11/08/2006

McManus wins a second term

Incumbent has large lead over Democrat

By CRAIG McCOOL

mccoolrecordeagle@sbcglobal.net

TRAVERSE CITY — Voters sent Michelle McManus back to Lansing for a second term in the state Senate.

The Lake Leelanau resident was leading her challenger, Democratic challenger Antoinette Schippers, at press time, garnering nearly 60 percent of the popular in the reporting precincts, according to Veronica LaDuke, a McManus campaign staffer.

The district is comprised of 11 counties, including Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Missaukee counties. In Leelanau County, McManus was leading 5,942 to Schipper's 4,336 at press time, with all but two precincts reporting.

McManus, once an aide for former Gov. John Engler and a former state representative, was first elected to the state Senate in 2002. She could not be reached for comment at press time.

Schippers, a Cadillac schoolteacher and activist, said Tuesday she didn't expect to win in the predominantly conservative district. She was asked to run, she said, so McManus would not be unopposed.

A relative political newcomer, Schippers ran unsuccessfully last year for Cadillac mayor. She said the race has "done more for me than to me."

"I was feeling cynical about democracy in America," she said. "But every place I've gone in this district, from township halls to people's living rooms, I've seen people behaving like citizens. For me, I feel so hopeful."