Hold That Endorsement - State Rep Says He's Has Not Endorsed In The 80th District

Many of you have probably seen the flyer for Bill Sage, candidate for State House Representative in Michigan's 80th District with a series of endorsements.  However one listed endorser who is a State Representative says not so fast, I didn't endorse.

Monday night State Representative Jim Runestad of Michigan's 44th House District posted on twitter and on his Facebook page the following:

So the question is why is Jim Runestad's name listed as a top endorsement for Bill Sage and who made the decision to put that on the flyer?

Ok Here We Go Again In Oakland County

On Thursday October 22nd of this month, the Oakland County

Michigan Republican Party Executive Committee had its meeting.  I was there as a proxy voter.  The meeting ran smoothly and two individuals were elected unanimously without challengers to fill two vacant seats.  It ran smoothly even with White Lake State Representative Jim Tedder speaking about the revenue shuffle and tax increases for our roads.  I too joined the chorus of boos when Tedder spoke of why he voterd for the tax.

After Tedder spoke,  fellow Executive Member Tom Llewellyn was given the floor, as per the agenda, to speak on energy issues.  This was the last item on the agenda and all other items on the agenda were complete. Lewellyn began to speak and discovered, some changes occurring in Lansing as he found out from calling out to Waterford State Representative, Jim Runstead (who should be applauded for his no vote on the road tax increase) who was also in attendance.   Lewellyn then tried to refer his time to another Executive Committee member Eric Bond of Ferndale.   This was not part of the agenda and since Llewellyn gave up his time, the Chair Theresa Mungioli used privileged adjournment to close the meeting.  It was as simple as that.

After the meeting it was discovered that Bond wanted discuss the Oakland County Republican Party's e-mails in which the Oakland County Republican Party listed local candidates that were seeking help looking for walkers for their campaigns.   Bond felt that this was a violation of the Oakland County Republican By-Laws.   This was the provision in the bylaws that question:

Section 10.4: Exceptions In the exceptional circumstance where an endorsement will significantly benefit the Republican Party in Oakland County, the Executive Committee may endorse, support or disavow an individual candidate in a contested Republican or non-partisan special election, Republican or non-partisan primary election, a non-partisan general election, or in a judicial election provided that a motion to endorse or disavow a particular candidate be adopted by two-thirds (2/3) of the Executive Committee present and voting, and provided further that notice of consideration of the motion is given as provided in Article 11. Section 11.3, with the consent of the candidate whose endorsement is proposed.

Bond's concern was that the Oakland County Republican Party was endorsing or supporting certain Republican candidates over other Republican candidates in non-partisan races.   

This was NOT the case with the Oakland Republican Party. The Oakland County Republican Party merely listed the contact information for those asking for assistance walking their campaigns.  The Oakland Party obliged by listing their information.

Any Republican candidate had the same opportunity to have their information e-mail blasted out.  In no way did the Oakland County Republican Party endorse or give special favor to any of those candidates.  Using the City of Troy for example all 3 candidates received the same treatment and there was no endorsement.

Would it be a violation of Oakland County Republican Party by-laws to have signs dropped off at their location?  There are numerous signs from additional candidates that did not ask for walk help but asked that their signs be dropped off at the Oakland County Republican Headquarters.  Using the same logic that if sending an e-mail out for help candidates is a by-law violation, wouldn't it be the same as a candidate asking for help having their signs stored and picked up by campaign volunteers at Oakland County Republican Headquarters?

Now over something as small as a simple e-mail that contained no endorsements and intent of favoritism over one candidate versus another, we now have a nasty political blog written by an another Oakland County Executive Board Member filled with inaccuracies with a headline saying the chair had a "bizarre meltdown" which was not that case, again I was there.    The blogger also uses his blog to try to bully the chair but using an extra large photo of her with the text "Unfit to Lead, Unfit to Serve".

If perhaps Llewellyn and Bond approached the situation differently in a more calm matter and addressed the chair at the appropriate time of the agenda rather than do a bate and switch we wouldn't have all this turmoil and all these inaccuracies especially from that blogger.  

The Oakland County Chairwoman Theresa Mungioli will allow all sides to have their say but at the right time and right manner.  She is no different that most any other chair who would do the same.

As I have stated before, I was not sure about Theresa when she first became Chairwoman in the 9th District during the 2011-2013 term, of which I was a committee member.  However she did prove herself to be fair.  Did we agree on everything? No.  Was every battle won?  No.  But she gave everyone equal opportunity. 

