Candidate for Governor Visits PI

Yesterday the Democratic candidate for Governor, Mark Schauer, paid a visit to Presque Isle.  This is unusual because Northeastern Lower Michigan in general, and Presque Isle in particular, isn't a place one gets to by accident.  It's too easy to slip by on I-75 on your way to Traverse City, Petoskey, and other West Side locales.

Politicians — at least those who have taken a high seat among the natives of the land — avoid this area, too.  I don't recall Gov. Snyder paying us a visit since I moved up here in 2010.

The event was held at Garrity Hall, at the
New Presque Isle Lighthouse Park.

Shauer arrives with his team.  Here the candidate takes a
detour saying, "I'm Mark Schauer.  I'm running for Governor."

He has a brief chat with a visitor to the lighthouse.

It was a typical day of campaigning.  Schauer, a 52-year-old Battle Creek resident, started out in Sault Ste. Marie in the eastern Upper Peninsula.  He first attended a major luncheon meeting at the UAW Education Center at Black Lake, in western Presque Isle County, where a number of Democratic candidates were scheduled to speak.  After that he drove to Presque Isle, arriving at the New Lighthouse at 3:30 p.m.  He spoke and answered questions for over an hour, and then about 5:00 headed off for yet another engagement in Gaylord.

Campaigning is a marathon event.  I believe he and his team have been on the road for several days.

Sharon, chair of the Presque Isle County Democrats,
greets the candidate on his arrival.

Township Trustee Pat Hart (center) presents Schauer with a
sunset-with-flag photograph taken by Debbie (left) —
a little memento of his visit to Presque Isle.

Schauer grew up in Howell, southeast of Lansing.  He is an Albion College graduate (as are my friends Mark and Judy from Boston) and worked as an urban planner in Calhoun County while pursuing a master's in public administration from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.  Before long he was named to head Battle Creek's Community Action Agency, a 200-employee organization offering weatherization, foster grandparent, food assistance, and other programs for those in need.  In this position he was also in charge of the county's Head Start program.

Schauer begins his stump speech at
the New Lighthouse.

The candidate talks with his hands.  That makes for
interesting photographs!

Schauer addresses the 38 residents who attended.
Among them was an Albion College coach who wanted to
see what this Albion alum had to say.

Schauer moved into politics in the late 1990s.  He served in the Michigan House from 1997-2003, the Michigan Senate from 2003-2009, and the U.S. House of Representatives from 2009-2011.  He was defeated in his reelection bid in 2010, the mid-term election which saw so many Republicans swept into office at the state and national level.  Schauer's vote in favor of the Affordable Care Act figured large in the campaign.

After his speech Mark Schauer spent about 40 minutes
answering questions.  He was clearly in no hurry and seemed
genuinely to enjoy engaging with people.

The last part of his visit was a group photo.  Quite a few
people had already left for home.

Mark Schauer is an energetic, engaging, and very articulate man.  He genuinely seems to like campaigning, with the constant speaking, shaking hands, posing for photos, nights in motels and meals grabbed along the way.  I'd last a week, if that!  He has some good ideas.  I'll discuss his positions in a subsequent post. •••