Two Democrats seek state House seat

Archive: Wednesday

ABOUT THE CANDIDATES

- Derek Bailey, 39, of Honor, spent the past four years as chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and the previous four years on the tribal council. Bailey previously worked as director of substance abuse programs for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and as Behavioral Health Department manager for the Grand Traverse Band. Bailey has a masters degree in social work from Grand Valley State University. He and his wife have two young children.

- Allen O'Shea, 69, of Copemish, is owner and founder of Contractors' Building Supply, an installer of renewable energy systems and distributor of high efficiency windows. O'Shea served eight years on the Manistee County Board of Commissioners, including four as chairman. He served as president of the Kaleva Norman Dickson School District, as Marilla Township supervisor, and on the board of the Manistee Intermediate School District. O'Shea attended Alma College. He and his wife have five adult children and six grandchildren.

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Derek Bailey
Allen O'Shea

July 18, 2012

Two Democrats seek state House seat

BY BRIAN McGILLIVARY bmcgillivary@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Wed Jul 18, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — Two Democrats who seek election to the 101st state House District both contend they're more experienced at job creation than the incumbent Republican.

Candidate Derek Bailey of Honor just completed a term as chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the second-largest employer in northern Michigan. His primary election opponent, Allen O'Shea of Copemish, a former Manistee County Commissioner, has run a successful renewable energy equipment and window and door distribution business for more than 40 years.

The two Democrats will meet in the Aug. 7 primary. The winner will take on first-term incumbent Ray Franz to represent Leelanau, Benzie, Manistee, and Mason counties.

"Instead of talking about jobs we have to get down to creating jobs in the 101st," O'Shea said. "I am a self-made, successful small business owner since I was 26 years of age. I know what is needed to work with small business entrepreneurs."

Bailey said it's not just about creating jobs, but jobs that offer a living wage, a key to convincing young people to stay in the region.

"We need legislators who will go generate policies and procedures to bring business into our district and our communities," Bailey said. "Through my efforts and experience as tribal chairman ... I can sit down and have that conversation with businesses about building jobs."

Both candidates linked job creation to a solid education system. They lambasted Franz for budget votes that slashed funding for education in 2011. A a small increase in public education spending this year does not go far enough, they said.

"Our foundation grants in the 101st are at the bottom of the spectrum and our schools are at risk; they are struggling," said O'Shea, who has served on school boards. "You cannot educate young people to be world class students and 21st century employees on a shoestring."

The 101st District not only rests at the bottom of per-pupil state funding for K-12 education, but parents also have limited opportunities for early childhood education programs, compared to the rest of the state, Bailey said.

"It's not just about the here and now, but the future to come," Bailey said. "What are we doing for equal opportunities for our young children?"

A healthy future also requires protecting the environment and recognizing what the environment means to business and residents of the 101st District, Bailey said.

"What is our footprint environmentally for future generations?" said Bailey, who stresses the importance of how today's decisions affect the future.

O'Shea said Franz has a weak voting record when it comes to environmental issues. The Michigan League of Conservation Voters, an environmental organization that tracks legislative votes, rated the Onekama businessman at the bottom of its lawmakers list, he said.

That rating included Franz's vote against funding the Pure Michigan tourism campaign and in favor of reducing wetland protection, allowing beach grooming, and reductions in state oversight of contaminated sites.

"My focus on job creation is doing it with a pro-environment, pro-job balance," O'Shea said.

O'Shea also challenged Franz over his votes that will eliminate tax breaks for the middle class that most people won't realize until after the November election.

Changes that take effect in 2012 include: elimination of the $600 exemption for children; reductions in the homestead property tax credit; reductions in the earned income tax credit, and elimination of credits for college tuition and donations to food pantries, homeless shelters, and community foundations.

"There will be some real sticker-shock for people when they do their 2012 taxes," O'Shea said. "This is all coming out of hard-working, struggling middle class folks, and this is not shared sacrifice."