LaFontaine's GOP primary challenger takes a strange nostalgia aproach

Republican Michael Shmina, who hopes to oust state Rep. Andrea LaFontaine in the August GOP primary, has selected a strange, nostalgic move as his first attempt to gain media coverage.

In a press release, Shmina boasts that he has landed the endorsement of Jean Gush. Right about now, many of you are saying, “Who?” while the old-timers of Macomb politics are saying, “So what?”

Gush served on the Sterling Heights City Council and as mayor about a quarter of a century ago, from 1983-91. During most of that time she was a consistently controversial mayor.

After that, her political career flamed out. She lost bids for city council in 1991, 1993 and 2003.

In the letter of endorsement, Gush praised Shmina, saying the local businessman “knows what it’s like to struggle to get ahead in this economy because he lives it every day. Michael has earned my respect not by his words alone, but by his actions and his drive to do what is right.”

But it seems that Gush, with the help of the Shmina campaign, is starting to once again like the sound of “Mayor Gush.” The release twice refers to her as a mayor. In the letter, she says this: “He has the experience and the conviction to lead in Lansing, and as the mayor of the 4th largest city in Michigan, I speak from experience myself.”

What? Gush is a former mayor who has been out of office for 21 years and, when she was in office, Sterling Heights was not even close to ranking fourth in Michigan population rankings.

What’s more, Gush, who has never lived in LaFontaine’s district, seems to have some strong opinions about the incumbent, accusing her of “throwing around a lot of rhetoric and slick political catchphrases” and for not being a homeowner in the 32^nd House District. (LaFontaine rents a home in the district, in Columbus Township.)

Finally, there is this: Gush chose to pick a fight with Memphis Mayor Daniel Weaver for a comment he made about Shmina. Weaver does not live in the district, Gush said -- apparently missing the irony. Unlike Gush, Weaver is a current mayor and half of his city lies with the 32^nd House District. In any event, the entire town has a population of less than 1,200.

In the meantime, Shmina is thoroughly pleased with the Gush endorsement:

“Mayor Gush is a fine example of good government at the local level, and we share the same views of smaller government that works for the people, not against them.”