Former GTB Chairman Poised to Win Primary in State House Race

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN – With less than three weeks away until the Michigan primary election, State House candidate Derek Bailey, the former tribal chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, was excited with the results of a poll showing him leading his primary opponent in race for the Michigan House.

State House Candidate Derek Bailey Meets Future Voters

The poll released Thursday shows Bailey leading his opponent, Allen O'Shea, by eight points.

Bailey is running for the Democratic nomination in the Michigan House of Representative 101stt District. The primary is August 7. If he wins the primary election, he will face incumbent Republican Ray Franz.

Further cementing Bailey's strong positioning, the poll also reveals that voters believe Bailey is the candidate best suited to solidify the Democratic base, a key factor in an election year where high voter turnout will be essential to winning any campaign.

When voters are informed of Bailey's history of successes with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians budget crisis and his record on education, his lead in the poll opens significantly.

“The more voters learn about my record, the more our support grows. We are encouraged about these results, but this campaign will not rest one minute. The people of the 101st district need strong leadership fighting for them to fix what's broken in Lansing,”

said Bailey

“I've been out talking to residents of the district every day and they are tired of waiting.”

“Our district needs a strong representative who is going to take action immediately because our problems are urgent and the right solutions are overdue. I will fight to create jobs now, fix our schools now and fix this budget mess now. Representative Franz has had two years, and the only things he has to show for it are weaker schools and tax increases.”

The survey of 400 voters was conducted July 9-July 16 with a margin of error of 4.9 percent and was conducted by Deep Blue Strategies on behalf of the Bailey Campaign.

Not an individual to rest on his laurels, Bailey continues to campaign hard. Today he will attend a ribbon cutting ceremony in Beulah, Michigan.

posted July 21, 2012 6:40 am edt