and ex-CIA operative, only giving Walberg more firing power that Schwarz is just a "Republican In Name Only."

In other campaign news...
Just to remind everyone, Joe Schwarz recieved 27.7% of the vote in 2004, while Walberg finished third with 17.6%, the Detroit Free Press reported Sunday. Brad Smith got somewhere around 23%.
Forbes.com reports that outside groups like Republican Main Street Partnership and Club for Growth have spent more than $1 million on this race.
Total money spent by all sides could top $3 million.

'A battle of a lifetime'

2006-08-07T19:33:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it, Susan Demas of the Jackson Citizen Patriot wrote a long and in-depth story for Sunday's paper about how Joe Schwarz and Tim Walberg came to be in tomorrow's fierce 7th District GOP primary.
One interesting aspect of the story is how U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz and Senator John McCain became political and personal friends.
When McCain was a prisoner of war in Hanoi, Schwarz, then a CIA-operative, was sent in to rescue McCain, who may run for president in 2008.
Schwarz saw his national profile rocket after maneuvering McCain's upset over Bush in the 2000 Michigan presidential primary, the Citizen Patriot reported.
"We didn't do too bad," Schwarz told the reporter, grinning.

The Citizen Patriot also endorsed Schwarz in his effort to get re-elected.
"...It comes down to whether voters want an ideologue who probably will not be able to get much done, or an experienced, highly skilled legislator who has shown in two years that he is as effective in the foreign policy arena as he is at representing Jackson County's interests in Washington. We choose the latter," the editors wrote.
Schwarz wrapped up all the big-time endorsements from newspapers in the 7th District and beyond, gaining the praise of the Battle Creek Enquirer, Toledo Blade, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Lansing State Journal, Adrian Daily Telegram, Coldwater Daily Reporter and the Ann Arbor News.

And for those who were wondering, The Adrian Insider is not endorsing either candidate, just seeking to give you the reader a more complete understanding of the issues.

2006-08-03T12:21:00.000-04:00

The Club for Growth a tax-exempt affiliate have spent $392,989 on TV & radio ads and mailings in support of Tim Walberg's campaign for congress.
The Washington, D.C.-based anti-tax group has also raised an additional $476,709 from its 36,000-member network and sent them to Walberg's campaign war chest, the Battle Creek Enquirer reported today.
The Michigan Campaign Finance Network is tracking the spending in this race, which could reach $3 million by the campaigns and PACs combined.
The Republican Main Street Partnership, the conservative Club's centrist counterpart, has spent $470,000 to buy broadcast advertising and send mailings that support U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, according to the group's executive director, Sarah Chamberlain Resnick.
Center for Responsive Politics says only 13 percent of Schwarz's cash comes from out of state, while nearly 76 percent of Walberg's contributions are from out-of-state donors, the newspaper report states.

Minuteman are coming

2006-08-03T12:03:00.000-04:00

The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps., an Arizona immigration watchdog group that patrols the Mexican border, is bringing its political voice to the 7th District Republican primary.
The Minuteman PAC plans to pour $150,000 into a media blitz on Tim Walberg's behalf to oust incumbent Joe Schwarz, R-Battle Creek.
Walberg says Schwarz supports amnesty for illegal immigrants and is siding with his friend, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, and Sen. Ted Kennedy, the senior Democrat from Massachussets.
Walberg's ads linking Schwarz to Kennedy are likely to enrage and presumably bring out the district's conservative base.
But now the Minuteman's political action committee is marching into the 7th District race, having already spent $29,000 in ads, the Jackson Citizen Patriot reported Wednesday.
The Minuteman patrol the border to stop Mexicans from illegally entering the country. They want a wall built to stop the problem.
"This is the No. 1 issue. Frankly, nothing else is more important -- not job security, not the war in Iraq," Minuteman spokesman Brett Farley told the Citizen Patriot, which has had almost daily stories on the Republican race for the past week. "Tim Walberg has made his position clear. He's solidly anti-amnesty (for immigrants), unlike Schwarz."

Berryman to Dems: Don't waste your time voting Dems

2006-08-02T21:26:00.000-04:00

Former Adrian Mayor Jim Berryman is touting himself as the model Democrat that plans to vote for centrist Joe Schwarz over arch-conservative Tim Walberg on Tuesday.
Berryman, a former state senator who is a negotiator the Michigan Education Association, was featured in a Monday article in the Jackson Citizen Patriot about cross-over voters.
There are four hardly known Democrats in the race.
"Daryl Campbell, Chuck Ream, Sharon Renier and Fred Strack hope voters will look away from the almost $2 million spending spectacle" in the Republican primary between Schwarz and Tim Walberg, the Citizen Patriot reported Tuesday.
Beryman says voting Democrat is a waste in this heavily Republican 7th District.
"God bless the Democrats for trying," Berryman told the Citizen Patriot's Brad Flory. "But you have got to be realistic: The winner of this Republican primary will be elected in the fall."
Walberg claims 10,000 Democrats voted for Schwarz.

Meanwhile, Walberg says the outcome of Tuesday's election could shape the future of the Repbulican Party.
Schwarz doesn't see it that way.
"I don't know how much credence you would put into a congressional primary in South Central Michigan for a barometer of the Republican Party," Schwarz told the Battle Creek Enquirer's Andy Rathbun for a story published Tuesday. "I would tend to say it might be a minibarometer, but no more than that."

