The Democratic Party’s primary contest this year in the 80th State Legislative District is between two candidates, both men who live in Fennville. Having two Dems run in this county and district is unusual because the custom has been to find a sacrificial lamb for the Republican candidate.

The two brave souls who have ventured into the political arena are Erik Almquist and Mark Ludwig. Though I prefer the positions of the former, I’ll have to endorse the latter on the basis of energy and commitment.

Ludwig, who seems to have more public backing from Allegan County Democratic Party, describes himself as “a generally handy guy, farmer and budding politician.” He is maintenance manager at Abcor Industries, and as a farmer “arbiter of life and death at Sand Lily Farms.” He has been vice chairman at the Allegan Conservation District, studied grass-based dairy farming at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and studied at Michigan-State-University.

Ludwig’s political experience has included the Fennville School Boardand Clyde Township Planning Commission.

Almquist told the Allegan County News & Gazette he works at Apple, has an associate’s degree and has experience as a city councilman.

Almquist appears to be more forthright on issues, particularly on abortion. “How can it be in this race with two white guys and one female, that I am the only one who finds a woman’s right to choose important in the race for the house?” he said. “I’ve earned the endorsement of Michigan Planned Parenthood and I’m damned proud of it.”

So he’s got spunk.

Yet other than his comments in a story in the Allegan County News & Gazette, I know virtually nothing about him. If you run for political office, you’ve got to put yourself out there in front of the public. Being well known is even more important than where you stand on the issues.

Though I don’t know much more about Ludwig, at least I ran into him one public event to pick up a business card. I think he has a better chance to be competitive against incumbent Republican Mary Whiteford in November. She seems as sure a winner as virtually all other Republicans in our our one-party system in West Michigan.

The 80th District includes all of Allegan County except for Wayland Township, Wayland City, and Leighton and Dorr Townships.