For
Immediate Release:
June 15, 2004
www.kevingreencampaign.com
State House Candidate Kevin Green Walks Entire District;
Earns Endorsements From Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
and Former Mayor Logie
Wyoming, MI – He began walking Byron Township
in January, often navigating his way through knee-deep
snow between homes to reach even its most rural residents.
Since then, for hours every day, Wyoming City Councilmember
Kevin Green has been going house to house, introducing
himself to the voters of Michigan’s 77th District
– and asking for their support in his campaign
for state representative.
Today, after knocking on more than 16,500 doors over
the past 16 months, Green finished his goal of walking
the entire district. “I believe a candidate must
personally ask for someone’s vote,” he said.
“It’s definitely hard work, but this is
how it is supposed to done.”
Green’s hard work has paid off. Not only has
he secured the support of nearly every local elected
official and an impressive list of West Michigan business
leaders, last week Green won what he considers to be
his most prized endorsement – that of the Grand
Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce – in the August
3rd Republican primary that pits Green against one other
candidate. The winner will face the Democratic nominee
in the November general election.
“I am both thrilled and encouraged to have the
full support of the Grand Rapids Chamber at this vital
stage of the campaign. I have made it the central point
in my work as a public servant to cultivate a positive,
helpful relationship between government and business
so that together we can continue to help improve the
quality of life for West Michigan citizens.”
Mark Lemoine, the Vice President of Public Policy and
Government Affairs for the Chamber, says that Green’s
experience and proven record as a hard-working representative
of the people and consistent supporter of the business
community made endorsing him an easy decision.
“As a proven and dedicated advocate for West
Michigan business, Kevin Green has earned the Grand
Rapids Chamber’s support. He personifies the cooperative
relationship the people of West Michigan have come to
expect between government and business. Serving simultaneously
as the Chairman of the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce
and as an at-large representative on the Wyoming City
Council, Kevin routinely drew from his experience in
one organization to help make good policy for the other.
Putting the same skills to use in Lansing, we are confident
Kevin will quickly become recognized as an effective
and respected legislator.”
In addition to the Chamber’s endorsement, former
Grand Rapids Mayor John Logie added his name to an already
extensive list of local elected officials and community
leaders who have endorsed Green’s candidacy in
the Republican primary, including Kent County Commission
Chairman David Morren and ten other county commissioners,
Byron Township Supervisor Larry Silvernail and five
of the six Byron Township trustees, five current or
former Wyoming councilmembers, Kent County Sheriff Larry
Stelma, and every member of both the Wyoming and Byron
Center School Boards.
In a written statement, Logie noted that, "Kevin
Green is the only candidate in the race who has held
office as an elected official. With term limits, one-third
of the House of Representatives will be freshmen, most
ALSO without any legislative experience. Kevin's background
and familiarity with the legislative process will be
a valuable asset in Lansing, and from day one, will
provide quality service to his constituents and all
of West Michigan. We need him there.”
On receiving Logie’s endorsement, Green commented,
“John Logie has done much to help the Grand Rapids
area grow and prosper over the years. I value his confidence
highly. And because he almost never gets involved at
this level in partisan elections, to have him on board
with us really means a lot.”
Green was first elected to the Wyoming City Council
in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 with 83 percent of the
vote – the largest margin in city history. In
2002, Green was recognized as the Michigan Jaycees Outstanding
Young Governmental Leader. And in 2003, the prestigious
and non-partisan Eagleton Institute named Green as one
of America’s fifty top young elected officials.
According to a recent poll of 1,000 registered voters
in Wyoming and Byron Township done by Advocacy Technologies,
a respected Washington, DC polling firm, Kevin Green
has over 90 percent name recognition in the district.
And, in a head-to-head match up against his opponent
in the Republican primary, the same poll showed Green
winning 78 percent of the vote among those who have
decided on a candidate.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 9, 2004
Grand Rapids Area Chamber PAC Announces
West Michigan House Primary
Endorsements.
Friends of West Michigan Business is Heavily Involved
in State House Races in and outside of Kent County.
GRAND RAPIDS--The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Political Action Committee (PAC), the Friends of West
Michigan Business, announced today its initial endorsements
in the primary election scheduled for Tuesday, August
3.
The endorsements include races for the Michigan House
of Representatives Districts 73, 77, and 86. The PAC,
which is made up of various business and community leaders,
took action in only those districts where there is a
contested primary.
"We believe that it is important to go through
the endorsement process before the primary to select
the most qualified candidates to serve the needs of
the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce's nearly 3,000
members," said Chamber President Jeanne Englehart.
"In many cases, the primary election is the most
meaningful election in a particular seat."
Friends of West Michigan Business PAC Chair Doug DeVos
added, "It would have been easy to wait until the
general election to endorse candidates, but it would
be unfair to our members. Our PAC is committed to actively
seeking out the best possible candidates that will represent
business, workers, and the economic well-being of the
entire West Michigan when elected to office."
