Charlevoix businessman calls GOP to back Granholm

Mlive.com's Printer-Friendly Page Charlevoix businessman calls on Republicans to back Granholm 8/24/2006, 12:42 p.m. ET By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN The Associated Press LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm got a boost Thursday from a Charlevoix businessman who has started a group called Republicans for Granholm. Gil Ziegler, 68, said he wants to see Republicans keep control of the state House and Senate and win other statewide offices. But when it comes to a choice between GOP gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos and Granholm, he's voting Democratic. "As an automotive supplier, no one needs to tell me that Michigan has taken some hard hits in its manufacturing economy," said Ziegler, who owns Alken-Ziegler, a privately held metal forming and machining company with offices in Kalkaska and Livonia, where Ziegler also has a home. "Gov. Granholm has strategies in place to bring us through this difficult period, with a stronger and more diverse economy in the future," he added. Ziegler could list only a few adherents so far but thinks voter-rich Oakland County could be fertile territory for his group. DeVos campaign spokesman John Truscott said he doesn't think Ziegler will attract many others to his group. "He is certainly entitled to his own opinion, but I don't think it represents the feelings of most of the people in the Republican Party or even most independents," Truscott said. Craig Ruff of Public Sector Consultants, a Lansing think tank, doesn't know how many Republicans will vote for Granholm, but he wouldn't be too surprised if the DeVos campaign didn't come up with someone promoting Democrats for DeVos. "Both candidates want to portray that they're being backed by a wide spectrum of people from both parties," he said. Ziegler said he disagrees with Republicans in Washington and Lansing who oppose embryonic stem cell research and who have turned many social issues into political litmus tests. "I'm going to disappoint some people in the Republican Party. But those are the extremists in our party who want to block stem cell research and who turned out of office a good man like U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz," Ziegler said. He was referring to the 7th District incumbent who lost the GOP primary earlier this month to Tim Walberg, who said Schwarz was too liberal. DeVos opposes embryonic stem cell research, although he supports research on adult stem cells. Granholm has asked citizens to voice their support for lifting a ban on embryonic stem cell research in Michigan by signing an online petition. Ziegler said he donated money to DeVos when he ran for the State Board of Education in 1990, but won't do the same this time. Federal records show Ziegler donated $5,000 earlier this year to Its My Party Too PAC, a national group that wants to "return the Republican Party to the sensible center." He also has given to the Michigan Republican Party and was appointed by former GOP Gov. John Engler in 1992 to the Northern Michigan University Board of Control. As a loud lightning crack sounded outside, Ziegler joked, "I knew lightning would come if I ever endorsed a Democrat." Ruff said he doesn't expect many die-hard Republicans or Democrats will cross over to vote for the other party's gubernatorial candidate. But "if you're a ticket splitter and you see the governor is attracting Republicans to her column, it probably makes you more comfortable casting your vote for her," he said. ___ EDITOR's NOTE: Kathy Barks Hoffman heads the Lansing AP bureau and has covered Michigan politics since 1986. ___ On the Net: Republicans for Granholm: http://www.republicansforgranholm.com