GOP chair chastised for dismissing Republican candidate

In a story published in The Macomb Daily today, county Republican Party Chairman Rob Montilla said that all five Board of Commissioners seats in central Macomb County (between 14 Mile and Hall Road) are "in play" on Tuesday.

Montilla

That wasn't a particularly controversial statement. For many years, south Macomb has been solidly Democratic and north Macomb has been dominated by the GOP. 
But Dean Berry, a Republican running in the south end, took great umbrage at Montilla's remark. Berry is running against a Democratic old-timer, incumbent Marv Sauger, in District 2 (Center Line and part of Warren).
In an email message, he laid out his objections to the party chairman's words:

Chad, as you know, the Republican Party county chairman offered these comments about the chances of a Republican majority on the county board of commissioners: "Our goal is to get a majority on the board of commissioners. Anything between 14 Mile and Hall Rd is in play."

Berry

To believe this is to conclude that I for one, will not win my race in District 2:  translation, "District 2 is not in play".

Maybe Rob Montilla is basing his opinion on the complete lack of faith in Republicans and Democrats south of 14 mile to make the right choice for the right reasons come Nov. 4th, and maybe he gauges these races based on the measured input from HIS party to the candidates south of 14 Mile.

What I do know is that his comments undermine my door-knocking efforts and, in doing so, he disenfranchises the thousands of wonderful, considerate residents who were so generous with their precious time, Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike.

Maybe he believes no candidate can win without massive contributions from a party -- to think that is to assume that Warren and Center Line citizens cannot nor will not put love of community over party. I strongly disagree!

Never mind that I have been endorsed by (one of) Michigan's largest newspapers (with reason given) and earned the full support of Warren City Councilwoman Kelly Collegio, Montilla went out of his way to conclude that an 18-year Democrat incumbent cannot be defeated by a 40-plus-year private servant in District 2. And once again I strongly disagree!

I thought he would have had more faith in myself and the other hard-working candidates trying to win without major political influence. But then again maybe Rob Montilla thinks 14 Mile is the new Eight Mile...Wrong again!