Birmingham, MI – NANCY SKINNER, the proven Democrat and true Progressive running in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District Democratic Primary, has been earning endorsements from influential voices in the local Democratic and Progressive community, and today she added another, announcing the endorsement of Pam Jackson, Oakland Community College professor and a highly-regarded former Democratic candidate for both the Michigan House and Michigan Senate.
“After hosting separate ‘Friend Raisers’ for all three candidates in the 11th Congressional District, we need to support a candidate that will beat the Republican and move our District forward,” Jackson said. “That is why I am supporting Nancy Skinner to be our Congressperson to represent us. Nancy understands all the issues, and has the passion necessary to carry our voices and concerns of the people from the 11th District to Washington, DC.”
“I am simply honored,” Skinner said. “I know I was late entering this race, but the people on the ground in the 11th District are standing up for me. They have seen all three of us for a long time, and are reaching the conclusion that I do know the issues best and have the passion to communicate them, fire up our base and get crossover Republicans in the general election – because I focus on what they care about: Jobs and new industries like Renewable Energy.”
Find out what's happening in Plymouth-Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Earlier, Skinner was endorsed by Paul Stevenson, Chairman of the MDP Justice Caucus; Jim Nash, Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner; John Carlos and Cathleen Francois, executive directors of Greening Detroit, LLC; Judge Rudy Serra, candidate for the Michigan House; and Jan Stevenson, Publisher of Between the Lines, the largest and longest-running LGBT publication in Michigan.
“I have people,” Skinner said. “My ‘Skinner Squad’ is growing every day: I have the support of people who have worked in this district for many years, including activists, candidates, elected officials and others who have their finger on the pulse of what 11th District voters want.”
Find out what's happening in Plymouth-Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“My primary opponents have their strengths,” Skinner continued. “Dr. [Anil] Kumar is a wealthy self-funder, while Bobby McKenzie earned a number of labor endorsements. I can only assume Bobby got the CWA’s blessing (Communications Workers of America) to cross their picket line to appear on Fox 2 News to talk about privacy issues related to the Oakland County Sheriff’s use of sophisticated spying technology.
“Bobby sees the need for more local ‘FISA’ courts to ensure the expansion of spying on citizens by local law enforcement can get more and more intrusive, with more local courts to issue warrants. That means more judges and bigger government, just so Republican Sheriff Mike Bouchard can play with his Homeland Security toys.”
The revelation that McKenzie crossed the informal picket line established by NABET/CWA Local 43 in their ongoing contract dispute with Fox 2 (WJBK Detroit) is just the latest misstep by the first-time candidate.
Prior to that, for three months McKenzie misrepresented his status with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), claiming he had the “100% support of the national party” when in fact he had never been named to the DCCC’s “Red to Blue” list of endorsed Democratic challengers to House GOP incumbents. His earlier recruitment by the DCCC to return to Michigan did not equal a final endorsement in a competitive Democratic primary, according to Patrick Brown, DCCC Midwest Regional Manager.
Then, according to a 17 July MIRS (Michigan Information Research Service) article, McKenzie was revealed as not having voted in any Michigan election except November 2010. Kumar, MIRS found, missed both the 2008 and 2012 general elections – meaning he never voted for President Barack Obama.
By comparison, MIRS said Skinner – a longtime member of AFTRA/SAG (American Federation of Radio and Television Artists) – had voted in every primary and general election since returning home in 2004. Skinner laughed when asked about her voting record, “From Ann Arbor as a student at U of M, In Illinois and back home in Michigan, I don’t think I’ve missed an election for dog-catcher. I welcome new Democrats into the political process, but asking voters to vote for you, when you haven’t even voted yourself, is a bridge too far.”
Questions? Comments?
Visit www.skinnerforcongress.com
Contact Mark Taylor:
outreach@skinnerforcongress.com OR (586)-945-6618
