The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has approved and announced endorsement positions for the upcoming November 6, 2012 elections.
The Chamber recommends the following actions on statewide ballot issues 12-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and the renewal of the eight year millage request for Delta College.
Ballot Proposal Chamber Endorses
12-1 Emergency Manager PA 4 Referendum………………………………… Vote YES
12-2 Amend the Constitution:
Regarding Collective Bargaining…………………………………………… Vote NO
12-3 Amend the Constitution: to Establish A New
Standard for Renewal Energy“25 by 2025”…………………………….. Vote NO
12-4 Amend the Constitution: to Establish The Michigan
Quality Home Care Council and Provide Collective
Bargaining for In-Home Health Care Workers…………………………. Vote NO
12-5 Amend the Constitution: to Require a 2/3 Majority Vote
of House and Senate to Enact New Taxes by State Gov’t………….. Vote NO
12-6 Amend the Constitution: Regarding Construction of
International Bridges and Tunnels……………………………………….. Vote NO
Delta College Millage Renewal
Eight Year $0.4864 per $1,000 millage renewal,
continuing the current rate of funding for Delta College…………… Vote YES
Saginaw County Chamber President Bob VanDeventer
Saginaw Chamber President Bob Van Deventer stated, “Our Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse a NO vote on each of the proposed amendments to our state’s constitution. We are against the attempt of special interest groups to embed public policy into Michigan’s constitution.”
Van Deventer also stated, “We are in favor of reinstating Public Act 4 (Proposal 12-1), because this law more clearly defines the trigger points indicating financial stress within a municipality, allowing them to be considered for an Emergency Manager appointment by the Governor’s office. This law also provides more effective resources to the Emergency Manager to develop effective plans for recovery”.
County and State House of Representatives Candidates:
The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce has completed a review and endorsement process for all County and State Representative candidates willing to participate. Each candidate was provided with a questionnaire that asked for the candidate’s viewpoints on difficult issues that impact residents and businesses in Saginaw County and the Great Lakes Bay Region. The questions asked the candidates for their positions on the statewide ballot issues in the November 6th election, recommendations they have for addressing Public Safety issues within Saginaw County, their positions on the issues of Prevailing Wage and Minimum Wage status in Michigan, and their recommendations for maintaining balanced budgets for the State and County.
The following list represents the Chamber’s endorsement position, based upon the candidates’ answers to the questionnaire and their personal interviews conducted by the Chamber’s Screening and Endorsement Committee. Because not all candidates elected to participate in the endorsement process, and some of the candidates are unopposed, the Chamber elected not to make endorsements in some of the races.
Candidates Endorsed
State House of Representatives
94th District…………………………. Tim Kelly (R)
95th District…………………………. No Endorsement
County Officials
Prosecutor…………………………. Matthew Frey (R)
County Clerk………………………. Susan Kaltenbach (D)
County Commissioner
District 1……………………………. Patrick Wurtzel (R)
District 2……………………………. Alex Boese (R)
District 3……………………………. Kirk Kilpatrick (R)
District 6……………………………. Ron Sholtz (R)
District 8……………………………. Dennis Kraft (R)
The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce is a multi-faceted not for profit organization that is a coalition of approximately 900 businesses located in the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan. Taking the leadership role in developing programs that initiate and implement economic development, quality of life, education, public sector, core city redevelopment, and crime prevention strategies, the Chamber also offers a large number of value added benefits and programs that help members make money and save money. We are the voice of business to local, state and federal legislators and provide pro-business impetus and support for legislation and planning.
Mission: The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce will be a catalyst for economic and community progress.
Vision: The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce vision is to foster a thriving Saginaw Valley within the Great Lakes Bay Region.
