Today I created a committee to become a candidate for the 7th Congressional district. I did so because Tim Walberg is the wrong person for this district, and he’s not working for us in Washington. And I did so because I believe that my passion for public service can make a real difference in Washington for the people and issues I care about.

As you’ve noted in thorough detail on this site, Walberg continually obeys the extreme Republican agenda in DC, instead of the practical views of the constituents who depend on him. He has voted against a minimum wage increase, but for privatizing social security. He opposed expanding health care to more than 4 million uninsured kids, and he refused to support recommendations from the 9/11 commission that would help keep us safe. He didn't have a problem putting out a press release claiming credit for critical local funding, but couldn't bring himself to actually vote for the bill.

The people of the 7th district deserve better.

I’ve always put my community first and done whatever it takes to make sure we get results for south central Michigan, so I won’t stand for anyone who abandons our district time and time again. I will continue serving as state Senate Democratic Leader and fight to the finish the effort to put Michigan on sound financial footing for the future. In fact, the encouragement I've received and support I’ve been offered from my constituents, friends and colleagues is what makes this effort possible. I also owe so much to my amazing wife, Christine, and my understanding family for being willing to accept the sacrifices that this kind of undertaking will require.

With that said, I believe I am the strongest candidate to take this seat back from Tim Walberg. No one will work harder than me, and no one will knock more doors than I will. When the national Republican machine kicks in to try to save this seat, I’ll take them on and win because I have a history of building the kind of broad, bipartisan coalitions necessary to win in tough Republican districts. My experience raising the level of funds a race like this demands will make sure we can stay competitive with the deep pockets of the Club for Growth and others.

There are honorable public servants and friends who have also expressed interest in this race. I have a great deal of respect for each one of them, and I’ll work hard to make sure we all come together to achieve our shared goal – replacing this incumbent. I have a proven track record of bringing people together, and that’s what I would do with Democrats, Independents, and Republicans in this district, because one thing the current Congressman doesn’t seem to understand is that this job means you represent everyone. You're not there just for the folks who think exactly like you do, or the special interests that fund your campaign, or George W. Bush and his cronies in DC. The interests of the district, the state and the nation come first.

Thanks again for all that you do and all you're going to do throughout this campaign. Your great research and the time you spend raising awareness of the importance of this race and the failures of the incumbent are not going unnoticed. I plan to be a regular visitor to this site and look forward to working together to return this seat to the people of the 7th district.
 

I just as everyone else on the page agree that Tim Walberg is not doing a good job in Washington. I question why everybody has jumped on the Schauer band wagon so quickly. There are many factors which I am sure are being considered but are not being stressed. The first is that the seventh district has strong democratic candidates. Schauer gave his word that if he was elected to the minority leader he would not run for congress in 08. This is where a large problem is created Schauer running creates a special election. Special election is almost always won by republicans and usually by wide margins of victory. Another thing to remember is that the state of Michigan needs Senator Schauer in the Senate. A current juncture he is one the key democrats fighting for the state. If he leaves the already republican Senate becomes strong and the Democratic Senate looses its most vocal and hardworking democrat. I am not here to cut down Senator Schauer I believe that in the feature he will make a fine United States Representative at this juncture thought Michigan needs more Mark.
 

Give me a break Mark. We all know you didn't write this political drivel. Frankly, it reeks of everything we don't want in this race. We already have an idiot in office who spews the crap he thinks his beloved base want to hear or need to hear. We need look no further than his dishonesty over the ear marks -I supported them before I was voting against them. Now we have Mark, who was not going to run for the good of our senate caucus and now he is going to run, the hell with his present responsibility. I am all for a Dem winning this seat but one with some integrity please.
 

I love this blog, and compliment Fitzy for running a great site, but these oblique attacks on Sen. Schauer are a load of crap.

Here's Jay:

"If he leaves the already republican Senate becomes strong and the Democratic Senate looses its most vocal and hardworking democrat."

Thanks to term limits, Mark will have to leave this Senate seat in 2010 regardless of what happens next year. If he is truly one of the "most vocal and hardworking" democrats in Lansing, why wouldn't we want him to jump to the next level? And if the field of Democratic candidates who could replace him in the Senate is so weak (which I don't necessarily agree with), is the bench really going to change significantly between now and 2010? Doubtful.

Now, here's themaverick09:

"Now we have Mark, who was not going to run for the good of our senate caucus and now he is going to run, the hell with his present responsibility. I am all for a Dem winning this seat but one with some integrity please."

This person seems to know a little too much about what may or may not have been said to members of the Senate Democratic caucus to be a rank-and-file constituent. So, these unsubstantiated knocks on Mark lead me to believe that users like themaverick09 and Francis Pepper are either (a) directly associated with another democratic campaign or (b) Republican concern trolls. Either way, until they come out and say who they are supporting in this race, the validity of their comments is highly suspect.

For the record, I think Mark Schauer is the best person we could have running against Walberg, and I can't wait to volunteer for his campaign.

Mark, where do I sign up?
 

"This person seems to know a little too much about what may or may not have been said to members of the Senate Democratic caucus to be a rank-and-file constituent."

It is common knowledge that Schauer's race for minority leader of the senate was a tough race and he even said in many comments to the media over the past several months that he had promised to stay put and focus on senate work. While average voters don't pay that close attention, tons of people have read Schauer's promise and it does not mean they are an insider to know this info.