The silly season indeed has begun.
A very competitive election contest for state representative from the 72nd District already is showing signs of being entertaining, thanks to a gaffe by current State Rep. Steven Johnson.
Johnson, who is seeking election to his second two-year term in Lansing, committed a faux pas this week by spreading false information about his endorsements, which did not settle well with the camp working for challenger Jennifer Antel.
Johnson posted Friday on Facebook, “Proud to receive the endorsements of all four township supervisors in the 72nd District!
“Gaines Township Supervisor Robert DeWaard
Dorr Township Supervisor Jeff Miling
Leighton Township Supervisor Steve Deer
Wayland Township Supervisor Roger VanVolkingburg.”
The problem is that VanVolkinburg has endorsed Antel and DeWaard has indicated he will not endorse for this race this year. So Johnson is only half right.
Neither Johnson nor his staff responded two Internet inquiries Townbroadcast sent. The on-line contention appears to have been taken down.
It is unusual for a Republican to challenge an incumbent within the party in a primary election. Johnson won a five-way primary contest in August 2016 to succeed term limited Ken Yonker. He received only 29% of the vote, but that figure was higher than four other GOP contestants.
It is customary in Allegan County and West Michigan for the winner of a brutal primary with multiple candidates to take home all the marbles with a six-year stint for nearly half a million bucks in salary. All you have to do is win the first primary with a plurality and then you skate to $480,000 in pay for three, two-year terms in Lansing.
However, Townbroadcast, in an editorial published about a year ago, asserted Johnson may be vulnerable in his re-election attempt. He had the smallest winning percentage in the general election since Hector was a pup in these parts. He managed only 59 percent against Democratic opponent Steve Shoemaker and lost the City of Kentwood.
I cannot recall a Democrat picking up as much as 40% of the vote since I came here to live in 1962. And this will be particularly interesting because the contest is one-on-one.
Both Johnson and Antel are Wayland residents. Johnson is a graduate of South Christian High School and an Air Force veteran. Antel is mayor pro tem on the Wayland City Council and has made a big splash in coaching middle school track and cross-country in the Wayland school system.
Both are Pro-Life, but Johnson has the endorsement of Michigan Right to Life. Antel has the endorsement of former State Rep. Yonker.
The 72nd District includes the City of Wayland, Leighton, Dorr and Wayland Townships in Allegan County, and Gaines Township and the City of Kentwood in Kent County. The primary election will be held Tuesday, Aug. 7. The winner will face Democrat Ron Draayer of Kentwood in the general election Nov. 6.
