Slightly less intelligent .... or can these words be taken out of context?
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.
"I've known Mr. Rinck for a long, long time and I welcome him to the fray," Ehlers said. "As for being so smart, that's nice of him to say. But I've learned that in the political arena that wisdom is more important than intelligence."
Rinck, an attorney, often is at odds with superintendents and other school board members. But he has a solid constituency, as voters have elected him to the board five times.
He concedes it will be a challenge ousting a popular congressman..
"Conservative people will want to hear the truth, too," he said. "I think the Democrats need to make this race more competitive and know I can do the job."
Sue Levy, chair of the Kent County Democrats, said Rinck is well-known beyond the school district's borders.
"Jim's a newsmaker, and that will be an asset for him," she said.
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."
Karl Hascall, co-chair of the Kent County Republicans, called Rinck "one of the saner voices on the school board" but said he doesn't think Ehlers can be beat.
"The saying is that all politics are local, and Congressman Ehlers won't be affected by what is happening in Washington," Hascall said.
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Boy, I want to be on this guys election staff.
Conversation overheard at Jim Rinck's office:
"Just remember, dont play to their intelligence, play to their belligerence."
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.
"I've known Mr. Rinck for a long, long time and I welcome him to the fray," Ehlers said. "As for being so smart, that's nice of him to say. But I've learned that in the political arena that wisdom is more important than intelligence."
Rinck, an attorney, often is at odds with superintendents and other school board members. But he has a solid constituency, as voters have elected him to the board five times.
He concedes it will be a challenge ousting a popular congressman..
"Conservative people will want to hear the truth, too," he said. "I think the Democrats need to make this race more competitive and know I can do the job."
Sue Levy, chair of the Kent County Democrats, said Rinck is well-known beyond the school district's borders.
"Jim's a newsmaker, and that will be an asset for him," she said.
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."
Karl Hascall, co-chair of the Kent County Republicans, called Rinck "one of the saner voices on the school board" but said he doesn't think Ehlers can be beat.
"The saying is that all politics are local, and Congressman Ehlers won't be affected by what is happening in Washington," Hascall said.
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Boy, I want to be on this guys election staff.
Conversation overheard at Jim Rinck's office:
"Just remember, dont play to their intelligence, play to their belligerence."
posted by Bludlust at 11:32 AM
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