11/03/2006
Locals donate to DeVos, Granholm
Seventeen Democrats, 15 Republicans give $500
or more to their candidate
BY BRIAN MCGILLIVARY
bmcgillivary@record-eagle.com
Record-Eagle/Tyler Sipe
Traverse City West senior Joe Fioranelli, 17, shows his support for Dick DeVos while another student throws up his hands for incumbent Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Nearly 1,000 students from 10 schools in Leelanau County and Traverse City attended Thursday’s mock election at Leland Public Schools.
TRAVERSE CITY — Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos poured $34 million into his quest to be governor, and a few area Republicans aided the effort with hefty contributions.
"I think people feel there's not as much need for (the money) and Mr. DeVos can fund it himself," said Keith M. Nielson, a manager at Generations Management LLC of Traverse City, who made the maximum $3,400 contribution. "But I believe in Mr. DeVos. He's not a politician, he's a businessman and that's what the top job in Michigan needs."
A review of state campaign finance records for the Grand Traverse region — including parts of Antrim, Leelanau, and Benzie counties — showed 17 Democrats and 15 Republicans contributed $500 or more to their party's respective gubernatorial nominee.
Almost half of the area's large contributions to DeVos came from people associated with the Nielson family and Generations Management LLC, an asset management and real estate firm.
Cori E. Reid, Dana A. Crosby and Nielson each gave the maximum contribution of $3,400 to DeVos. Three other Nielsons — Dale, Kaye and Melvin — gave an additional $3,000 for a total of $13,275.
"We're a like-minded family. We share the same political views and we all like to support the same people," Keith Nielson said.
Kaye and Marc Mentley, of Lake Dubonnet, gave $5,400 to DeVos. Kaye Mentley is superintendent of the charter school Grand Traverse Academy. Marc Mentley is retired.
Local attorney Louis A. Smith gave $3,400 to DeVos.
Other large contributions to DeVos came from developer Connie Deneweth, $1,050; farmer Dorance Amos, $1,200; accountant Duane Kundinger, $1,000; Richard Summers of Summers Investment, $1,200; and Sharon Wise of Sassy Sandwich, $1,100.
Two local politicians gave DeVos more than $500. Sen. Jason Allen gave $515 and former U.S. Sen. Robert Griffin gave $750.
Retired manufacturer's representative Charles Forwerck gave $1,000 to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, but doesn't think money will play an overriding role in the Nov. 7 election.
"If it did, I think DeVos would just buy it," he said.
Retired probate court judge Boyd C. Baird said Granholm is an "extremely well-qualified individual." He gave her campaign $1,050.
Other contributors to Granholm include: Sally Viskochil, the owner of the Tamarack Gallery, $1,300; DTE president Richard Redmond, $1,000, and physician Pamela Smith, $1,000.
Attorneys George Bearup, Geoff Smith, Daniel O'Neil, L. Kent Walton and Peter J. Zirnhelt each gave between $500 and $800 to Granholm for a total of $3,050.
The Grand Traverse County Democratic Party gave $3,400 to Granholm. The Grand Traverse County Republican Party did not make a contribution to DeVos, who's raised $41 million for his campaign.
Granholm has raised almost $16 million for her re-election bid.
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