Michigan Restaurant Association Endorses Rep. Nancy Cassis for State Senate

LANSING - The Michigan Restaurant Association announced that it has endorsed Rep. Nancy Cassis in the election for State Senate in the new 15th Senate District. The MRA joins incumbent Senator Bill Bullard, former Senator Dave Honigman, County Clerk G. William (Doc) Caddell, County Clerk C. Hugh Dohany, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Michigan Manufacturers Association in supporting Rep. Cassis.

"Rep. Cassis has always been a champion of the small business owner," said Rob Gifford MRA executive director. "In addition,she has a strong understanding of the issues impacting the restaurant and hospitality industry."

"Her knowledge and skill on issues concerning tax policy will be vitally important in the Senate," noted Gifford.

"I am honored to have the MRA endorsement. I will continue to fight for small business owners in the Senate," Rep. Cassis said.

Rep. Nancy Cassis is a former Novi City Council member and was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in a special election in 1996 to replace Bill Bullard when Bullard was elected to the Michigan Senate.

In addition to being Chair of the Tax Policy Committee, Rep. Cassis serves on the Energy and Technology, Family and Children Services, and Senior Health, Security and Retirement Committees.

As of January 30, 2002, Rep. Cassis had three times more money in her campaign committee account than her only announced opponent, Rep. Mike Kowall. Nancy Cassis had $148,585 in her Senate campaign committee and anticipates raising another $100,000 for her campaign. She has no loans to the committee. Rep. Kowall had $51,873 in his campaign committee. He loaned his committee $49,650 of the $51,873 in his campaign committee account.

Rep. Cassis represents the 38th House District, which makes up about 30% of the new 15th Senate District, Rep. Mike Kowall, represents about 12% of the new district.

Rep. Cassis has beenr recognized as 1999 National Republican Legislator of the Year, 1999 Insider Business Journal's best politician of the year on business issues, 1999 Michigan Credit Union League Legislator of the Year, 2001 Michigan Manufacturers Association House Advocate of the Year and 2001 Michigan Chamber of Commerce Champion of Commerce Award.

The 15th Senate District includes Rose, Highland, White Lake, Milford, and Lyon Townships, the village of Milford, South Lyon, Walled Lake, part of Northville city, Wixom, Novi, and Novi, Commerce and West Bloomfield Townships, and the village of Orchard Lake.