Saturday, March 25, 2006

Rinck has eyes on Congress
Looks like Vern has a challenger.

GRAND RAPIDS -- Jim Rinck believes his reputation as an outspoken and sometimes abrasive member of the Grand Rapids Board of Education will help him be an effective fighter in a new arena: Congress.

Rinck, 48, said Friday he will enter the Democratic primary for the U.S. House of Representatives seat Republican Vern Ehlers has held for 12 years.

Rinck said he has great respect for Ehlers, 72, who is completing his sixth term. But he said it's time for someone new who will fight for residents of the Third District, which includes most of Kent County and all of Barry and Ionia counties.

"Our congressman is the smartest person in the district, and we might be the only place in the country that can say that," Rinck said. "But he falls somewhat short on the charisma meter. And it might take a somewhat less intelligent -- although much noisier -- person to get some things done for this district."

Ehlers plans to announce next month whether he'll seek re-election. But he said he is enjoying his chairmanship of the House Administration Committee and hopes to be named head of the Science and Technology Committee and the Aviation Subcommittee.

Levy believes Ehlers will be vulnerable this year because voters are unhappy with the Bush administration, and said Ehlers has done nothing to distance himself from Bush as the president's popularity has dipped to its lowest level.

"This is a Watergate kind of year," she said. "Vern talks a good game, but he has supported the president and all of his policies."

Let's turn the heat up on "Rubber Stamp" Vern. Sounds like a plan.

I actually like Vern (I have never voted for him though), but as far as I'm concerned he is one of the many who have enabled Bush- so, out he goes. Sorry Vern.