Most thought  that Theresa Mungioli  proved herself she met with Bob and Regina Brim to work out the resolution regarding "Civil Asset Forfeiture" .  There was a lot of distrust in the beginning because the resolution did not make the agenda at first.  It wasn't because the resolution was bad, it was the wording that was.  Mungioli met with the Brims in her office to work out the resolution so it would pass the Oakland County Republican Party Issues Committee and make it to the agenda, which it did and passed.

It is a shame that we have this turmoil again over someone's twisting of an e-mail.

One of the main purposes of the Oakland Country Republican Party is to help with candidate recruitment.  These include candidates for local office.  Should the Oakland County Republican Party no longer offer advice to new candidates running for what is called non-partisan (but really isn't) political offices such as school board and/or city council? Watch how fast all the cities in Oakland County become 100% Democrat controlled when that happens.

 The party office is there to offer intellectual knowledge support to any Republican candidate.  Offering to share knowledge equally among all candidates that ask is not an endorsement or being supportive of one candidate.

Michgan Primary Shows Tea Party Is Alive And Well

Although the Tea Party suffered some losses with the election losses of Tom McMillin, Alan Arcand and Peter Konetchy for Congress,  Matthew Maddock for State Senate, Wendy Lynn Day, Angela Rigas, and Deb O'Hagan for State Representative, there were many victories.

Tea Party and Christen victories included; Justin Amash, 3rd District Representative in Congress who battled a tough primay, 7th District State Senator Patrick Colbeck, Lana Theis, 42nd District State Representative, Jim Runestad, 44th District State Representative, Cindy Gamrat, 80th District State Representative, Todd Courser, 82nd District State Representative, Gary Glenn 98th District State Representative, Triston Cole, 105th District State Representative, Lee Chatfield 107th District State Representative.

These victories were hard fought as the Establishment  branch of the party did everything they could to prevent the Tea Party and Christian Conservatives from winning .

In the 3rd Congressional District Brian Ellis, a business man was chosen by the Establishment Republicans to challenge Sophmore and Tea Party Favorite Justin Amash.  Brian Ellis was endorsed by Retiring Congressman Mike Rogers. Rogers had been at odds with Justin Amash over Amash's stance against the NSA spy agency, the NDAA where American's deemed terrorists can be held indefinitely and lose their constitutional rights.  Justin bucked many in his party and voted against the Continuing Resolutions that kept funding Obamacare.   Former Congressman and 2012 Senate Candidate Pete Hoekstra also supported Ellis.  The nastiness in the campaign was so bad that yesterday at his victory party Justin told Brian Ellis and Pete Hoekstra how he really felt.  

"Brian Ellis, you owe my family and this community an apology," Amash said. "You had the audacity to try to call me today after running a campaign that was called 'the nastiest in the country.' "I ran for office to stop people like you."

"I want to say to lobbyist Pete Hoekstra, you're a disgrace," said Amash, noting the former U.S. representative who appeared in a TV ad for Ellis. "I'm glad we can hand you one more loss before you fade into total obscurity and irrelevance."

In the 107th District the Establishment was so desperate to keep power and their Representative Frank Foster that they courted the Democrat party and asked for their help to take a stand against the Tea Party.

Chatfield's challenge came as a result of Foster's overall liberal voting record (Obamacare-Medicaid expansion, Common Core) but primarily his advocacy for the homosexual activists' top agenda item.

Gary Glenn who is a strong voice for marriage between a man and a woman also won his seat easily. In the race in the 98th Gary Glenn's religious beliefs were attacked for his Christian beliefs on gay marriage. Former Michigan Gubernatorial  Dick Devos' family donated heavily to Glenn's opponent and Devos' right hand man, Greg McKnielly, Dick Devos' right hand man and who quickly got married to his gay partner when the window for gay marriage was briefly opened earlier this year, also worked hard against Glenn.

In the 44th House District there was no love lost between conservative favorite Jim Runestad, who has a conservative record to stand on, versus Liz Fessler Smith, a relative new comer that came from a rocky political family , rose quickly through the ranks and was supported by many Establishment Republicans. 

Liz Fessler Smith stated to tea party members  and Christian Conservatives that she was conservative while at the same time she had committed to amending the Elliott-Larsen Act to include special protections for sexual orientation.  Many false accusations were thrown at Jim, including calling him a racist, which many know to be farthest from the truth.  The police were also called on the Fessler Smith campaign at a precinct in White Lake for what some perceived as voter intimidation.  However one Facebook user advised that Ms. Fessler-Smith decided to post on her facebook wall that the police were called on her opponent.

