The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today announced campaign endorsements for State Senate candidates in open seats and challenger races.

"We are pleased to announce the Michigan Chamber's endorsement of 18 outstanding individuals for the State Senate," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley.

"Michigan Chamber campaign endorsements for open seats are based upon candidate questionnaires, personal interviews and member input from the Chamber's Political Action Committee (PAC) Board of Directors," explained Bob LaBrant, the Michigan Chamber's Senior Vice President of Political Affairs.

"The Michigan Chamber will be making additional endorsements following the August 3rd Primary," added LaBrant. "In some primary contests, we found the field of candidates to have positions favorable toward job creation and economic growth in Michigan. Rather than make multiple endorsements, we have chosen to let the primary process work itself out."

Following are the Michigan Chamber's endorsements for the open seats and challenger races in the State Senate:

  OPEN SEATS - 17
  District               Candidate             Home
  --------               ---------             ----
  12th                   Jim Marleau           Lake Orion
  15th                   Mike Kowall           White Lake
  16th                   Bruce Caswell         Hillsdale
  20th                   Tonya Schuitmaker     Portage
  21st                   John Proos            St. Joseph
  22nd                   Joe Hune              Hamburg
  24th                   Rick Jones            Grand Ledge
  25th                   Phil Pavlov           St. Clair
  26th                   Dave Robertson        Grand Blanc
  29th                   Dave Hildenbrand      Grand Rapids
  30th                   Arlan Meekhof         West Olive
  33rd                   Brian Calley          Portland
  34th                   Goeff Hansen          Hart
  35th                   Darwin Booher         Evart
  36th                   John Moolenaar        Midland
  37th                   Howard Walker         Traverse City
  38th                   Tom Casperson         Escanaba


  CHALLENGER RACES - 1
  District               Candidate             Home
  --------               ---------             ----
  6th                    John Pastor           Livonia

The Michigan Chamber will be releasing its 2009-2010 Legislative Voting Record - A Competitiveness Scorecard for Michigan, which includes earned endorsements for candidates seeking re-election to either the State House or Michigan Senate, in July.

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business advocacy organization representing approximately 6,800 employers of every type and size in all 83 counties in Michigan. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process.

The Michigan Chamber PAC ranks 18th among Michigan's top 150 political action committees, according to an April report by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network.

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SOURCE: Michigan Chamber of Commerce

CONTACT: Rich Studley, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, +1-517-371-2100

Web Site: http://www.michamber.com/