Walberg podcast

2006-08-02T21:16:00.000-04:00

The RedState.com, a fiercly conservative blog, has basically declared war on Congressman Joe Schwarz in the final days leading up to the Aug. 8 GOP primary.
Click here to read the blog's "Top Ten Reasons Joe Schwarz Must Go" blog.
Erick Erickson at RedState.com spoke with Tim Walberg to record this podcast of Schwarz's opponent from Tipton here in Lenawee County.

John Hawkins of Right Wing News blog has an interview piece about Walberg as well, based on his column with Human Events.

Muddling slinging in every direction

2006-08-02T20:47:00.000-04:00

The Republican congressional primary between U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz and Tim Walberg is just getting nastier by the day as the Tuesday's election nears.
The Washington-based Republican Main Street Partnership, which is supporting Schwarz's re-election, is running a TV ad saying Walberg missed key votes during budget hearings in 1996 when he took a "ill-timed" trip to Paris to celebrate his wedding anniversery.
The centrist group contends voters "can't count" on Walberg to show up.
Walberg is calling on Schwarz to condemn the ads.
Walberg's campaign also is accusing Schwarz of falsely claiming that he won the endorsement of the Michigan Republican Party in campaign mailings, The Associated Press reported today.
Schwarz was endorsed by Michigan GOP chairman Saul Anuzis, but has not been endorsed by the party's state committee.
On Wednesday, Schwarz's campaign announced that it's Jackson office had been vandalized.
Vandals scratched the word "FAG" across two larger-than-life-size headshot decals of the congressman on the windows of his downtown Jackson office, his campaign said in a statement.
"This is hate speech written on the congressman's head," Schwarz's campaign manager Matt Marsden told the Jackson Citizen Patriot. "I think it's absolutely disgusting."
The Citizen Patriot story describes the "FAG" reference as a "slur."
Walberg's campaign manager said his bosses offices were not damaged and vemently denied involvement.
"It's really sad that stuff like that occurs," Joe Wicks told the Citizen Patriot.

'RINO hunting'

2006-07-31T12:43:00.000-04:00

Club for Growth and its "conservative firebrand" president Patrick J. Toomey are going RINO hunting this week, and U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz is being hunted, Congressional Quarterly Politics reported today on it Web site.
Meanwhile, Detroit News editorial page editor Nolan Finley sarcastically wrote Sunday in his column "I can't believe it. My old friend Joe Schwarz is a big, fat liberal."
"Joe Schwarz isn't liberal. He isn't overly conservative, either. Maybe that makes him moderate by default, but that label seems too lukewarm to describe someone with such passion," Finley wrote.
His column rips on the "RINO hunters" at Club for Growth, which founded the anti-Schwarz Web site, JoeSchwarzIsALiberal.com.

The Detroit News also endorsed Schwarz on Sunday, joining the Lansing State Journal, Battle Creek Enquier and Detroit Free Press.

Schwarz was once 'pro-life' & 'anti-abortion'

2006-07-31T12:28:00.000-04:00

Is Joe Schwarz pro-choice or pro-life?
During the July 21 debate against Tim Walberg, Schwarz said his position on abortion "hasn't changed in 25 years."
But the Jackson Citizen Patriot reports that Schwarz positioned himself as pro-life during his unsuccessful 1992 challenge for Nick Smith's congressional seat.
"I am pro-life and I am anti-abortion," Schwarz said then, the Citizen Patriot reported Sunday. "I'm a practicing Roman Catholic and a pro-life person."
Right to Life of Michigan did endorse Schwarz in campaigns for the state Senate in 1990 and 1994, Larry Galmish, president of the RTL's political action committee, told the Citizen Patriot.
"His position had to be pro-life, or we wouldn't have endorsed," Galmish said. By 1998, Schwarz's views on abortion began to "turn," so Right to Life stopped endorsing him, the paper reports.
The article foucsed solely on the issue of abortion, with Walberg even hinting that Schwarz's belief that it's a woman's choice is one of the main reasons he's even in the race.
"I still might be in the race. There are other areas where we disagree," Walberg told the Jackson Citizen Patriot. "But I am not sure."

Detroit News, Battle Creek Enquirer endorse Schwarz

2006-07-30T07:55:00.000-04:00

Joe Schwarz's hometown newspaper, the Battle Creek Enquirer, endorsed his re-election against Tipton preacher Tim Walberg in an editorial today.
"We may not always agree with Schwarz's stands on issues or his votes in the U.S. House, but there is no dispute that he is an outstanding representative for this community in the halls of Congress," wrote the Enquirer editors, who endorsed Schwarz is 2004.
The Detroit News also endorsed Schwarz, noting that Walberg "was famous in the Legislature for voting "no" on just about everything."
"He is a credible, mature voice in Washington and quickly gained respect for his solution-oriented approach to politics," The Detroit News editors wrote in an editorial today.

The Detroit News also endorsed Daryl Campbell of Ann Arbor in the four-person Democratic primary for Michigan's 7th District, which includes all of Lenawee, Jackson, Hillsdale and Eaton counties and parts of Washtenaw and Calhoun counties.
The Detroit News misspelled Campbell's first name: "Darryl."

