This press release was given to me by Jordon Gilleland. Jordon is a member of The College Republicans of Grand Rapids Community College and Bob Genetski is a family friend of his!
Press Release
September 14, 2007
Genetski to declare for State House
by Kristen Lark – 616-836-5425
DATE OF EVENT: Saturday, September 15 TIME: 10:30 AM
LOCATION: Holland, Michigan - 146th Ave. between Waverly & M-40 in the field across from the closed Life Savers factory
Bob Genetski will announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for State Representative for the 88th district (Allegan County-excluding Watson & Otsego Township and the city of Otsego) on Saturday in Holland. Genetski will declare his intent with the closed Life Savers factory as a backdrop, making the Michigan economy a strong focal point of his platform. (note to editor- Life Savers moved to Canada, taking 600 jobs from Michigan)
In his announcement, the Saugatuck native will call for an elimination of income taxes for Michigan seniors. With Money Magazine’s naming of Holland as one of the top towns in the U.S. to retire to in 2006, Genetski feels the elimination would help our state compete for the many retirees who want to avoid deadly weather of some southern states and enjoy the hospitality of the heartland. Furthermore, he believes the influx of out-of-state money will help bolster home sales and reduce the state budget deficit. “The additional retirees will bring a lot of disposable income,” Genetski will note.
The candidate’s speech will strongly oppose new taxes and call for an end to the personal property tax, which he calls, “a ball and chain hindering Michigan’s businesses and costing thousands of jobs.”
Genetski, who teaches at-risk high school students, will call for a restructuring of the state university system. He will recommend the state’s 15 universities to be brought under one board of regents “so that they compete against each other and not the taxpayer.” The educator will call for the current 15 university presidents and boards of trustees to show accountability to working families and develop plans to “cut tuition rates or leave their positions for others who will do so.”
The conservative Republican will also call for an end to prevailing wage laws that he believes forces taxpayers to overpay for public projects, noting a recent study by the Mackinac Center that taxpayers for one school district in west Michigan recently paid $2.5 million more for a project than they would have without state mandated prevailing wage laws.
Genetski is proud of his life long pro-life stance and staunchly opposes embryonic stem cell research.
Three students who recently graduated from Orion Alternative High School, where he teaches, will introduce Genetski. Each credits the teacher for his efforts in helping them graduate against the odds.
Prior to teaching at-risk students, Genetski taught and coached soccer at Otsego high school in Allegan County. Genetski is a member of the Allegan County GOP Executive Committee. He earned a master’s degree in education from Grand Valley State University in 2004. An avid writer, Genetski has penned guest editorials critical of Michigan universities for their lack of fiscal responsibility. These appeared in the Holland Sentinel and Grand Rapids Press. The educator also wrote a piece for the Mackinac Center’s Michigan Education Report that slammed the teacher certification process, calling it ineffective and wasteful.
Ronald Reagan cites Genetski’s father in the book In His Own Hand for a study the elder Genetski did on the damages state and local taxes do to an economy. The campaign is hopeful for an endorsement from a former Reagan cabinet appointee. Bob Genetski, when he is not teaching, plays ice hockey with his Saugatuck-based team Wally’s Whalers. He and his family attend church at St. Peter’s in Douglas.
(note to editor- there should be some good photo opportunities at this event. Bob’s former students could be quite passionate. We will send a standard headshot, but if you would like any shots from the announcement we would be happy to send some- Kristen)
