By Diane Bukowski
April 19, 2012
Lansing—Supporters of the campaign to Repeal Public Act 4 are calling for a state-wide rally at the Capitol Building here Thurs. April 26, 2012, as the State Board of Canvassers meets on final certification of their petitions at 10 a.m.
They say pressure must be applied particularly because one of the two Republican members of the Board, Jeffrey Timmer, is directly tied to a group challenging the petitions.
Canvasser Jeffrey Timmer's company sponsored challenge to Repeal PA4 petitions
“Plan now to be there,” said a Detroit Repeal PA4 organizer. “Organize others.”
Public Act 4, enacted into law last year, allows the appointment of emergency managers with virtually unlimited powers to replace municipal elected officials. It also lays the basis for the enactment of “consent agreements” with similar powers, like that signed by Detroit and state officials April 4.
Michigan Forward and Stand Up for Democracy, sponsors of the petition drive, issued the following statement regarding the challenge filed by Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility (CFR):
Wanda Hill of Detroit and George Moon of Benton Harbor at rally in Benton Harbor
“If this challenge reveals itself to be true we are prepared to fight this attack. We stand by the 226,637 signatures we submitted on February 29. We are bolstered by the fact that the Bureau of Elections removed a mere 752 signatures in the certification process. Our campaign believes that a successful certification of these signatures will happen soon.”
The challenge claims font size on the petitions should be 12 points instead of 10 points and also claims the petitions have unclear summaries and lack other information.
Michigan Forward cited a 1976 Michigan Supreme Court ruling that minor technical issues, such as font size, shall not be used to disqualify a citizen’s initiative. The group was required to publish the ENTIRE language of Public Act 4 on each petition.
Robert LaBrant of Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility
Robert LaBrant is the resident agent for CFR. It was incorporated as a non-profit organization in Michigan on March 6, 2012, according to state records, which also cite the address of its registered office as 112 E. Allegan, Suite 700, Lansing, Michigan. That is also the address for The Sterling Corporation.
Timmer is a partner in the Sterling Corporation, and LaBrant is its general counsel, according to the company’s website at http://www.sterlingcorporation.com/. LaBrant previously spent 34 years as Senior Vice President of Political Affairs and General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
According to its website, “The Sterling Corporation is a premier Republican communications company specializing in public affairs, political campaigns, ballot initiatives, and fundraising for corporations, trade associations, issue advocacy groups and political candidates who cannot afford to lose and must persuade and mobilize voters, donors, consumers, members, or public officials.”
Regarding Timmer, it says, “Jeff provides the big-picture strategy for our clients. He is a veteran political and public affairs strategist specializing in public policy issue management, ballot proposal campaigns, and partisan political campaigns. Jeff also serves as Sterling’s Creative Director, overseeing development and production of Sterling’s, well, sterling printed materials and broadcast advertising for our clients.”
Timmer was previously Executive Director of the Michigan Republican Party from 2005-09.
VOD contacted media relations at the Secretary of State’s office regarding what appears to be Timmer’s shocking conflict of interest and is expecting a call back.
Other members of the Board of Canvassers are Chairperson Julie Matuzak, a Democrat, Vice-Chair Norman Shinkle, a Republican, and James L. Waters, a Democrat. Board members are appointed by the Governor and are considered public officials subject to the state’s Ethics Code. All measures must be passed by at least a 3-1 majority.