In order to increase its growing presence in Lansing,
the Chamber PAC continues to support many state house
races outside of Kent County. "We're increasing
our endorsement pool to include more races throughout
West Michigan," said Jeanne Englehart. "West
Michigan continues to be a critical region for our state's
success. The Chamber PAC is interested in supporting
pro-business candidates throughout the entire state."
Endorsements were given, after an intense process,
that includes a
comprehensive questionnaire and a candidate interview
with various members of the Friends of West Michigan
Political Action Committee. Candidates were considered
in the following races:
MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
77TH District KEVIN GREEN
Kevin Green has earned the Chamber PAC's endorsement
for the district that encompasses the City of Wyoming
and Byron Township. Kevin holds a proven track record
in support of the West Michigan Business community through
his experience as a Wyoming City Councilmember, Chair
of the Wymoing-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, and his
involvement in the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce's
Public Policy Committee. Green's commitment to promoting
job
growth and economic prosperity, helping control the
rising cost of health care and working to make sure
our children have access to a first-rate educational
system will enabled him "hit the ground running"
in Lansing.
Kevin's service to the Chamber and strong business
background will ensure a pro-business voice for West
Michigan in the State House.
Wyoming
Councilmember Kevin Green Announces Run for State
House
Wyoming, MI (January 26, 2004) - Touting
his reputation as a trusted and hard-working representative
of the people, Wyoming City Councilmember Kevin Green
announced today that he is seeking the Republican nomination
for the open 77th District Michigan House of Representatives
seat. The seat, which represents all of Wyoming and
Byron Township, will be vacated by Joanne Voorhees who
is prohibited by Michigan’s term limits law from
seeking re-election to a fourth term.
In an announcement letter mailed to
supporters, Green, a Republican, cited his experience
as an elected official and the strong personal relationships
he has forged with the people of Wyoming as the principal
reasons he has chosen to run for state representative.
“This is a great place to live.
People here are honest and hard working. They deserve
a leader who will listen to their concerns and who will
be their voice in Lansing. I believe that is the most
rewarding part of public service. Because of this, I
have built a solid reputation for making the tough decisions
and for trying to do what, in my heart, I believe is
right for this community,” said Green.
Green joins the race on the heels of
a record-setting victory in his November 2003 re-election.
His landslide victory of 83 percent is a record in Wyoming
City elections when two or more candidates were on the
ballot.
“I know it will be another year
of hard campaigning, but over the last couple years
so many people have encouraged me to run. So, my wife
Chele and I decided the time was right,” stated
Green. Green points to his strong record of award-winning
service in elected office as his greatest strength “I
strongly believe that my record of elected public
service and history of dedication to the voters and
taxpayers is my greatest strength – and that experience
will allow me to better serve our citizens in Lansing.
I am the only candidate in this race with any experience
as an elected official, and pride myself on my history
of representing the voices and needs of our people,”
he continued.
Elected to the Kent County Republican
Executive Committee in 2002, Green has earned widespread
community support through over a decade of extensive
involvement in West Michigan. In 2003, Green was selected
as one of the United States “Top Fifty Most Influential
and Effective Young Elected Leaders” and was invited
to the first National Young Elected Leaders Conference
at Rutgers University. In 2002, he served as Chairman
of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. Also
that year he was named “State of Michigan Outstanding
Young Government Leader” by the Michigan Jaycees.
“Kevin is leading the way. He’s
a hard-working, dedicated public servant with his priorities
in the right order,” said John Crawford, president
of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area chamber of Commerce. “He
fights hard for our residents and the businesses that
provide us with our jobs. He knows they both are constituents.
Kevin will be a state representative we can all be proud
of!”
The son of two public school teachers,
Green feels he understands the needs of voters in Wyoming
and Byron. “There is no question that voters are
looking for a leader; especially on issues like education,
healthcare and the economy,” he contends. “I’m
ready to share my vision on these issues as I start
knocking on doors again.”
In an effort to meet as many citizens
as possible before the August 3 Republican primary,
Green plans to walk door-to-door in Wyoming and Byron
Township over the next several months. “Just this
past year, I
walked down every street in Wyoming. It was some of
the most effective time I’ve spent as an elected
official. There is no better way to hear what voters
expect of you than by meeting them face-to-face,”
said Green. “That experience certainly made me
a more effective member of the council and was vital
to representing the voices of the people. I look forward
to doing it again and to meeting the citizens of Byron
Township in the process.”
Right to Life of Michigan and many
local and state elected officials endorsed his re-election
campaign to the city council in 2003. Not only does
he claim endorsements of many respected leaders but
a recent poll of likely primary voters in Wyoming and
Byron Township, conducted by a Washington, DC consulting
firm, showed that 78 percent of the respondents would
vote for Kevin Green over his challenger.
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