7th District Map
Posted on 03/26/2003 8:45:07 AM PST by Dan from Michigan
Andrews: DeWeese sets sights on congressional seat
Paul DeWeese isn't ready to let last year's state Senate defeat end his career in politics.
The former Republican state representative from Williamston lost a long, tough and expensive race to Democrat Virg Bernero. Now he is renting an apartment in Eaton Rapids to position himself for a 2004 campaign.
This time, his target is Congress. He hopes to succeed U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, R-Addison, who is retiring.
DeWeese is already on the campaign trail.
His loss to Bernero wasn't for a lack of money or effort.
He spent nearly $350,000 and was relentless in his campaigning, aggressively courting minority voters and union members.
He lost 53 percent to 47 percent in the Ingham County district that was ultimately too Democratic. Gov. Jennifer Granholm won 61 percent of the county vote.
The 7th Congressional District seat is considered safely Republican.
It covers Eaton, Jackson, Branch, Hillsdale and Lenawee counties and parts of Calhoun and Washtenaw counties.
This time DeWeese's major obstacle is the GOP primary. It's likely to be a crowded field.
Calhoun County Clerk Anne Norlander and state Reps. Clark Bisbee of Jackson and Gene DeRosset are all running.
Former state Sen. John Schwarz of Battle Creek will decide by June.
Former state Rep. Frank Fitzgerald of Grand Ledge is considering a run as well.
There no doubt will be talk of DeWeese as a carpetbagger, moving to Eaton County just to hold office.
"The question is always going to be there, do you know the district, do you know the area?" said DeRosset, who won a tough re-election in the 52nd District last year rather than moving to a safe Republican district nearby.
DeWeese says he's gotten to know residents of the district as an emergency room doctor at Eaton Rapids Medical Center since 1987.
"None of the people that has considered running know the whole district," DeWeese said. "I've seen tens of thousands of people from Jackson County, Calhoun County and Eaton County over that period of time."
Frank Fitzgerald and Clark Bisbee are both anti-gun. Fitzgerald fought it in committee, and Bisbee voted against CCW. Joe Schwarz is even worse than Bisbee and Fitzgerald, and even Granholm on this issue. He's a McCainiac, and also said that there is no right to keep and bear arms.
I don't know where Anne Norlander stands on the issue. That's something I would like to find out.
Gene DeRosset has been good on our issue. As a Republican, I kind of hope he doesn't run because his district is 48% Democrat and it would be tough to defend his state rep seat against the democrat. He's a good guy though.
Paul DeWeese is a moderate on many issues. He is however very pro-gun(and also pro-life), and has not wavered one bit on this issue during his terms in the legislature, nor his campaign for his state senate run. He can be counted on in Congress, and he's also a nice guy. The only real negative he has is that he's from an area 15 miles outside the district.
This is looking like a regional battle here, similar to the 47th state rep race in Livingston. Bisbee's from Jackson. Norlander from Calhoun. Schwarz from Calhoun(his senate district covered Eaton too). Fitzgerald from Eaton. DeWeese is now in Eaton. DeRossett from Wasthenaw.
All of Eaton and Jackson and Lenawaee is in the district. Based on population alone, I'd have to give the early edge to Bisbee.
When push comes to shove, I have to go by voting record, regardless of what is said. Of course for the congressional race, with a large number of "conservative democrats" in Lenawaee County, not to mention the GOP primary voting base, it is real easy to all of a sudden become pro-gun.
I hope Bisbee has 'seen the light'. I like his business stance and background. However, right now I have to go by a gun vote in this primary. He voted against CCW, regardless of whatever reason he had. Actions to me speak louder than words. If the election was today, I'd back Paul DeWeese(Who I also happen to know - so I'll admit biasness there.) DeRossett is a solid choice as well on this issue and I have nothing bad at all to say about him from the two times I've met him. Seems like a straight shooter. I've heard Anne Norlander was pro-2a as well, but I do not know for sure. She dropped from the sec of state race before I had a chance to ask her about it.
With a tenuous hold on the house right now and an Anti-gun majority in the senate, if there is a choice I can count on 100% of the time, that's what is needed. I'll back Bisbee over the dem, but there is no way I can consider him pro-2nd Amendment until I see good evidence to do so. That means a couple of tough votes. I've been hosed too many times to rely on talk, so I'm a little blunt and harsh when it comes to anti-gun votes.
I'd take Bisbee over the dem, and over Schwartz and Fitzgerald(his committee vote hurt us much more), but I'd have to take Norlander, DeRossett, and DeWeese over him.
7th District Map
Schauer is a slick democrat. He voted for CCW and says he is pro-gun. BUT..
Schauer voted against reforming the laws governing black powder firearms. Currently, only Michigan and New Jersey treat black powder firearms the same as modern firearms.
Schauer voted for several anti self-defense amendments in the CCW package, including one that would not allow firearms in cars, which would have effectively killed CCW.
Schauer voted for an amendment that banned CCW from any property owned by an institution of higher learning.
Schauer cosponsored gun ban extremist Laura Baird’s HB 4926, which bans private sales of any type at gun shows.
Schauer cosponsored gun ban extremist Gilda Jacob’s HB 4918, which limits gunowners to buying one gun a month, and defines pistols as firearms that are 12 inches or less in length. This is a ban on all firearms that are between 13 and 26 inches in length, since FEDERAL law defines firearms under 26 inches as a PISTOL.
Schauer is not our friend at all.
Mortimer is from Jackson County.
Bisbee is from Jackson City.
DeWeese is from Williamson(just outside the district), but moved to Eaton Rapids where he is a practicing doctor.(so he has roots here)
Gene DeRossett is from Manchester in rural Washtenaw County. (Ann Arbor and Ypsi is not in the district)
Anne Norlander is the Calhoun County Clerk.(Schauer's area)
Undeclared candidates
Joe Schwarz - Former State senator from Battle Creek(Calhoun) and ran against Posthumus in 2002.
Frank Fitzgerald - Former state rep from Grand Ledge in Eaton County.
Tim Walberg - Former state rep. I don't know who he is.
No dems have announced, but I think Schauer is going for it. Mortimer went one on one against Schauer in the 2002 state senate race(Most of Jackson and all of Calhoun County) and unfortunatly lost. Schauer is a weasel, but he's tough to beat.
By the numbers Eaton County - 49272 voters - Bush won by 1592, 50%(Granholm won it)
Jackson County - 61946 - Bush won by 3906 - 52%
Calhoun County - 55080 - Gore won by 1021 - 50%
Branch County - 15783 - Bush won by 2052 - 55%
Hillsdale County - 17473 - Bush won by 3988 - 60%
Lenawaee County - 40093 - Bush by 2316(dem state rep) - 52%
Washtenaw County(approx) - 42548 - Bush by 2214 - 51% (The real bad areas are in Dingell's district - only dem areas here are Scio(Next to Ann Arbor) and Sylvan townships(maybe).)
Bush won the district by about 15047 votes. This is not a gimmee, especially since Schauer has a 'moderate image', a lot of money, and is a ruthless campaigner, combined with a major GOP primary. I saw his commercials on Lansing TV(30 miles from Jackson) almost as often as the Mike Rogers ads. This was for state senate, not congress.
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