Posted on 02/05/2005 6:29:36 PM PST by KidGlock
DeVos creates buzz as GOP meets here
Saturday, February 05, 2005
By Steven Harmon
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Dick DeVos has sought advice from top Republicans on whether he should run for governor and has heard a consistent theme: Gov. Jennifer Granholm is vulnerable, and he would be the right man to take her on.
The former president of Alticor has kept his intentions closely guarded since his name began popping up last month as a possible challenger in 2006.
But DeVos' close political associates say he is seriously considering a race.
"It depends on how he wants to commit his time," said Gary Granger, a developer and West Michigan regional director for the Bush/Cheney campaign last fall. "But if he does get in, I'd be behind him all the way. ...
"He's got good business acumen, creativity and passion for the people of Michigan. There's not anybody like Dick DeVos."
DeVos will be at the center of speculation today as 2,000 Republicans meet in Grand Rapids to elect a new state chairman -- expected to be Saul Anuzis -- to succeed DeVos' wife, Betsy.
The convention is the kickoff to the 2006 election cycle, and Republicans have begun to speak more confidently about winning back the governor's mansion and a U.S. Senate seat.
Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Dick Posthumus said he encouraged DeVos to run.
"I told him the state needs somebody who can provide that executive leadership that can make tough decisions," said Posthumus, who lost to Granholm in 2002. "That's really what we need now."
Republicans say a poor economy and weak jobs picture have left Granholm vulnerable. But DeVos would have to overcome his own soft spots, political observers said.
First, he would have to brace himself for tough primary and general campaigns, said Doug Koopman, a political science professor at Calvin College and former congressional aide to the late Paul Henry of Grand Rapids.
"He has not run a campaign himself," Koopman said. "It's a very demanding course, and will be for at least a year where he has to organize, raise the money, develop strategy and get his face out there on TV, radio, phone interviews all of the time."
In a race, DeVos' unsuccessful drive for school vouchers in 2000 might work against him, said Bill Rustem, president of Lansing-based Public Sector Consultants.
"The Democratic Party would likely try to portray him as out of touch with regular people, but traditionally that hasn't hurt wealthy candidates," Rustem said. "Vouchers could hurt him. It was a resounding defeat that Democrats will try to exploit, and I'm sure some Republicans might try that in a primary."
Two Republicans have announced -- state Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Troy, and state Rep. Jacob Hoogendyk, R-Portage.
And the field is likely to get more crowded, with Domino's Pizza chief David Brandon -- a backup quarterback for the University of Michigan in the 1980s -- as another big-ticket contender.
Dick has been more interested in politics than the family business.
And with young children, a job in Lansin would be better foir the family than a Senator's job in Washington.
bump
According to family members just about anyone could beat her due to the property tax issue. HOpe the GOP get's organized....and cleans up the voter fraud.
Not sure a West-side candidate can win the governorship, no matter how "vulnerable" Granholm is. If I were De Vos, I'd wait and take on Stabenow. No reason his family has to go to DC. They could stay in the GR area and he could travel.
We're just trying to clean up the mess from the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time (Soc Sec).
The GOP does not need to run a member of the family which gave us the second biggest.
I haven't heard about it and haven't been hit up by my MLM type friends recently.
I've always admired Amway. Especially from a distance.
An Amway acquaintance of mine said something I'll never forget, "At Amway, the lifestyle comes front loaded."
Amway/Alticor is one of the biggest employers in West Michigan.
I believe it up to 10,000 well paid, non-union employees .
This is an interesting developement. I wish her well.
BTW, I heard that the race against Debbie Stabenow is not going well. First of all, a poll shows her polling 57%. Also, Candice Miller decided not to make the race. Any new developements that I don't know of? Will this race have to be written off?
Get real, the guy is a scam artist of the first order (and his wife is shrewy scary on top of it).
Personally I am far more interested in seeing what the Republicans can do to defeat Senator Stabenow in 2006. I am not impressed with the Republican organization in Michigan.
You don't know Amway/Quixtar/Alticor very well do you?
No I don't know Amway/Quixtar very well.
I only live in Ada and drive by it twice each day. My best friend is a diamond in the Quixtar business. I have hosted Republican fundraisers with Rich DeVos and met Dick and Betsy on several occaisions. I was in Betsy's suite at the Republican convention when she was planning her run for the National Committee woman.
I suppose you know more than me.
The GOP is more interested in targeting Dayton and protecting Talent, Santorum, and Chafee. I don't see any big gains for the GOP in 2006. I will be happy if we just break even.
You think this is just baggage? You have no idea how much damage Amway (and their scam artist support system) has caused their customers, er, distributors, er, independent business owners since 1959. The only thing the DeVos and Van Andel families should do is write big checks to the RNC, screw up perfectly good sports teams and stay the eff out of politics.
I'm sure the Amway central offices are very prosperous, served as they are by hundreds of thousands of "distributors" who never make jack.
How is he "forcing" Orlando?
Ask him how much he makes from selling "tools" versus selling product.
Amway Corp. only does three things. They make products, they ship them and they pay out bonuses according to the rules they established. They have always done those things very well and gone the extra mile for their customers and partners.
Amway distributors however are a whole different ball of wax.
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