ALLENDALE — Cheers erupted as John James greeted customers this morning at Murphy’s Family Restaurant in Allendale — a place that everyday people gather for a great breakfast with family and friends before going about the rest of their day. It was the perfect place for a campaign stop.

Representative John James is the sitting representative for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District which covers parts of Macomb and Oakland counties in southeast Michigan. He addressed the crowd first with the observation that more Republicans are taking advantage of the opportunity to get their vote in early, thanking the people for their support.  

James referenced the biblical basis of government and that the people of Israel wanted a king so they could be like all their neighbors. He reminded everyone of the prophet Samuel’s warning that following the rest of the world and possibly abandoning the principles that got them this far might have some consequences. A king can subject the nation to his demands—including conscription of your sons, putting your daughters into service, exorbitant taxes, the taking of your property, and the loss of freedom.

He commented on Michigan Public Act 233 as an example of the dangers of government overreach. James then addressed issues such as the BESS project and the consequences of concentrating decisions in Lansing leading to the loss of local control.  

“Right here we have that BESS project that’s right on the horizon,” James said. “When you’re talking about our rights endowed to us by our Creator, chief among them is the right to personal property, the right to determine the direction you want to go. The Democrats are taking away local control. I believe that’s wrong.”

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James stated that we don’t want more government, we want less, adding that the best government is fair, efficient, and limited. He also acknowledged that we all want excellent schools, safer streets, healthy families, accountable government, and affordability. But, he added, affordability is just “table stakes,” the bare minimum. He implored the crowd to not accept that scarcity is Michigan’s destiny. We need to move toward prosperity and generational wealth. Our kids should be getting a good education and encouraged to be entrepreneurs, to build, to earn, and not just to get by.

James encouraged people to vote for his ticket with Jay DeBoyer as Lieutenant Governor, Anthony Forlini for Secretary of State, and Doug Lloyd for Attorney General.

Joining James in Allendale was Doug Lloyd, the Republican candidate for State Attorney General. As Eaton County prosecuting attorney, and a hunter and fisherman himself, Lloyd knows that hunters have the reputation of not voting because they are after that deer this time of year. He is encouraging thousands of sportsmen to make sure to get to the polls and assure the James team of a win.  

Lloyd stated that as Attorney General his job will be to protect all the people of the state. He trusts that John James will put the right people in place to head up the departments of the state to run the state efficiently. And as Attorney General, just as Eaton County prosecutor, he will follow the law in a nonpartisan manner and so ensure that businesses will succeed, people will have jobs, and the state will move forward.  

Also on hand were Terri DeBoer, the Republican candidate for Michigan’s third Congressional District, and Michigan Senator Roger Victory, who is term limited and now running for a seat as a trustee at MSU—the first land grant college in the nation. In Roger Victory, MSU has the opportunity to have an actual working farmer with legislative experience on its board. Also in attendance were John Wetzel, who is running for the Senate seat that Roger Victory currently holds, and Paul Ledford, the well-known Grandville attorney who is now a candidate for 58th District Court Judge.
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These rallies are a great place to meet people and get one-on-one with the candidates. It gives the voter the chance to meet the candidates, look them in the eye, and maybe get a selfie, but most importantly meet them as real people before making your choice in the voting booth.

November 3 is Election Day. Do not sit this election out. Every voice counts.

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