Bush may stump for Schwarz

2006-07-28T20:01:00.000-04:00

Political rumor has it that President George W. Bush may fly to Michigan this week to campaign for U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, the embattled incumbent facing a difficult Aug. 8 GOP re-election.
Andy Roth of Club for Growth, the organization backing challenger Tim Walberg, reported today in his blog that Bush may come because "Joe Schwarz is so desperate for help."
"Tell President Bush NOT to go to Michigan. Tell him enough is enough," Roth says in the blog, followed by this message: "Call the White House at 202-456-1414 and Tell President Bush to Stay in DC"

Schwarz under national attack

2006-07-28T19:43:00.000-04:00

U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz is getting attacked nationally, with one blog calling for his "ouster" on Aug. 8 when he faces Tim Walberg.
"Joe Schwarz (RINO-MI) is one of the most liberal Republicans in the House. Schwarz is friends with labor unions, not workers. He is friends with teachers unions, not families. He is friends with tax hikers, not tax cutters," wrote The Directors of redstate.com.
Another blogger even compared Schwarz's re-election chances to Joe Lieberman, the veteran Connecticut senator whose primary campaign has gained national attention for its nastiness.
a former state representative from Lenawee County.
Earlier this week, Congressional Quarterly came out with an in-depth analysis of the race that's even got Michigan political observers like Phil Power weighing in now.
California-based blogger Jon Fleischman of The FlashReport also jumped on the blogsphere bandwagon yesterday by telling his readers "just how liberal Schwarz is." He listed bullet points from Club for Growth's pride and joy Web site, www.joeschwarzisaliberal.com.
Republican Michigander of Howell also chastized Schwarz after the Battle Creek physician got the endorsement of the National Rifle Association.
At least this blogger has remain consistent on his position.
"I'm not a fan of Mr. Schwarz. This goes back to his days in the state senate where he was a frequent critic of gun owners, pro-lifers, and tax hawks," Republican Michigander wrote on Nov. 20 of last year.
Most of the bloggers don't even live in 7th District, unlike The Adrian Insider, which has strided for a fair and balanced reporting of this heated congressional race.

In other campaign news, Schwarz's supporters at the Republican Main Street Partnership no longer want to be called "moderates."
It's "centrist."
CNN's Mark Preston has a report about the fight between the "centrists" Republicans and Club for Growth, the anti-tax, pro-growth group in Washington, D.C. that's funnelling money and support into Tim Walberg's campaign war chest.
Club for Growth has been running a TV blitz to unseat Schwarz.

Nick Smith's $1,000 gift to Schwarz gets noticed

2006-07-25T18:39:00.000-04:00

Retired Congressman Nick Smith’s $1,000 contribution to Joe Schwarz’s re-election but decision to be “publicly neutral” in the Aug. 8 primary has gotten some media attention.
Campaign finance records show Smith's political action committee, Nick Smith for Better Government, donated $1,000 in February to Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, the Jackson Citizen Patriot reported Friday, July 21.
The Addison farmer's PAC contribution was first reported by the Adrian Insider.

In other campaign news, CQPolitics.com has an in-depth analysis of the heated primary between Schwarz and Tim Walberg.
Campaign observers say Walberg may be gaining ground on Schwarz, even as the incumbent continues to rake up big time endorsements.

Blade: Walberg victory would embarass Bush

2006-07-23T09:24:00.000-04:00

Without directly endorsing Joe Schwarz for re-election, the Toledo Blade's editorial board today reinforced a Schwarz campaign strategy: A victory for Tim Walberg would give Democrats a chance to take the 7th District seat in 2008.
"Should Joe Schwarz lose, it will not only embarrass the President, it will demonstrate to many observers that there is no place for even moderate liberals in the Michigan GOP," The Blade editors wrote. "Ironically, if Republicans end up ousting the incumbent in the primary, the result could be the election of a real liberal in November."
State Senator Mark Schauer, a Democrat with name recognition, has already publicly complained that the Schwarz campaign has invoked his name to scare Republicans into voting for the Battle Creek incumbent.
""It sounds like I'm being used as a political bogeyman," Schauer told the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

The Lansing State Journal endorsed Schwarz today in an editorial. The 7th District includes Eaton County and the populated Lansing suburb of Delta Township, which Schwarz won in the crowded 2004 primary.
"...Schwarz carries two necessary traits into lawmaking: seeing nuance and recognizing those across the political aisle may have some good ideas," the State Journal editors wrote.
Eaton County used to be part of Schwarz's 24th District state Senate seat.

The State Journal and Blade's editorials make them the first newspapers with circulation within the 7th District to weigh in on the race.
The Detroit Free Press endorsed Schwarz on July 14.

'Dr. Walberg' won't 'disavow' Club for Growth ads

2006-07-22T09:03:00.000-04:00

During Friday's debate, Tim Walberg defended the Club for Growth tv and radio ads that call his opponent "outrageously liberal."
U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, didn't take much offense.
"I don't much give a rip what anyone else puts in an ad about me," Schwarz responded, as reported today in the Jackson Citizen Patriot.
At one point, Schwarz called his opponent "Dr. Walberg" while explaining why he voted to give Medicaid recipients Viagra.
"I've been called a lot worse than 'doctor,' " Walberg told the Jackson reporter after the debate (laughing). "Maybe it'll increase my pay."

