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Police Union backs anti-gun/anti-2A Granholm for A
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Police union backs Granholm
Wednesday, May 22, 2002
By Steven Harmon
The Grand Rapids Press
Police union leaders see in Attorney General Jennifer Granholm a rare combination: someone who supports their labor issues with a strong law enforcement resume.
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For that, Granholm, one of three Democratic candidates for governor, is picking up the endorsement of West Michigan's largest police officers' union.
The Grand Rapids Police Officers Labor Council, which represents 365 officers, sergeants and crime scene technicians, was to announce its support this morning at the Grand Rapids Employment Independent Union Hall, 917 Bridge St. NW. Granholm was expected to attend.
It is the first time the labor council has made an endorsement in a governor's race.
"She supports us on collective bargaining, and she seems closer than the others on law enforcement," said Ed Hillyer, a 24-year patrol officer and the chief steward of the police officers' labor union. "I can tell you that there seems to be an awful lot of support in the halls for our endorsement."
The endorsement was made by a 15-member group composed of the council's executive board and at-large members from the council's political action committee.
Last month, Granholm was endorsed by the Michigan Association of Police Organizations, the state's largest law enforcement organization that represents more than 15,000 of Michigan's 20,000 law enforcement officers.
The question is how much support she has among rank-and-file officers, who might be considered more conservative than their labor leaders.
Grand Rapids Police Detective Ralph Bekker said he is sure the "majority" of police officers are Republican. "I'm willing to bet my life most are Republicans, but I don't know how they'll vote. Nobody's taken a poll. I intend to vote for her."
Sgt. Terry McGee, who was chief steward from 1992-1997, said there may be some disagreement among the rank and file of the Grand Rapids labor council, but he senses most officers will support Granholm's endorsement.
"I'm sure some people will challenge it, but most of us are looking for someone who'll listen to what we have to say," he said. "I certainly think Jennifer Granholm has a ton of possibilities and is one of the better candidates."
The council already has endorsed state Rep. Steve Pestka, D-Grand Rapids, in his bid for the 29th state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Glenn Steil, R-Grand Rapids. The union also has endorsed Republican Denny Gillem in his run for the House and is nearing a decision on endorsing Kent County Commissioner Michael Sak in his run for the House.
Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, the Republicans' top gubernatorial candidate, said he doubts whether voters care if law enforcement agencies endorse based on labor issues.
"I've got the record that has the support of law enforcement rank and file," he said, referring to 200 crime reform bills he ushered as Senate majority leader that "has put criminals behind bars."
But Granholm's spokesman, Chris DeWitt, said she is a natural fit for police groups.
"She has a strong background in putting criminals behind bars and she's someone who's very concerned about labor issues," DeWitt said.
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/news-2/1022080517196980.xml
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Wednesday, May 22, 2002
By Steven Harmon
The Grand Rapids Press
Police union leaders see in Attorney General Jennifer Granholm a rare combination: someone who supports their labor issues with a strong law enforcement resume.
Information from Our Sponsors
For that, Granholm, one of three Democratic candidates for governor, is picking up the endorsement of West Michigan's largest police officers' union.
The Grand Rapids Police Officers Labor Council, which represents 365 officers, sergeants and crime scene technicians, was to announce its support this morning at the Grand Rapids Employment Independent Union Hall, 917 Bridge St. NW. Granholm was expected to attend.
It is the first time the labor council has made an endorsement in a governor's race.
"She supports us on collective bargaining, and she seems closer than the others on law enforcement," said Ed Hillyer, a 24-year patrol officer and the chief steward of the police officers' labor union. "I can tell you that there seems to be an awful lot of support in the halls for our endorsement."
The endorsement was made by a 15-member group composed of the council's executive board and at-large members from the council's political action committee.
Last month, Granholm was endorsed by the Michigan Association of Police Organizations, the state's largest law enforcement organization that represents more than 15,000 of Michigan's 20,000 law enforcement officers.
The question is how much support she has among rank-and-file officers, who might be considered more conservative than their labor leaders.
Grand Rapids Police Detective Ralph Bekker said he is sure the "majority" of police officers are Republican. "I'm willing to bet my life most are Republicans, but I don't know how they'll vote. Nobody's taken a poll. I intend to vote for her."
Sgt. Terry McGee, who was chief steward from 1992-1997, said there may be some disagreement among the rank and file of the Grand Rapids labor council, but he senses most officers will support Granholm's endorsement.
"I'm sure some people will challenge it, but most of us are looking for someone who'll listen to what we have to say," he said. "I certainly think Jennifer Granholm has a ton of possibilities and is one of the better candidates."
The council already has endorsed state Rep. Steve Pestka, D-Grand Rapids, in his bid for the 29th state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Glenn Steil, R-Grand Rapids. The union also has endorsed Republican Denny Gillem in his run for the House and is nearing a decision on endorsing Kent County Commissioner Michael Sak in his run for the House.
Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, the Republicans' top gubernatorial candidate, said he doubts whether voters care if law enforcement agencies endorse based on labor issues.
"I've got the record that has the support of law enforcement rank and file," he said, referring to 200 crime reform bills he ushered as Senate majority leader that "has put criminals behind bars."
But Granholm's spokesman, Chris DeWitt, said she is a natural fit for police groups.
"She has a strong background in putting criminals behind bars and she's someone who's very concerned about labor issues," DeWitt said.
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/news-2/1022080517196980.xml
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878