Enderle carries banner for Dems against Rogers

The first sentence on the “About Lance” website of Lance Enderle says: “I am not a politician; I am a teacher, and a citizen.” Enderle, a 41-year-old graduate of Lansing Eastern High School, happens to be running against one big name of a politician: Republican Mike Rogers.

Enderle was selected by the 8th District Democratic Committee to run in the August primary as a result of the debacle this summer after the original Democratic candidate, Kande Ngalamulume, quit.

Enderle earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and social studies from Lake Superior State University and is pursuing his master’s in special education at Michigan State University.

He’s up against 47-year-old Rogers for the seat that spans Clinton, Ingham, Livingston and portions of Shiawassee and Oakland counties. Rogers is seeking his sixth term.

While Rogers has established himself as a national security specialist in Congress, Enderle is a political newcomer here in Michigan.

Joe DiSano, a Democratic political consultant, said while the Republican wave in this election is likely to keep Enderle from beating Rogers, the future is bright for the newcomer.

“He (Enderle) is doing a good job building a name and base for himself for the future,” DiSano said. “He has turned some folks’ heads.”