By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
THREE OAKS - Kim Clark's demeanor was casual Wednesday morning as he walked across the stage of the Acorn Theatre in Three Oaks with a cup of coffee in hand.
But, his speech officially announcing his candidacy as a Democrat for the U.S. House of Representatives was straight to the point.
The Three Oaks businessman was referring to the Bush administration and Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), the 18-year incumbent of Michigan's 6th District who Clark is challenging in the Nov. 7 election.
Clark has said a large part of his efforts will be directed at education and health care.
He has referred to schools as “our country's best investment” and said he will put an emphasis on learning as opposed to standardized testing.
The need for a universal health care system was also a focus of Clark's speech. He said people should have access to a program that supports and funds diagnosis and treatment as early as possible.
Clark was born in Texas but has lived in Three Oaks for the last 10 years where he is co-owner and operator of the Acorn Theatre.
Clark is also an ordained minister and an adjunct professor of screenwriting at DePaul University.