By KEVIN WALKER
Michigan Correspondent

DETROIT, Mich. — Republicans basically ran the table on Democrats last week, winning every statewide election and taking over control of the state House.

At the top of the ticket was Ann Arbor-area businessman Rick Snyder, a political newcomer. He was considered one of the more moderate candidates running for the Republican nomination. He won it based on his “one tough nerd” campaign, and then pummeled the Democratic candidate, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, 58 to 40 percent.

Throughout his nine-minute acceptance speech last week at Detroit’s Book Cadillac hotel, Snyder emphasized being positive, looking forward not backward and “innovation.

“This is about an effort to reinvent Michigan,” Snyder said.
Ruth Johnson, formerly the register of deeds for Oakland County, won the race to be the next secretary of state, defeating Democrat Jocelyn Benson. Bill Schuette won his bid to become the state’s next attorney general, defeating Democrat David Leyton.

All three of the winners had been endorsed by the Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) political action committee, AgriPac. Down-ballot Republicans did well last week, too.

AgriPac endorsed 119 candidates altogether; 84 percent of those came out winners last week, according to the MFB. Among those, seven farmers endorsed by AgriPac succeeded in their efforts to win a seat in either the state assembly or Senate. These include Judy Emmons, a fifth-generation dairy farmer from Sheridan, elected to the state Senate. She will represent a district that covers Clinton, Ionia, Isabella and Montcalm counties.

Emmons is a term-limited member of the state assembly; she was chosen by local Republicans to be the party’s nominee after Brian Calley dropped out to run for lieutenant governor.

Tom Casperson, owner of a log-hauling firm in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.), won a seat in the state Senate. He is also a term-limited member of the state assembly. He beat out Democrat Michael Lahti 49,864-39,132. Casperson and his supporters were gathered at the Ludington Grill in Escanaba election night to wait for the results.
“It’s very humbling, very emotional,” Casperson said after learning of his victory. “You go through something like this, you put so much into it. Everybody around you is putting so much into it. Your adrenalin’s rolling and when something like this happens, it’s an emotional moment.”

Ken Yonker won a seat on the state assembly, representing a district that covers Kent County. He owns a landscaping business there.

Farmer Kevin Daley of Lum won a seat in the state assembly, also. His district covers Lapeer County about 30 miles north of Detroit. Daley is a fourth-generation owner of a centennial farm.

Joel Johnson of Clare was elected to a seat in the state assembly. His district covers Arenac, Bay, Clare and Gladwin counties. Johnson is involved in agricultural sales, farming and managing a grain elevator. Bruce Rendon of Lake City won a seat in the assembly, as well. His district covers Iosco, Missaukee, Ogemaw and Roscommon counties. Rendon raises and shows Jersey dairy cattle.

Ed McBroom, a fourth-generation dairy farmer from Vulcan, won a seat in the state assembly. His district covers Delta, Dickinson and Menominee counties, all in the U.P.

The MFB says less of the public is involved in farming and therefore fewer people understand the needs of agriculture. “It helps a lot when there’s legislators in Lansing who are involved in agriculture,” said Matt Kapp, elections specialist for the MFB.