Zandstra in Fight for Spot on Ballot
Conservative Jerry Zandstra is in a fight for his political life, not with his opponents, but with the Secretary of State´s Office. Zandstra´s signature count, according to the office of Terri Land, a Republican, is 78 shy of the requisite number, 15,000. Zandstra is making the case that the office misplaced several signatures in an effort to prevent him from continuing his candidacy.
Much of the State GOP has had it in for Zandstra because of his support for ballot measures banning affirmative action and abortion. Zandstra is alleging that that bad blood is responsible for the displacement of signatures. For their part, GOP officials are screaming their defense, arguing that Zandstra simply didn´t have the signatures he needed.
I like Rev. Zandstra, but I´m not a fan of bending the rules. I don´t know whether he had the signatures or not. What I do know is that the issue is academic because all three candidates continue to trail incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow by double digits. At the same time, Gubernatorial nominee Dick DeVos is running a very strong campaign against Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and corruption in a Republican official´s office, whether actual or perceived, will only hurt his candidacy. Land would do well to take the blame, allow Zandstra on the ballot, and let the issue die rather than allowing it to interefere with a great opportunity for her Party to take over the Governor´s mansion.