Did the headline writers in Adrian, Jackson and Battle Creek have a conference call after Friday's debate?

Here's the stories from yesterday's debate:
"Schwarz, Walberg trade barbs at JCC," by Susan Demas, Jackson Citizen Patriot

"GOP rep. candidates trade barbs at debate," by Andy Rathbun, Battle Creek Enquirer

"Schwarz, Walberg trade barbs," by Andy Rogers, Adrian Daily Telegram

"Campaign finances arise in debate," by Chad Dally, Hillsdale Daily News

"7th Congressional District candidates spar in Jackson," by James Prichard, The Associated Press

"In debate, Walberg says Schwarz backs pork-barrel projects," by Chris Andrews, Lansing State Journal

The Daily Telegram misspelled moderator Tim Skubick's last name as "Skubic."
The photo caption on Page One also says the debate took place on Tuesday. Yesterday was Friday.

Schwarz vs. Walberg debate

2006-07-21T21:13:00.000-04:00

Joe Schwarz and Tim Walberg debated in Jackson today and the match was aired at 7 p.m. on WILK-TV Channel 10 out of Lansing, which most Lenawee County residents don't get.
But here's the first story from WILX's Tony Tagliavia.
Schwarz apparently came out swinging at Walberg over alleged campaign finance and spending violations.
"You violated the law," Schwarz said. "Down the road, there may be fines."
Walberg said he's running a clean campaign.
"We have followed the law implicitly," Walberg is quoted as saying.

The Lansing State Journal's Chris Andrews went to Jackson to report on the story.
The two Republicans clashed over federal spending and abortion, Andrews wrote.
Schwarz said it's impossible to study and veto every single pork barrell spending project.
"I will bring back projects that are well scrutinized any time I can," Schwarz said.
Walberg, a former state representative from Tipton, said the differences between he and Schwarz is simple.
"This election is a contrast of ideals and vision - conservative and liberal," Walberg said.

Check back tomorrow with The Adrian Insider for more news about the debate.

Schwarz camp files FEC complaint against Walberg

2006-07-20T23:34:00.000-04:00

U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz's campaign filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission today, alleging that Tim Walberg violated campaign finance laws, according to a story from the Associated Press.
Schwarz's camp is claiming Walberg's team used the same pollster employed by the Washington-based Club for Growth, which it says violates FEC regulations prohibiting coordinated expenditures" between a campaign and nonprofit political groups called 527s, The Jackson Citizen Patriot reported Friday.
"You have to play by the rules. There are rules and you have to play by them, and they are very clear," Schwarz said in an interview for the AP story. "And when you're dealing with large sums of money at a campaign at this level, it is paramount that you follow the rules, that you follow the law."
Walberg's campaign manager Joe Wicks called the complaint "ridiculous" and said Schwarz's wrong stances on social and economic issues forced him "to invent an issue."
"The Schwarz campaign has obviously figured out that they are in desperate shape and now they are abusing the legal system in a desperate attempt to save his political career, which is on life support," Club for Growth President Pat Toomey told the AP.

Guv to Adrian: 'You're still cool'

2006-07-20T22:59:00.000-04:00

Gov. Jennifer Granholm labeled Adrian as still being a cool city, but apparently still not cool enough to win a $100,000 catalyst grant to make it even cooler.
Granholm announced today that 23 projects have been selected for her 2006 Cool Cities Grants, and Adrian was again in the mix.
Now in its third year, the Cool Cities initiative offers a "Neighborhoods in Progress" designation, which awards $100,000 catalyst grants along with priority access to existing state grant funds, loans, tax credits, or services that can help create vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods.
There were sixteen projects that received the Cool Cities "Neighborhoods in Progress" designation and 12 of those will each receive a catalyst grant of $100,000. The 12 projects receiving grant are located in Benton Harbor, Detroit (3), Flint, Grand Rapids, Howell, Ionia, Lansing, Mount Clemens, Muskegon, and Pontiac.
The four projects that received the Cool Cities designation and priority access to state resources, without the $100,000 catalyst funding are: Adrian, Cadillac, Dearborn and Saginaw. The project that Adrian's Downtown Development Authsubmittedittted is below. - The DDA has developed a three-part site assistance program. That program provides up to 50% matching grants for hard costs related to historic building facade improvements. In exchange for the grant funds, the City has received a preservation easement on the structure's facade. Currently DDA staff is working with at least three property owners considering significant (in excess of $50,000 per facade) rehabilitation projects.
"Michigan's economic success is directly tied to our ability to attract and retain jobs and opportunities that will keep our young adults here in Michigan," Granholm said. "The Cool Cities initiative is a critical tool for achieving vibrant cities, which attract job providers who in turn provide the opportunities that will grow our economy."

David Munson backing Schwarz; James Dobson supports Walberg

2006-07-20T07:57:00.000-04:00

David Munson, president of the Lenawee County Chamber for Economic Development, is backing Joe Schwarz's re-election bid in the Aug. 8 primary over Tim Walberg, a native of this county.
Munson appeared at a press conference in Jackson on Monday during Sen. Chuck Hagel's effort to stump for the incumbent.
See Schwarz's campaign homepage and scroll down for video of Munson speaking.

