Primary Election August 5
Focus: Second Congressional District
The race for the Democratic nomination in the Second Congressional District is an important one because the winner will face incumbent Republican Carl Pursell in the November election. Therefore, Agenda sent a questionnaire to the two Democratic contenders, Dean Baker and Donald Grimes, to give them each a chance to articulate their positions. They were asked to limit their answers to 250 words to each of the following questions:
Don Grimes
What qualifications do you bring to the office you are seeking?
The first qualification I bring to the office is the desire to serve. As a private citizen, I am extremely troubled by the direction our national policies have taken over the past six years. I am angered by the excessive U.S. military build-up which not only has resulted in the largest budget deficit ever–the burden and pain of which will be passed on to our grandchildren–but which has dangerously increased tensions between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. I am also disturbed by the Reagan Administration's cowboy mentality in dealing with Third World countries, such as Nicaragua where military solutions to perceived threats to U.S. interests are pursued to the complete exclusion of serious negotiations.
Simply put, I believe current national policies have made the world more dangerous and the future of our country less secure. I want to serve by standing up to the Reagan Administration and reversing its misguided policies.
Second, I believe my professional background qualifies me for public office. As an economist, I can bring new and informed ideas to the national debate on economic policy; ideas which would seek to ensure and expand opportunities for all Americans, while providing a sufficient amount of economic support for those who need it.
As a specialist in labor and regional economics, I have a strong desire - and the ability - to assume a regional leadership role, the purpose of which would be to coordinate economic planning throughout the Second District. Promoting intra-district cooperation would greatly assist the economic development to this area of Michigan.
How do you differ from your opposition in this primary election?
Before addressing those things over which my opponent and I differ, I think it's appropriate to note that which we agree on.
I think we both agree that Cari Pursell's legislative priorities in Washington are wrong and utterly out of step with those of our district, and that we would reverse those priorities if given the opportunity.
Dean and I differ in our conceptions of our respective roles as candidate and congressman. As a Democratic candidate, I perceive my role to be one of addressing a broad array of Democratic concerns: from farming, health, and women's issues to environmental, civil rights, labor and poverty issues. Dean's campaign focuses almost entirely upon Central American issues. Defining the proper U. S role in Central America is an important issue of course, but one focuses on it alone at the risk of ignoring other essential needs and interests within the district.
Dean and I differ as well in that I have carried my message throughout the entire district, whereas Dean has failed to take his message beyond Ann Arbor.
In addition, as a candidate, I am working to defeat Pursell, not merely trying to force him into a fall debate. Even if Pursell were actually to agree to a debate, his votes simply are not going to change as a result And unfortunately, as we saw from the close contra aid vote in the House, his vote matters. I believe it is far more productive to try to remove Pursell entirely from the legislative scene than to try to change his mind.
Finally, as a congressman, I will not only fight to oppose the legislative priorities of the Reagan Administration, but I will have something positive to offer the Second District. I will work to create and fill a regional leadership position in the district. As a regional leader, I would effectively promote economic cooperation within the district, assisting for example the transfer of automated manufacturing technology developed in Washtenaw to Jackson, which has a skilled workforce available to apply it.
As an elected representative, what would be the three most important items on your legislative agenda?
The needs and aspirations of the one-half million people who live in the Second Congressional District extend beyond the legislative parameters of the U.S. Congress. They need a representative who will play a regional leadership role in this area. One of my first priorities as an elected representative then, would be to create and assume a regional economic development leadership role within the Second District. I would begin by sitting down with business, labor and community leaders throughout the district to discuss their respective needs and to draft cooperative strategies designed to meet them.
With regard to my legislative agenda in Washington, my most pressing concern would be to protect the Social Security system, Medicare and other essential "safety net" programs from the attacks of people like Carl Pursell.
Second, I would work toward the reduction of the federal deficit by supporting legislation aimed at eliminating such budget-busting military programs as Star Wars, the vulnerable MX missile and nerve gas production.
In addition, I would attack the deficit by proposing a strict minimum tax on profitable corporations, and I would introduce legislation designed to crack down on individual and corporate tax cheats.
Finally, I would propose and support legislation designed to protect our environment. All through our history we have treated natural resources as though they were infinite. Only recently have we begun to take actions to protect the natural environment which provides these resources. Efforts to protect our environment must be continued. Unlike Pursell, I would have voted to re-authorize the Clean Water Act last year.
Looking ahead, I see the specific need to protect the Great Lakes from pollution, and more important, from acid rain. There is growing evidence that the deadly effects of toxic rain, which previously had been concentrated in heavily industrialized areas, are now appearing in such distant places as Isle Royale in the middle of Lake Superior.
(More on page 29)
Don Grimes
Clearly, acid rain is the most serious threat to Michigan's natural environment and must be dealt with immediately.
If you win the primary, what will be your strategy to defeat the opposition in the November election?
To win the Second Congressional District seat, the Democratic candidate must win outside of Ann Arbor. I intend to campaign extensively this fall throughout the district, showing voters not only that I have something positive and concrete to offer, such as my ideas about how to promote economic growth in this area, but that Carl Pursell no longer shares their priorities or represents their interests in Washington.
Nor will it be difficult to chronicle Pursell's indifference to the needs of the Second District: Farmers in Lenawee and Hillsdale counties need to be made aware of Pursell's vote against the Emergency Farm Loan Extension Act. Workers in Jackson and Livonia need to know that Pursell voted against legislation requiring fair trade and other pro-worker legislation. Senior Citizens must be told that Pursell advocates phasing out Social Security. Parents, students and educators should realize that Pursell has voted many times to cut funding for education programs and student loans.
And everyone should be made aware that Pursell's indifference to needs ends at the door of the Pentagon, whose excessive military "needs" Pursell has consistently supported.
Finally, the voters must not be allowed to forget Pursell's votes to provide military aid to the contras in Nicaragua - a vote which is beginning to look like the first step toward massive U.S. intervention there.
What political figure, issue or cause has influenced your politics the most and why?
I have been inspired by political figures who have maintained their personal integrity and a strong commitment to their basic values despite the pressure of political office.
Among the current Michigan delegation, I am most impressed by Representative Howard Wolpe and Senator Carl Levin. I believe both of these leaders represent the ideals associated with public service, and I hope to maintain their high standards of conduct when I am in office.
Vote