Schertzing and Bishop battle

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Short, fast and heavily funded.

That’s how to describe the mad scramble that is the 8th Congressional seat race.

And the outcome is anything but a given.

The district, heavily Republican leaning, spans Ingham, Livingston and northern Oakland counties, including Rochester Hills.

Yet, the newspaper endorsements are nodding to Eric Schertzing, the Democrat in the race, including the Detroit Free Press, Lansing State Journal and Livingston Daily Press & Argus (which usually endorses Republican).

Mike Bishop, 47, the GOP candidate, has dominated in the fundraising department, raising $831,466 by the end of September, compared to $350,587 by Schertzing, 52, his Democratic opponent.

Bishop’s connection to Matty Moroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, has drawn scrutiny and criticism. The former Senate majority leader has received more than $80,000 in contributions over the years from the owner, supporting his failed bid for attorney general and his current campaign. Bishop blocked a Senate vote on the bridge and has said he would oppose federal funding for a U.S. customs center and Canadian built bridge. He instead supports the Morouns’ building a second bridge.

Schertzing, 52, the Ingham County treasurer, supports a proposed Canadian-U.S. partnership to build a bridge. Canada would build the bridge in return for tolls. The U.S. would pay for a customs center.

Both have earned fouls on their political ads from the Michigan Truth Squad: Bishop for alleging Schertzing tripled his staff when the increases were approved before he took office, and Schertzing for suggesting Bishop was solely responsible for shutting down the government twice while he was Senate majority leader.

Bishop, chief legal officer for International Bancard Corp., a payment processing company was endorsed by Republican incumbent Mike Rogers. He announced in March he would retire after seven terms to start a career in conservative radio.

“It was Mike Rogers that compelled me to do it,” said Bishop. “I really was very much happily transitioned into the private sector. I got the call from Mike Rogers in a way that I never expected. He said the delegation is losing a lot of experience. He really put it to me very strong. It was my responsibility to step up.”

They both profess a love of service and the state of Michigan. Bishop served in the Michigan House of Representatives and the Senate from 2002 to 2010. He became Senate majority leader in 2006. He’s an adjunct professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Schertzing has held the treasurer’s post since 2001. He’s also chairs the Ingham County Lank Bank. From 1983 to 1991, he was a legislative aide to Democratic U.S. Rep. Robert Carr, who represented Michigan’s 6th District and then the 8th after redistricting.

Bishop said the diversity of the district, which spans from Spartan country in East Lansing to the mansions of Rochester Hills, requires a candidate who won’t represent it in “a cookie-cutter way.”

The two are miles apart on most key issues.

Bishop vows to repeal the Affordable Care Act and is against gay marriage and abortion. Schertzing holds opposite views on those issues.

Schertzing supports equal pay for women and protecting Medicare and Social Security.

They both said they want young people to come out to the polls Tuesday.

“My oldest daughter went off to college this year,” said Schertzing. He said the affordability of college is important.

“Far too many (students) leave college with debt like a mortgage. We’ve got to come up with ways to make college education more affordable so there’s not that burden of debt.”

He said he would support programs to help students refinance college debt.

Bishop said the solution to the weight of the debt is creating jobs.

“The economy is stalled out,” he said.

Working across the aisles was something Bishop and Schertzing said would be important.

“There are two issues that I’ve heard the most of across the district no matter who I’m talking to. One of them is the condition of the roads,” said Schertzing. “The other is really just the frustration with the partisan bickering and the political gridlock that makes up so much of Washington. Folks want things to get done, people to come together to talk about the common issues of the country.”

Schertzing continued, “I also think of it as the human infrastructure of education and job training. Those areas and others are ones that historically have not been partisan. When did education, when did Social Security, when did roads and potholes become partisan?” Schertzing was raised on a farm in Stockbridge.

“Growing up on the farm, you roll up your sleeves and get the job done. It won’t be easy, but I’ll work to find commonality.”

Bishop said he wants the public to trust the government. He said a $17.9 trillion national debt signifies dire financial times.

“Take the brakes off the economy and let it grow and add jobs,” he said. “Get the economy up and running again. That’s the best way to shrink the debt.”

Bishop continued: “I’ve never seen the trust and confidence of people waning as hard as it is right now in our government. I really do believe this generation of legislator on the state, local and national level have to regain the confidence if we want to turn this thing around.”

Also running for the seat are Libertarian James Weeks II, Jeremy Burgess, a Natural Law candidate, and Green Party candidate Jim Casha.

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