Primary set a positive tone for general election

Published 4:23 am Tuesday, August 12, 2008

By Staff
To the editor:
The Republican primary election is now behind us, but I want to take this opportunity to thank my opponents – Bill Baber, Gary Campbell and Bruce Hipshear – for a clean, issue-oriented and well-fought campaign for the 78th District Michigan House seat.
Bill Baber, Gary Campbell and Bruce Hipshear were all extremely gracious and kind in their calls of support for me, and for that we can all be grateful.
I admire them all for their offers of assistance.
All four of us knew that the voters are tired of mean-spirited and polarizing political rhetoric and deserved a campaign that was thoughtful and dealt directly with the voters' concerns – the depressed economy of Michigan, the high cost of fuel and concerns about the environment, improving Michigan's schools and colleges, ever-higher taxes and disillusionment with politics in general.
All of us are confident we have set the tone for the next round of campaigning for the general election.
Michigan will be a major battlefield with frequent visits from Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain, and I expect the interest in our political system will be re-energized and that we will see a larger turnout on Election Day than we have had in the past.
The voters of southwestern Michigan deserve a clean, issue-oriented campaign more now than ever before, and I pledge that my race for the 78th District House of Representatives will give the voters something in which they can all be proud to participate.
Thank you for your support!
Republican candidate
for state representative
District 78
Niles