Posted on 05/15/2012 6:38:58 PM PDT by LdSentinal
GRAND RAPIDS – Roy Schmidt’s filing deadline switch to the Republican party has been immediately embraced by GOP colleagues who credited the now-former Democrat from Grand Rapids with aligning for the people he represents and not a party platform.
Schmidt, who served for 16 years on the nonpartisan Grand Rapids City Commission, said in a statement that his ideals and priorities remain the same.
“I am a moderate dedicated as ever to representing the people of Grand Rapids, and will always fight for improving education, public safety and protecting children,” Schmidt said.
He was not available for interviews on the change of allegiance. Schmidt's comments were released by state House Republican communications staff.
The move was credited as an astute choice for Michigan’s future by state Republican Chairman Bobby Schostak. He said Republicans offer a continued turnaround plan to improve Michigan’s economic comeback.
“Representative Roy Schmidt is the latest casualty of the Democratic Party’s extreme agenda of politics ahead people,” Schostak said. “I applaud Rep. Schmidt for choosing to put his convictions and constituents first by joining the Republican Party. Michigan’s economic comeback has just begun and there is still a lot of work to be done. But, make no mistake, the parties could not be any more different.”
Dan Koorndyk, a Republican Kent County Commissioner, said he believed Schmidt was always a centrist during his city and state political service.
“He’s one of the few Democrats I’ve been able to reach out to and talk about county issues,” Koorndyk said Tuesday. “I think he just looked at the district and saw it going more Republican than Democrat. He was always on the fence as far as partisan politics goes anyway.”
Schmidt will run to hold the 76th District seat that due to redistricting shifts from his West Side roots to a circle around the city, sometimes referred to as the outside of a donut.
No Republican had filed to run against Schmidt and the last-second timing of his swap did not allow Democrats to submit a candidate endorsed by the party.
Matt Mojzak has entered the race as a Democrat, but Jim Rinck, Kent County Democratic Party Chair, said he did not know Mojzak and that the candidate has not been affiliated with the party.
State Rep. Lisa Posthumous Lyons, R-Alto, said Tuesday that she’s long held respect for Schmidt.
“He’s a stand-up guy who does what he thinks is right,” Lyons said. “There is no better person and this is not about party, not about politics. It’s about people. He’s always represented Grand Rapids with integrity and honesty.”
U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, echoed Lyons’ comments. Amash and Schmidt served one term together in the state House.
"I'd like to welcome Michigan state Rep. Roy Schmidt to the Republican Party,” Amash said. “Roy is a good man and has always been easy to work with regardless of party label. He will continue to serve the people of Grand Rapids with honor.”
A guy at work is his neighbor, so I asked him if he was really conservative or another political opportunist....he says the guy really is a conservative, even if he is/was a Dem.
Good for him.
The guy calls himself a moderate.
If Obama switched, the GOPe would celebrate his re-election.
true
More good news. Wouldn’t it be nice if Michigan gave us more victories this year?
This isn’t necessarily a good thing — a lot of libs run as Pubbies in this side of the state because they can’t get elected as Dims. After Ford became VP, there was an election for his former 5th district seat, and the lib larvae pounded on doors all over the city to get VanderVeen elected. He got in because of the blowback from Nixon, Watergate, and (I’d have to check the chrono) the Pardon. He served a short time and was replaced (if memory serves) by Republican Hal Sawyer.
That said, I’m not too sure I know anything about this guy. Thanks cripplecreek.
I know him. Drank beers with him. He is a decent man. Dan Koorndyk is a personal friend of mine and his opinion of him is positive (Dan is a CONSERVATIVE) and Lisa I am told is favorable of him as well. A close friend of mine told me tonight nothing but good things about him as a person and he has always felt he was on the wrong side of the aisle politically due to his district. I will get the rest of the story on him later this weekend in Detroit at convention. .......Speaking of Detroit......anybody here going to Detroit this weekend?
I made an exception in Ronald Reagan's case, but that was it.
How these reps vote for or against legislation is where the rubber meets the road.
Thanks Michigan Bowhunter.
“I’m roughly 60 years old and I remember my father, grandfather and several uncles telling me nearly 50 years ago to never trust a converted Democrat.”
I’m about 20 years younger, and I’ll tell you that when BJ Clinton was the head of the Dems the Repubs got a whole bunch of pro-gun, pro-life white guys from the Dems (who had basically outlawed white males) who still faithfully vote conservative. That exodus spawned the term “angry white males”; they were largely southern Dems who were pushed out of their party for their conservative views (and their whiteness), and they helped the Republican Revolution in 1994 more than anyone could have hoped.
Many of the southern Repubs (voters) are former Dems, and they are more conservative than fifth-generation Yankee Repubs.
I guess you wouldn’t trust me either. I was a Dem until I was 23, and I saw close up while in school in DC how horrifying the rank and file ‘Rats really were. I’m 57 now, and I really, really despise the ‘Rat party.
Went to Detroit, if only in my mind, Friday night, as I watched Verlander pitch a one-hitter. It was something to see!
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