By David Helwig
SooToday.com
Thursday, October 26, 2006

NEWS RELEASES

SENATOR JOHN McCAIN

JAY DUGGAN

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McCain endorses Jay Duggan for State Representative in 107th District of MI

Senator will look to Duggan for advice on issues in Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula

Alexandria, VA – United States Senator John McCain endorsed candidate Jay Duggan today for State Representative in the 107th House District of Michigan.

Senator McCain met Jay Duggan on a trip to Northern Michigan earlier this year at a stop for State Representative Kevin Elsenheimer.

"Jay Duggan is an independent thinker who brings strong ethics, quality leadership, and the ability to get things done for the people of Michigan," said Senator McCain. "Jay Duggan is someone who I will be looking to for advice on matters of importance to the people of Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula."

"Senator John McCain is one of my heroes who I admire for his military service to our country," said Jay Duggan. "I look forward to working closely with him on issues of importance to Northern Michigan and the U.P."

Jay Duggan is running for State Representative in the 107th District of Michigan.

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Duggan calls on opponent to denounce plan to buy election

Stryker money does not "square with democracy"

Responding to an article in yesterday's Detroit Free Press, Jay Duggan called on his opponent for the 107th House seat Gary McDowell to denounce ads being paid for by the Coalition for Progress, which is funded by Kalamazoo billionaire Jon Stryker.

In the Free Press article Rich Robinson, executive director of the non-partisan Michigan Campaign Finance Network stated: "It just seems to me this is an area that allows the extraordinarily wealthy to have a level of influence in determining the outcome of elections that doesn't really square with democracy."

With $40,374 for 2,439 advertising spots being poured into the 107th District, Duggan said it is clear Stryker and McDowell are trying to use Stryker's money to buy the election.

"This is a downstate billionaire trying to buy our local election," said Duggan, a Petoskey small business owner. "My promise as your next state representative is to be the voice for the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan, but before the ballots are even counted here's an effort to have our local communities listen to the political motivations from a southern Michigan outsider.

"This election has to be about what's best for our people and region, and that's a local decision, so I call on my opponent Gary McDowell to denounce the outside funding and allow people to focus on what matters to us."

Stryker and his family have given millions of dollars in a takeover of the Colorado Legislature, as well as efforts across the nation to reverse voter-approved bans on gay marriage.

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