10/26/2006

Editorial

Two GOP incumbents and Dem challenger are best

Voters in three northern Michigan state House races have to ask themselves some key questions: Has the incumbent done enough to earn two more years or a ticket home? Does the challenger appear able to do a better job?

This year, both questions are in play.

• In the 105th District (which includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Otsego and parts of Cheboygan counties), Republican incumbent KEVIN ELSENHEIMER deserves re-election. He has kept his attention on issues that matter and has helped make good law.

Elsenheimer undertook a much-needed reworking of the state's zoning code to make it more consistent, and did much the same thing for the code of ethics for municipal workers. He's worried about the stagnant northern Michigan economy and wants more spending on tourism.

A vice chairman of the House ethics committee, Elsenheimer said he is also concerned about transparency in campaign funding and keeping legislation and fundraising separate and open to the public.

• In the 104th District, Democratic challenger ROMAN GRUCZ would bring savvy, life experience and energy to the job and deserves the opportunity.

Grucz has been a corporate attorney and a marketing executive and has worked for the Wexford Friend of the Court.

He isn't a standard Democrat. He's pro-life, opposes affirmative action quotas(*) and would permit a dove hunting season.

Like incumbent Howard Walker, Grucz is active in the effort to bring equity to school funding. He has been with the group Citizens for Equity since its second meeting. The $23 increase for under-funded districts approved this year isn't nearly enough, he says.

Grucz preaches a business model for school funding, a stronger effort to land start-up businesses and working one-on-one with failing manufacturing firms to determine what can be done to keep them afloat.

His priorities would be education funding, environmental issues, the economy and tourism. His experience and energy would serve the district well.

• In the 101st District, incumbent Republican DAVID PALSROK is facing a tough and well-funded race against newcomer Dan Scripps, but Palsrok has earned himself another term.

He has been active in the post-Labor Day school start bill, wine industry legislation, the removal of underground fuel tanks, a ban on ballast water dumping and air quality issues.

Palsrok is one of the GOP targets of a $2.3 million television ad campaign funded primarily by Kalamazoo billionaire Jon Stryker in which Palsrok is featured as a cartoon caricature. It's a prime example of how unlimited amounts of money are used to skew the process, and it stinks.