October 26, 2000
LANSING -- The Michigan Retailers Association Political Action Committee (MRA PAC) announced its endorsement of 66 pro-retail candidates for the state House of Representatives in the November 7 general election.
The legislative endorsements follow a thorough examination of all candidates' voting records and stands on key retail issues, said MRA CEO Larry Meyer.
"It's important for our more than 5,500 retail business members to support legislative candidates who support retail issues," said Meyer. "Our endorsement list identifies the candidates whose views and votes indicate an understanding of the challenges faced by retailers across the state."
MRA studied the incumbents' House votes on nine key retail-related bills, including legislation affecting sales tax collection and electric industry deregulation.
Incumbents and candidates also responded to an MRA questionnaire on five major retail issues, including collection of sales taxes on remote sales and institution of a sales tax holiday on clothing and shoes.
MRA PAC is the political arm of the Michigan Retailers Association, which is the unified voice of retailing in Michigan and the nation's largest state trade association of general merchandise retailers. MRA's more than 5,500 retail business members operate more than 12,000 stores across the state.
The complete list of MRA PAC endorsements follows.
1 Rep. Andrew C. Richner (R)
9 Rep. Kwame Kilpatrick (D)
15 Rep. Gary Woronchak (R)
18 Patricia A. Gibbons (R)
19 Rep. Laura M. Toy (R)
21 Rep. Bruce Patterson (R)
22 Rep. Raymond Basham (D)
23 Burl C. Adkins (R)
24 Rep. William J. O'Neil (D)26 Rep. William J. Callahan (D)
29 Rep. Jennifer M. Faunce (R)
30 Sal Rocca (R)
32 Rep. Alan Sanborn (R)
33 Rep. Janet Kukuk (R)
35 Rep. Gilda Z. Jacobs (D)
36 Rep. Nancy L. Quarles (D)
37 Rep. Andrew Raczkowski (R)
38 Rep. Nancy Cassis (R)
39 Rep. Marc Shulman (R)
40 Rep. Patricia Godchaux (R)
41 Rep. John Pappageorge (R)
42 Rep. Robert Gosselin (R)
44 Rep. Mike Kowall (R)
45 Rep. Mike Bishop (R)
49 Rep. Jack D. Minore (D)
52 Rep. John Hansen (D)
53 Chris Kolb (D)
54 Rep. Ruth Ann Jamnick (D)
55 Rep. Gene DeRossett (R)
56 Rep. Randy Richardville (R)
58 Rep. Steve Vear (R)
61 Tom George (R)
62 Rep. Mark Schauer (D)
63 Rep. Jerry Vander Roest (R)
64 Rep. Clark Bisbee (R)
65 Rep. Mickey Mortimer (R)
66 Rep. Judith L. Scranton (R)
67 Rep. Paul N. DeWeese (R)
68 Virg Bernero (D)
69 Michael C. Murphy (D)
70 Bill Hollister (R)
71 Rep. Susan Tabor (R)
72 Rep. Mark C. Jansen (R)
75 Jerry O. Kooiman (R)
76 Rep. Steve Pestka (D)
79 Rep. Charles LaSata (R)
81 Rep. Lauren M. Hager (R)
82 Rep. Jud Gilbert (R)
83 Rep. Stephen R. Ehardt (R)
85 Rep. Larry Julian (R)
86 Rep. Valde Garcia (R)
87 Gary Newell (R)
88 Rep. Patricia L. Birkholz (R)
90 Rep. Wayne Kuipers (R)
91 Rep. Gerald VanWoerkom (R)
93 Rep. Larry DeVuyst (R)
94 Rep. Jim Howell (R)
96 Rep. A.T. Frank (D)
98 Rep. Tony Stamas (R)
99 Rep. Sandy Caul (R)
100 Rep. Mike Pumford (R)
102 Rep. Rick V. Johnson (R)
104 Rep. Jason Allen (R)
105 Rep. Kenneth Bradstreet (R)
107 Rep. Scott Shackleton (R)
110 Gregg Nominelli (R)