In Michigan the campaign finance reports where due on July 25th,2014, but as of this writing no complete campaign filing has been given to the Michigan Election Commission.  As previously reported Ms. Fessler Smith stated that her campaign finance information was stolen out of her mother's car the day it was due. 

Former candidates for Michigan Republican Chair and Vice Chair, Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat also won their respect races and one can only wonder what will happen in the State House once they team up again should they when in November.

Overall with all the drama, the Establishment Republicans who have had their hands in pockets of those that support Common Core, Medicaid Expansion, and the gay marriage agenda to a hit with the election of Christian Tea Party Candidates yesterday.  

After A Series Of Miscues Candidate Now Says Her Campaign Records Stolen

Liz Fessler Smith is a first time candidate running for State Representative in Michigan's 44th District, against 

Dennis Garlick, Russ Tierney and current Oakland County County Commissioner Jim Runestad. 

Although this is her first run at a public political office, she does come from an interesting political family and miscues do run in her family. 

Her father Richard Kessler served as Senator from 1983 to 1990 but had a miscue in 1987 when he made the papers in November of that year, after being arrested.  Not to be out done her mother, Marilyn Fessler also had some miscues, one such when she made the news after she had a bench arrest warrant issued for contempt of court in 1988, and a police raid was conducted at the family's home in search of Marilyn Fessler. 


Ms.Liz Fessler Smith has had a series of miscues during her campaign from sending out a campaign fundraising
flyer listing former 11th district chair , Abe Munfakh as 11th district chair when the current chairman is Michael Mitchell. Many on the 11th District Board that chose to remain neutral in this state rep race thought this was an underhanded attempt by Ms. Fessler Smith to make it look as if her former board was behind her.  Ms. Fessler Smith previously served on the 2013-2015 11th District Congressional Board, until she was forced to resign due to the 11th District  Board by-laws requiring a board member to resign if they decide to run in a contested Republican Primary.   

The next miscue Ms. Fessler Smith made was when she sent out an e-mail with a photograph of former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, while he was in town supporting another candidate.  Ms. Fessler Smith stated in the e-mail that Mitt Romney was behind her campaign and suggested that she post that picture of the two of them in her campaign materials.  According to numerous Facebook posts from long term Republicans, they asked State Committee Woman and Mitt Romney's niece Ronna Romney McDaniel if her uncle would say something like that.  Even though Ms. McDaniel endorsed former fellow 11th District Board Member Liz Fessler Smith, the facebook posts said she said, "No, He wouldn't have." 

Did Mitt Romney Really Endorse Liz Fessler Smith?

Now we come to the biggest miscue of them all campaign finance reports.  Every candidate must file them, however Ms. Fessler Smith has reported that they were stolen from her mother's vehicle on or around July 25th.  

Ms. Fessler Smith said her paper records were swiped on the same day pre-primary campaign finance report was due to be filed with state election regulators. She notified the Bureau of Elections via email on the evening of July 25 that “our campaign finance information has been stolen along with some other campaign information/records and signs,” records show.

Ms. Fessler Smith suggested one of her opponents may have played a role in the theft, though she offered no evidence.

Ms. Fessler Smith's husband is the campaign treasurer and by reported accounts, preparing to put the campaign information into the State's online system when the supposed theft occurred.  

White Lake Township police have few leads in the week-old case, said assigned detective Lt. Larry Sheldon on Friday.

There was no evidence of forced entry and approximately 100 campaign signs were reported stolen, which is common during election years, Sheldon said.

The chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party said Fessler Smith’s story “doesn't add up.”

“It’s the most ludicrous statement I’ve heard in any campaign in 30 years that somebody stole my papers,” Oakland GOP Chairman Jim Thienel.

Given that campaigns spending more than $5,000 have to store fundraising data electronically, Fessler Smith would have been up against the deadline to prepare her report, Thienel said.

According to numerous Facebook posts, the Secretary of State is not sitting idly by either.  Reports state they have fined the campaign $500 and are now in the process of contacting the Attorney General's office as no campaign reports have been filed.    One simply cannot just walk away and not file the appropriate campaign paperwork.  The State keeps specific reports to prevent commingling of campaign funds into other accounts such as business or personal. 

Some have posted on Facebook and are suggesting that this is a ploy as perhaps Ms. Fessler Smith received donations from a major Republican insider or politician who is now embarrassed to have made a contribution to this campaign. 

Does Ms. Fessler Smith think she is better than the rest of the candidates? Those that play by the rules and have been active in the party with proven track records and experience.  One has to wonder.