In other endorsement news...
Tim Walberg is touting the endorsement of Dr. James Dobson, head of Focus on the Family.
Walberg criticized Schwarz’s vote on Tuesday against a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, the Lansing State Journal reported today.
Meanwhile, Schwarz gained the endorsement of the National Rifle Association, which is seen as a devasting blow to Walberg's smaller gun lobby support from the Gun Owners of America and Shooters Alliance for Firearms Rights.

Schwarz drags 'political boogeyman' into race

2006-07-19T19:30:00.000-04:00

State Senator Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, is apparently irked by Joe Schwarz's campaign dragging his name into their re-election strategy.
John Truscott, Schwarz's spokesman, recently suggested if Tim Walberg upsets Schwarz in the Aug. 8 primary, that Walberg's ultra-conservativeness would leave him vulnerable to upset by a strong Democratic candidate.
Enter Schauer, just about the only Democrat in the 7th District with name recognition.
Schauer, who is running for re-election, will be term-limited in 2010, so he presumably would be looking for a new job in two years, so the theory goes.
"It's a Republican conspiracy theory with no basis in fact," Schauer told the Jackson Citizen Patriot's Brad Flory for a story today. "My only plan is to serve in the state Senate for the next four years. It sounds like I'm being used as a political bogeyman."

Adrian College's enrollment is rising

2006-07-19T07:31:00.000-04:00

Adrian College expects to have a record size freshman class this fall.
The college admitted 430 more students this year and as of June 30, had 105 more students committed to becoming Bulldogs.
Total enrollment last year was just around 1,000 students for the liberal arts institution affiliated with The United Methodist Church.

Applications

1,085 (2005)

1,852 (2006)

Admitted

873 (2005)

1,303 (2006)

Deposits

279 (05)

384 (06)

As part of its Renaissance Plan, the college is building a new football stadium, upgrading dining halls and creating modern student apartments.
The college has a photo gallery of the projects on its website.

Lenawee immigrants to get naturalized

2006-07-18T20:50:00.000-04:00

Up to 500 legal immigrants, including some from Lenawee County, will become naturalized citizens August 4th in Jackson.
U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz requested the ceremony be held at Jackson Community College's main campus, five days before the contested primary election against Tim Walberg of Tipton, The Jackson Citizen Patriot reported.
The new citizens won't be able to vote in the August 8th primary, but Schwarz's re-election campaign will be distrubting voter registration information at the ceremony, his spokesman said.

Ballenger: Schwarz is 'running scared'

2006-07-17T18:14:00.000-04:00

U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz and his campaign fear social conservative Tim Walberg has a good chance of upsetting the incumbent in the Aug. 8 primary, a leading political pundit claims.
"The Schwarz people are running scared," Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics, a political newsletter, told The Detroit News for a story published today.
Schwarz, a former state senator and doctor, won a seat in Congress in 2004 in the heavily Republican 7th District with just 28 percent of the vote.
Walberg, R-Tipton, has routinely said he thinks there's plenty of the 72 percent of voters Schwarz didn't win over for him to capture.
Ballenger and others are predicting a "horrible" voter turnout, which could favor Walberg because the arch-conservative base may see this election as opportunity to unseat a "Republican In Name Only (RINO)."

In other campaign news....
The National Taxpayers Union Campaign Fund (NTUCF) "re-affirmed" it's endorsement for Tim Walberg in the Republican primary.
Walberg and his out-of-state supporter's say Schwarz and his out-of-state backers are distorting Walberg's flat tax views for supporting a national sales tax as a way to get rid of all federal income taxes.
"Tim Walberg has endorsed solid, sensible changes to our broken and complex Tax Code. Joe Schwarz has provided only higher spending and at best a mediocre fiscal record in the House," NTUCF President John Berthoud said in a statement.
Walberg has gotten some defense from current and former state lawmakers.
"A fair fight is a good fight, but to stoop to these lows, I think, is unconscionable," state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk, R-Kalamazoo, told the Lansing State Journal.

Schwarz's lone Lenawee contributor

2006-07-16T11:53:00.000-04:00

Incumbent Congressman Joe Schwarz's lone individual campaign contributor who lives in Lenawee County is David Hickman, CEO of United Bank & Trust.

David Hickman of Tecumseh, has given Schwarz $4,000 toward his re-election effort. ($2,000 on 1/20/2006, $1,100 on 7/27/2005 & $1,000 on 1/24/2005)

Most of Schwarz's in-state contributors live in his hometown, Battle Creek, as well as Lansing, Jackson and Ann Arbor.

Update 7:34 p.m.
Schwarz does list a $1,000 contribution made on Feb. 20, 2006 by the Nick Smith For Better Government political action committee, listing the retired Republican congressman's address, 12780 Addison Road.
Nick Smith used his PAC to make two $1,000 contributions to his son Brad's failed bid for his father's seat in 2004 when Schwarz beat out Smith, Tim Walberg and three other Republicans.
Here's a list of other Political Action Committees that Rep. John "Joe" Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, has accepted almost $743,000 from.

