Louis Boven, 46, a chiropractor from Holland, has decided to join the race for the Republican nomination for governor. That may be a foolhardy decision- but before you dismiss him entirely, let's give the guy a little credit for doing what he thinks is right. It's a courage that is sorely missing from politics these days.
Dick DeVos advised the Republican Party of Michigan that he would be running for governor in early June 2005. At that time, two other names were in the ring- and they both vowed to stay in the race.
State Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi, said she has no plans to abandon her campaign for governor.
"Maybe one advantage that I have here is my gender as a woman," said Cassis, 61, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee. "I'm not backing out. I have a record of achievement and will go toe-to-toe with anyone."
State Rep. John Hoogendyk, R-Kalamazoo, said he remains in the race and is not intimidated by the DeVos fortune.
"They say money is the mother's milk of politics and certainly I don't have the personal wealth he does. But this is a campaign about issues and who can articulate the issues and solutions for the people of Michigan," said Hoogendyk, 49.
"For right now, it's full steam ahead."
By mid September, both candidates had changed their tune. The choice for Michigan Republicans was taken away.
Hoogendyk was out by the end of August.
"Dick DeVos is a man of integrity," Hoogendyk said in a statement released over the weekend. "He has a track record of leadership in business and a history of leadership in working to improve education in our state."
Cassis followed a couple of weeks later.
"I am ending my campaign and will work for Dick DeVos to advance the Republican agenda to create jobs for our state," Cassis said. "He has an excellent organization. It's polished, and he's very energized and committed."
What happened? Were they intimidated by the DeVos money and power? Did they bow to pressure from the MI GOP?
Who knows. They were gone. "Full steam ahead" stopped dead in the space of a few months. They didn't even try.
Enter Louis Boven. The Grand Rapids Press ran his story last Thursday, but, for whatever reason, they decided not to put it on mlive. No one else in the state has picked it up as far as I know.
HOLLAND -- Maybe it's his competitive spirit.
In his younger days, Louis Boven took part in one of the longest rope pulls in Hope College's history. "Two hours and 50 minutes," he said it took him and his teammates to prevail in the annual event. "It has to do with a desire to perform and to get the job done."
Maybe it's his connection to the little guy.
"I'm just a common person," he said. "I picked blueberries and pulled weeds when I was a kid, had a paper route to buy my bicycles and mini-bikes."
Whatever else is propelling him, Boven, a 46-year old Holland chiropractor, certainly doesn't have the money, the name recognition or political background that would make him a natural choice to challenge presumed nominee and Amway heir Dick DeVos in the GOP gubernatorial primary.
But that's what he's planning to do. He says he's the grassroots alternative that some Republicans are seeking. He said he has traveled 25,000 miles with his wife, Mary Jo, over the past year talking to Michigan voters, coming away with the feeling that many in the GOP want another choice.
"There are a lot of Republicans that feel like the choice has been handed to them," he said.
Boven is a chiropractor and small businessman; he employs seven part time workers and contracts three independent workers. Although he has never run for office, or participated in party politics, he has thought about running for governor for the past decade.
"I don't want people to think I'm delusional," he said. "I know what the animal is out there and what the machine is. But I'm counting on the conscience of the people."
Boven is up against a campaign machine that could spend tens of millions of dollars and has the backing of the entire Republican party structure.
But Boven is undaunted.
"We can't go toe to toe," he said. "But I've been in competition with many things I do. I measure my opposition, figure out their strengths and weaknesses."
DeVos' "most obvious" weakness, Boven said, is his rearing as heir to the Amway fortune.
"It's not his fault -- nothing against the life DeVos has lived -- but it's hard to have lived with that much money to really address the needs of the common laborer, the common businessman," he said.
"A lot of times, when you've been at the top, you tend to dictate what you think the people need instead of understanding the people's needs."
(Source Citation: "Long odds don't deter chiropractor's race against DeVos; Holland Republican 'counting on the conscience of the people' in gubernatorial bid.(State)." The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, MI) (March 23, 2006): B4. InfoTrac Custom Newspapers. Thomson Gale.)
The DeVos money speaks for the Michigan Republicans. They never had a choice in the matter. Sometimes I wonder what moderate Republicans think as they watch their party get highjacked by the extremists. The only Republicans I still know, upper middle class, extremely religious folks that don't want their religion mixed up in government (very wise), made a telling comment to me a few months ago when I asked if they supported DeVos.
I'm paraphrasing- but they said, "Why is it only the extremely rich can run for office?"
This is a perception that isn't entirely true. Granholm came from solid middle-class roots. But, that is the conventional wisdom nowadays, whether it's true or not. People see the big bucks being blown on campaigns- will this dissuade qualified candidates in the future from even attempting a run at office?
I thought for sure that they would be supporting DeVos. They both were big Bush supporters.
I was wrong. They don't support Dick, and I sensed they were disappointed in the Republicans for taking the matter out of their hands. They generally are unhappy with the direction of the Republican Party, but feel powerless to do anything about it.
I wonder if a majority of Republicans feel that way.
We might never hear from Louis again. The media certainly isn't helping him.
But I, for one, tip my hat to the guy. That is the kind of spirit that we need on BOTH sides on the aisle; people who are willing to do the right thing and speak their mind, no matter what the odds are.