By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Trying to mount a meager campaign against state Sen. Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, across three counties with less than $1,000 has more than familiarized Val Janowski of Dowagiac with the words "uphill battle."
But talk is cheap, so the 21st District Democratic Senate nominee goes to meet-the-candidate nights like one at The Marketplace in downtown Dowagiac Monday night and tries to get her message out.
One is that Janowski is as rich in real-life experiences as she is poor in campaign cash.
She has been an educator, is bilingual (English and Spanish), worked two years in the Kent County Jail, giving her familiarity with corrections issues, and brings almost 10 years of business experience to the table.
"I was overseas government accounts manager for Stryker Corp. in Kalamazoo," she said. "I worked during Desert Shield, turning into Desert Storm, with the Kuwaiti government in exile. We processed an almost $1 million order. I have a lot of experience in export especially, but developing business period.
"I worked in the automotive industry. I worked in the environmental industry. I've been laid off because of a downturn in the economy, so I've gone through that experience, too.
"I've been a single mom. I've been involved in the Native American community for 30 years. My oldest daughter happens to be the youngest member on the Pokagon Band Tribal Council. One of my daughters just finished her master's degree in education. The younger one is in the middle of it. The third one is just graduating from Western. We value education."
The 21st District encompasses all of Cass and Berrien counties and most of Van Buren County, minus Paw Paw and Antwerp townships.
Democrats have fresh ideas to offer, she said.
"Albert Einstein once said, 'You can't expect to get different results doing the same thing over and over.' We need to do things differently. Sen. Jelinek said about low voter turnout, 'How much easier could it be?' Well,it could be a lot easier. Absentee voting could be easier. Right now, you can check boxes for older than 65, medical reasons, you're in jail or you plan to be out of town. In effect, you have to lie if you just want to vote absentee for convenience. Registration right now is closed so you won't be allowed to vote for governor. That's crazy. I think you should be able to register right up to and including the day of the election. Some states have several days of voting."
Janowski attended the Republicans' small business meeting recently in Cassopolis and struck up a conversation with GOP neighbors.
"One gentleman said, 'They're politicians over there.' These are our leaders we're talking about. Respect has been lost over the years. We need to bring back respect and, like trust, it has to be earned and then worked to be kept. We're all challenged to choose those candidates whose values reflect what we hold dear," like putting working people before corporate profits.
"I would look at legislation as to how it affects everyday citizens," Janowski said. "What are the consequences for all of us? What is in the best interest of the common good? That's exactly what we need to filter everything through. That's what I represent. I'm Democratic through and through. My brother fought in Vietnam for 18 months. I came up through (the civil rights movement). I benefited from the Upward Bound program. That's how I came to Michigan. I was born and raised in Chicago. Social Security – my dad died when I was 12 years old and there were six of us. These very important programs are not adequately funded and the trend is downward."
She recommended the book "The Broken Branch" about the legislative wing.
"Congress is not providing the oversight that it needs to provide," Janowski said. "We have an out-of-touch president with his out-of-touch little inner circle running us like a train crashing off the track – and we're going down the wrong track.
"Michigan has a Democratic governor, but we have a Republican Legislature and it's not working with her except to blame her: 'Gov. Granholm, what have you done? You haven't done anything.' Excuse me, it takes two to dance.
"I told Sen. Jelinek I'm the underdog. I'm truly as grassroots as they come. I'm not ashamed to say I haven't received any donations from any organizations – only individuals, and less than $1,000. That's why you don't see a lot of signs. I can't afford a lot of signs.
"I told Sen. Jelinek that I may not win, but if he returns to Lansing, work with the Democrats. The country's passionate about bipartisanship. They want to know that our legislators are working together and not fighting each other at every turn."