The Walberg Contributors

2006-07-16T10:52:00.000-04:00

The following is a list of Lenawee County contributors and their donation amount to Tim Walberg's campaign for congress.
Richard Abraham of Adrian, $1,000 on 3/31/2006
Thomas Bailey of Britton, $250 on 3/10/2006
Gary Blaesing of Adrian, $250 on 3/11/2006
Kay Brown of Blissfield, $500 on 3/31/2006
Galen Engel of Adrian, $250 on 2/9/2006
Ethel Gritzmaker of Adrian, $250 on 3/13/2006
Shirley Herrick of Tecumseh, $500 on 2/26/2006
David Kaisler of Tipton, $250 on 1/25/2006
Douglas Kapnick of Adrian, $2,000 on 1/19/2006
Leslie Kiefaber of Adrian, $250 on 3/2/2006
Brian Krichbaum of Adrian, $2,100 on 3/8/2006
David Maxwell of Adrian, $500 on 2/22/2006
Ruth Merillat of Adrian, $2,100 on 1/18/2006
Charles Moore of Adrian, $1,000 on 3/31/2006
Robert Ouellette of Adrian, $1,000 on 3/9/2006
Teda Pennington of Morenci, $250 on 2/1/2006
Janet Pickard of Adrian, $1,000 on 3/2/2006
Roger Porter of Morenci, $400 on 1/30/2006 & 3/2/2006
Tracy Schafer of Onsted, $500 on 2/7/2006
Martin J. Thompson of Blissfield, $250 on 3/2/2006
James Tibbs of Blissfield, $250 on 2/9/2006
Alice Walberg of Tipton, $1,000 on 3/31/2006

Chuck Hagel economic roundtable

2006-07-16T10:45:00.000-04:00

U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz will host Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel on Monday for an economic roundtable discussion in downtown Jackson.
Lenawee County residents and business leaders are encouraged to attend.
When: 1:30 p.m
Where: Commission Chambers of the Jackson County Tower Building, 120 W. Michigan Ave.

Hagel's visit will mark the second Washington politician to visit the 7th District in four days.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich attended a fundraiser for Schwarz in Marshall on Friday. Gingrich is now appearing on NBC's Meet The Press this Sunday morning.

UPDATE 10:15 p.m.:
After Schwarz and Senator Hagel dicuss Michigan's woeful economy with business leaders, they'll try to get some of their money at $465 a couple "Dollar-A-Day Photo" opt and reception fundraiser in Jackson.
State Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis and Jackson-area Republicans will meet and greet with Hagel at the home of Ken Gaiser and Mary Marchone of Jackson, according to an invite e-mail obtained by The Adrian Insider.
State Rep. Leslie Mortimer, R-Horton, whose district is mostly in Jackson County but dips into Lenawee County's Cambridge Township, is listed as a fundraiser host.

Detroit Free Press endorses Schwarz

2006-07-15T12:34:00.000-04:00

The Detroit Free Press endorsed Congressman Joe Schwarz in the Aug. 8 primary over Tim Walberg in an editorial on Friday.
"Schwarz is a reasonable man in a Congress with too many polar opposites. Walberg's uncompromising conservatism would only add to the divisiveness in Washington," the Free Press editorial board wrote. "JOE SCHWARZ is among the most forward-thinking members of the Michigan delegation. He has done respectable work for his district and deserves nomination for a second term."
It's unclear when and if newspapers in the 7th District will make endorsements in the Republican primary.
In 2004, the Daily Telegram of Adrian made no endorsement in a six-man GOP primary that included Schwarz, Walberg and four others.
The Free Press also endorsed Chuck Ream in the four-person Democratic primary.
Ream, 59, is a trustee of Scio Township in Washtenaw County and has supported the legalization of marijuana.

More endorsements
Walberg and Schwarz have complete list of endorsements on their Web sites.
Lenawee County Republican Party chairman Ted Dusseau, of Madison Township, has said he's backing Walberg.
Schwarz is backed by former Democratic state senator and one-time Adrian Mayor Jim Berryman, whom Dusseau despises.
Walberg doesn't have Dussseau list on his endorsements Web page, yet.

Campaign war chests almost even

2006-07-15T09:24:00.000-04:00

U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz has just $14,000 more campaign cash on hand than his GOP primary challenger Tim Walberg.
Schwarz's campaign reported having raised $433,000 in the past three months with $409,000 left to spend between now and the Aug. 7 primary.
Walberg trails just behind the incumbent with $395,000 cash in arsenal, having raised $236,000 this quarter.
“My conservative message of defending traditional marriage, reducing the size of government, and protecting the right to life is catching fire,” Walberg said in a statement to The Adrian Insider.
Schwarz got a big $137,00 boost from U.S. Sen. John McCain's efforts at a fundraiser in Jackson last month.
Schwarz is brining in the heavy hitters from Washington to raise money and gain media attention in effort to beat Walberg and sail easily in the November election in the heavily Republican 7th District.
"Grassroots Republicans are rejecting Congressman Schwarz and uniting behind Walberg’s philosophy of lower taxes, less government and traditional values," Walberg's campaign said in the statement.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., came to Marshall in eastern Calhoun County last night and raised $35,000 for Schwarz.
Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., will be in Jackson on Monday with Schwarz for a ecomonic roundtable.
Hagel, Gingrich and McCain are each said to be considering 2008 presidential bids.
Schwarz ran McCain's 2000 presidential campaign in which he won Michigan, but eventually lost his party's nomination to George W. Bush.
McCain's victory has fueled the state Republican and Democratic parties to agree to hold "semi-open" primaries in 2008 to stop Dems from voting for, presumably, McCain.

