LANSING, Mich. (AP) — State Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer said Thursday he will seek the Democratic nomination to challenge freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg in the 2008 election after declining earlier overtures to enter the race.

"Tim Walberg is not doing the job," Schauer told The Associated Press on Thursday. "He is serving a very narrow interest. He's really been a servant of the Bush-Cheney administration and the extreme special interests in Washington."

Schauer filed paperwork to run in the 7th District, which includes parts of seven counties in south-central Michigan. It has been targeted by Democrats because Walberg, of Tipton, failed to capture 50 percent of the vote in last year's election.

Schauer, who had pledged to Senate Democrats to serve out his full four-year term as minority leader through 2010, said he will keep being the Democratic leader while running for Congress. He said he changed his mind about running after being approached by both rank-and-file constituents and party leaders.

The push by others for him to join the race "almost became deafening," Schauer said.

MARK SCHAUER TAKES IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS BID FOR CONGRESS

Creates candidate committee for possible 7th Congressional District race

BATTLE CREEK - State Senate Democratic Leader Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek), today created a candidate committee for a 7th Congressional district bid. The filing is an important first step in becoming an official candidate in the race.

"The people of Michigan's 7th district deserve a Congressman who will put their best interests ahead of his own, or that of special interests," said Schauer. "Unfortunately, the incumbent has been more concerned with the extreme agenda of George W. Bush and Washington Republicans, but that type of party politics doesn't reflect the values of our district, and it needs to change."

Schauer has a long history of serving south central Michigan. He was elected to represent Battle Creek in the State House of Representatives in 1996. After serving three terms, he was elected to the 19th State Senate district covering Calhoun and Jackson counties in 2002. Schauer has worked to help companies such as Kellogg's, Duncan Aviation, Sparton Corporation and Eaton Aerospace retain and add local jobs. Schauer also partnered with former Congressman Joe Schwarz to help save the Battle Creek Air National Guard base.

Prior to his service in the Michigan Legislature, Schauer was a Battle Creek City Commissioner and worked as the executive director of the Community Action Agency of South Central Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Albion College, a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University and a Masters Degree in Political Science from Michigan State University where he is also all-but-dissertation in Political Science & Urban Studies. He is married to Christine and has three stepchildren.

"The needs of the communities I serve have always been my top priority," said Schauer. "I will continue to work towards securing jobs, improving health care, and creating better educational opportunities in my current role or as a candidate for Congress."

A number of critics have pointed out that the current Congressman has failed working families by voting against an increase in the minimum wage, even though he supported a 38 percent salary increase for himself while a state representative. He has also opposed expanding health care to more than 4.1 million uninsured children and advocated for the privatization of social security. He recently went so far as to vote against a budget bill, yet tried to take credit for local projects included in the legislation.

# # #

Labels: 2008 Election, Mark Schauer

posted by Fitzy  # 1:36 PM