Secretary Land to lead Michigan’s GOP Delegates

From MIRS News - 

Land Leads GOP Delegate List
Secretary of State Terri Lynn LAND, three senators and three House members were elected delegates to this September’s Republican national convention in St. Paul-Minneapolis. Three more senators and one House member will serve as alternates.

Land never endorsed anyone, but she’s an at-large delegate for John McCAIN, the likely nominee who placed second in Michigan’s Jan. 15 primary.

Land Spokeswoman Kelly CHESNEY said it was important for the Secretary of State to stay neutral, but she felt “it’s pretty much over now” and McCain was the party’s pick.

Delegates were picked at the Michigan Republican Party (MRP) convention last weekend. The three Republican National Committee (RNC) members are uncommitted — National Committeeman Chuck YOB, Committeewoman Holly HUGHES and Michigan Republican Party (MRP) Chair Saul ANUZIS.

This year, none of Michigan’s nine Members of Congress (MOC) are delegates. MOC have convention credentials but aren’t often delegates, said MRP Spokesman Bill NOWLING, in contrast to the Democrats, who give them “super delegate” status.

Though the MRP lists the majority of its 60 delegates as “uncommitted,” since Mitt ROMNEY won the primary but has dropped out, the entire delegation is likely to go for McCain. Eighteen of Romney’s 23 delegates told the Associated Press they would vote for McCain.

Nowling said he doesn’t expect any protest votes for other candidates.

“That’s not our cup of tea,” he told MIRS. “We want to be united at the convention.”

The party also expects all delegates to be seated, even though half were stripped away as punishment for holding an early primary. If 30 aren’t seated, Nowling said the decision of who’s cut will be made by the convention’s credentialing committee, not the MRP.

Sens. Nancy CASSIS (R-Novi) and Michelle McMANUS (R-Lake Leelanau) will serve as at-large delegates for McCain. Sen. Jason ALLEN (R-Traverse City), of District 4, is an uncommitted delegate.

House Minority Leader Craig DeROCHE (R-Novi) and Rep. Dave HILDENBRAND (R-Lowell), both Romney supporters, will be at-large uncommitted delegates. Rep. Kevin ELSENHEIMER (R-Bellaire) will be a McCain delegate for District 1.

Prominent Republican fundraiser Bill VOORHEES is an at-large Mike HUCKABEE delegate and former Rep. Scott HUMMEL, who also backed Huckabee, is an uncommitted delegate for District 8. Also, in District 8, former Sen. Norm SHINKLE is an uncommitted delegate.

Scott ROMNEY, brother of the presidential candidate, is an uncommitted at-large delegate. Other familiar faces are former U.S. Ambassador Ron WEISER as an at-large McCain delegate, incoming National Committeeman Keith BUTLER as an at-large Huckabee delegate and Romney fundraiser John RAKOLTA as an uncommitted at-large delegate.

In District 3, Dave DISHAW, who was floated as a 2006 replacement for Anuzis, is an uncommitted delegate, as is former U.S. Ambassador Pete SECCHIA.

Gadflies also get their due. Dennis LENNOX, the Central Michigan University student crusading to get instructor Gary PETERS canned for holding that post while challenging U.S. Rep. Joe KNOLLENBERG (R-Bloomfield Hills) in the 9th Congressional District. Lennox is a District 1 alternate for McCain.

“He’s shown initiative and is making a difference on the Republican side,” Nowling said of Lennox.

And Wyck SEELIG, who runs the Web site thetruthaboutmark.com against Sen. Mark SCHAUER (D-Battle Creek), is a District 7 uncommitted delegate. Schauer is challenging U.S. Rep. Tim WALBERG (R-Tipton) in the 7th District.

The list of alternates includes a slew of notables. Sens. Alan CROPSEY (R-DeWitt), Wayne KUIPERS (R-Holland) and Mark JANSEN (R-Grand Rapids) are at-large McCain alternates. Rep. Judy EMMONS (R-Sheridan) is an at-large McCain alternate and former Rep. Andy RICHNER is an uncommitted District 13 alternate.

Michigan Board of Education Member Nancy DENHOF is an uncommitted at-large alternate and Gary GLENN, head of the American Family Association of Michigan, is an at-large Huckabee alternate. Former Romney Co-Chair David FISCHER is an at-large uncommitted alternate and Sterling Group President Steve LINDER is an uncommitted at-large alternate.

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