Debate Friday: Walberg vs. Schwarz

2006-07-15T09:04:00.000-04:00

Tim Walberg will finally get a chance to call Joe Schwarz a liberal to his face in public at a debate on Friday, June 21.
The 1 p.m. debate in Jackson Community College's Potter Center will last 30 minutes. The Jackson Citizen Patriot and WILX Ch. 10 in Lansing are sponsoring the debate.
Walberg, R-Tipton, apparently wanted to debate in all seven counties of Michigan's 7th District, The Battle Creek Enquirer reported July 7.
But Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, could get the time off from being a congressman, the job Walberg wants.
Tim Skubick of Off The Record will moderate the debate. Walberg recently appeared on Skubick's WKAR show.
This may be the only debate between the incumbent Schwarz and his GOP challenger, Walberg, a former state representative from here in Lenawee County.

Which is it?

2006-07-11T22:03:00.000-04:00

Those interested in attending tonight's special meeting in Adrian Township may have become confused by conflicting report's on the Telegram's Web site.
Here it says the meeting has been canceled, but farther down, we are told that the meeting is set for tonight.
So which is it?
The actual newspaper today doesn't have any mention that the meeting was canceled, so the cancellation must have been the Telegram's first attempt at updating its Web site with timely news, but it was laid out on the page like it was a regular news story.
Either way, it's quite confusing for township residents who depend on the Telegram to tell them when a meeting is.
Of course, you can't really always depend on the Telegram for the most dependable information when you have such stellar sentence structures as this one: "The board will use the meeting to discuss issues within its the Adrian Township Fire Department."

Walberg backs Lessenberry's views

2006-07-10T10:38:00.000-04:00

What's increasingly hard to understand in this election is Tim Walberg's insistence on giving Jack Lessenberry credit for calling him a "fundamentalist" preacher and a one-issue ideological politician (morals).
Walberg's campaign posted Lessenberry's July 7 column in The Toledo Blade on its Web site over the weekend.
The column is full of warm praise of Joe Schwarz, the incumbent Walberg is challenging in the Aug. 8 GOP primary.
"The (7th) district, it ought to be noted, isn't Utah. Yes, it is Republican, but not overwhelmingly so. President Clinton carried it. President Bush did, too, but won with only 51 percent and 54 percent," Lessenberry wrote.

'Paid for by' ommitted in Walberg ad

2006-07-10T10:27:00.001-04:00

Tim Walberg's campaign for congress has admitted it inadvertently left out the required "paid for by" component in a recent radio ad.
The Tipton Republican corrected the error after lawyers for his opponent, U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, demanded he comply with campaign finance laws, The Battle Creek Enquirer reported today.

Citizen Patriot editors: Mark Hunter got off easy

2006-07-10T09:24:00.000-04:00

The editors of the Jackson Citizen Patriot have ripped Lenawee County prosecutors and judges a new one for letting ex-Columbia Twp. Police Chief Mark Hunter off easy for dozens of counts of child porn and possession of heroin in his Cambridge Twp. home.
Hunter is already serving 11 months in the Jackson County jail he plead no contest to charges of stealing a police department rifle and eavesdropping.
The eavesdropping stemmed from Hunter secretly video taping himself having sex with a female employee in his Columbia Township office. Hunter's Jackson County firearms stealing charge stemmed from Hunter taking police-seized guns and selling them.
On Friday, June 30, Lenawee Judge Timothy P. Pickard gave Hunter five years probation for all the crimes he committed at home.
"All in all, we would characterize that as a slap on the wrist. Hunter got his only hard time in Jackson, where he faced the less serious charges," the Citizen Patriot editors wrote in a Friday editorial.
Judge Pickard want to tack on more jail time for Hunter and instead let his probation period begin while he's in the Jackson County jail.
“The reason I'm not giving you jail time on that offense is that I don't want it to run concurrent,” Pickard told Hunter.

Lenawee County judges and longtime prosecutor Irving Shaw have drawn similar fire from some county residents in recent months for plea deals made with former Tecumseh high school track coach Matthew Petterson and his ex-Face Men male athletes.

The Jackson paper's editors say Hunter got off easy.
"We would suggest that there is a different standard of justice for police who violate the law they are sworn to uphold, but we suspect its roots lie in an institutional sympathy, not winking and nodding," the Citizen Patriot editorial board wrote. "We are idealistic enough to be disappointed in the outcome of this case -- but too realistic to be surprised."

Assessing the home values of Adrian city leaders

2006-07-07T21:05:00.000-04:00

Want to know what your neighbor's house is worth?
For the next three months, you can do so for free, thanks to Adrian's City Commissioners.
Have you ever wanted to know what the homes of Adrian's City Commissioners are worth?
Well the Adrian Insider has.
Been enjoying searching through this easy to use feature for the last week.
Below is The Insider's analysis ranking of the State Equalized Value of the homes of Adrian's commissioners, mayor and city administrator.
This photo is of the most valuable home, owned by Commissioner Greg DuMars.

City Commissioner Greg DuMars: SEV $123,900

City Commissioner Mike Clegg: SEV $109,100

City Commissioner Barb Mitzel: SEV $108,100

City Commissioner Harry "Dusty" Steele: SEV $106,300

City Administrator Dane Nelson: SEV $93,200

Mayor Gary McDowell: SEV $82,700

City Commissioner Mike Osborne: SEV $47,300

City Commissioner Kirk Valentine lists his address as 1235 Michigan Ave., but that property is owned by Adrian College.

Is Walberg 'delusional' or a 'fundamentalist'?

2006-07-07T12:45:00.000-04:00

It appears every print media organization surrounding Lenawee County is writing about the hotly contested 7th District Republican primary except Lenawee County's daily newspaper.
In his Toledo Blade column today, columnist Jack Lessenberry continues to make his case for re-electing Joe Schwarz to a second two-year term in congress.
Lessenberry, a Michigan Public Radio political talk show host, has called Schwarz's opponent, Tim Walberg of Tipton, a "fundamentalist preacher."
Apparently Walberg doesn't listen to NPR or read The Adrian Insider.
"Joe is out of touch with the Seventh Congressional District," Walberg told Lessenberry. "We need someone who will represent our values in Congress."
Schwarz, a moderate Republican, has a designation for Walberg and his supporters who brand him "extremely" and "shockingly" "liberal."
"Well, I think they are delusional," Schwarz told Lessenberry with a hearty laugh.
Schwarz was interviewed by Lessenberry on his radio show Wednesday. Then Lessenberry read an essay about how Schwarz is his type of politician - independent with experience in other fields that aren't just politics.
Lessenbery says if Walberg beats Schwarz in the Aug. 8 primary, it won't be just a victory for conservative Republicans.
"That would please a lot of people. And most of them would be Democrats," Lessenberry writes.

Schwarz, Walberg to debate July 21

2006-07-07T12:11:00.000-04:00

Congressman Joe Schwarz will square off in a July 21 debate against Republican primary opponent Tim Walberg.
The debate will be held somewhere in "the Jackson area," though specifics from both campaigns have not yet been released, The Battle Creek Enquirer reported today.
"A second debate is in the works; details are not yet available," The Enquirer reported.
In the past, Tim Skubick, host of Off The Record on WKAR, has moderated such debates.
Walberg, R-Tipton, apparently wanted to debate in every county of the 7th District, which spans through Lenawee, Washtenaw, Jackson, Hillsdale, Branch, Eaton and Calhoun counties.
Check back later with The Adrian Insider for developments on an upcoming debate between Walberg and Schwarz.

Ballot set for Aug. 8 primary, voter deadline nearing

2006-07-06T19:45:00.001-04:00

Monday is the deadline to register to vote in the August 8th primary election.
Here's a list of the candidates all qualified voters in Lenawee County have to choose from.

U.S. Senate
Republican ticket
Keith Butler of Lathrup Village
Michael Bouchard of Royal Oak

Incumbent U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket.

7th District Congressional primary
Republican ticket
Joe Schwarz, incumbent
Tim Walberg

Democratic ticket
Daryl Campbell
Chuck Ream
Sharon Renier
Fred Strack

57th District House seat (all of Lenawee County except Cambridge Township)
Rep. Dudley Spade, D-Tipton, and Republican challenger Jim Koehn of Adrian are running uncontested. They'll face off in the November general election.

65th District House seat (parts of Jackson County and Cambridge Township)
Rep. Leslie Mortimer, R-Horton, faces previous Democratic challenger Mike Simpson of Jackson.

16th Senate District
Sen. Cameron Brown, R-Fawn River Twp., faces Democrat Christiner Timothy of Sturgis this fall. No primary in this race.

*************************
Voters must vote a straight party ticket.
In 2004, former Adrian Mayor Jim Berryman urged Democrats to vote for Republican then-state senator Joe Schwarz in order to keep more conservative out of congress.

Now a Michigan Education Association union rep, Berryman has continued his support for Schwarz since the Battle Creek physician was elected in 2004.

"You don't hear the typical political rhetoric from him, he really says something. You didn't see a lot of political tap dancing on the issues," Berryman said almost a year ago following Schwarz's speech to the Lenawee County Chamber of Commerce Economic Club luncheon.

Schwarz taking heat for gay & lesbian group endorsement

2006-07-06T12:28:00.000-04:00

"It's time for Joe Schwarz to come out of the political closet."
That's the message of Gary Glenn, chairman of the Campaign for Michigan Families, The Jackson Citizen Patriot reported today.
Glenn is demanding that Schwarz release answers to a questionnaire he claims the freshman congressman had to have taken to get the endorsement of Triangle Pride political action committee in Detroit, Log Cabin Republicans and the Human Rights Campaign, all gay rights groups.
Triangle PAC misspelled Schwarz's name as "Schwartz" on its endorsement website.
Schwarz's chief spokesman said no such questionnaire exists and that the Battle Creek Republican's re-election campaign is no affiliated directly with the groups.
"They may have endorsed him, but he didn't fill out a questionnaire," John Truscott, Schwarz campaign spokesman, told the Citizen Patriot for a story today. "There's absolutely been no contact with the group."
Tim Walberg, the lone Republican challenger for Schwarz in Aug. 8 primary, brought up Schwarz's endorsement from Pride PAC in the 2004.
Campaign for Michigan Families, based in Midland, has endorsed Walberg, a former state representative from Tipton.
Schwarz beat Walberg and four other Republicans in that contest.
Pride PAC has not yet made an endorsement for Lenawee County's state representative seats in the 57th and 65th District.