May 21, 2012: The Bay County Bulletin

Roy Schmidt was first
elected as a Democrat to
the state House in 2008.

APPETIZER: @MIGOP welcomes Grand Rapids state Rep. Roy Schmidt to the GOP after he leaves Democrats: Roy Schmidt’s filing deadline switch to the Republican party has been immediately embraced by GOP colleagues who credited the now-former Democrat from Grand Rapids with aligning for the people he represents and not a party platform. http://bit.ly/LchVyX

ENTREE: FILING DEADLINE IN BAY COUNTY--Dewey to challenge Brunner; sheriff, drain commissioner candidates; six of seven county commission seats have a GOP candidate

Chad Dewey (right) is challenging
State Representative Charles M. Brunner.

Chad Dewey, a Republican from Monitor Township, has filed for candidacy to challenge State House incumbent Charles Brunner, D-Bay City, for the 96th District seat. Dewey, 39, of 5044 7 Mile Road, was born in Saginaw in 1973 and grew up in Freeland, according to his web site. He started a family and ran a small business in the 1990s. http://bit.ly/JhhsLo

DESSERT: Michigan unemployment rate improves to 8.3% in April, as workforce grows by 3,000: Michigan’s unemployment rate kept moving in the right direction in April, dropping two-tenths of a percentage point to 8.3%. Data released Wednesday afternoon by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget showed that the state’s workforce rose slightly by a net increase of 3,000 workers. Meanwhile, a monthly survey of employers showed that the number of jobs at major employers rose slightly in April by 5,000 to just under 4 million. April job additions were led by an increase of 6,000 jobs in professional and business services. http://on.freep.com/Jwqt3b

#MRP2012--STATE CONVENTION IN DETROIT: RNC Chairman optimistic about Romney's chances to win Michigan: Republican National Committee chairman @Reince Priebus told Michigan Republicans on Saturday that President Barack Obama campaigned to unite the country, but instead he's spread "hate and division." In a kickoff speech at the Michigan Republican Party State Convention, Priebus compared Obama's campaign to a television sitcom: "It's the Seinfeld campaign," Priebus said. "It's the campaign about nothing." Afterward, Priebus told reporters he was optimistic about Mitt Romney's chances of winning Michigan in November, though the state hasn't voted for a Republican for president since 1988. Noting Republican gains statewide after the 2010 election: "The last I checked the map in Michigan is bright red everywhere," Priebus said. http://bit.ly/JskJXi

Fifth District Delegates to #RNC2012: Prudy Adam, Denise Graves, and Michelle Voorheis. Bay County had a sweep of the alternate delegates positions: John Engel, Daniel Raymond and Randall Raymond. Congratulations to all!!

Rep. Dave Agema and former SoS @TerriLLand
were elected to represent Michigan on the RNC.

Republicans deny Anuzis, Hughes reelection to party leadership posts: Republicans on Saturday ousted two of their representatives to the national party. Saul Anuzis, the Michigan Republican National Committeeman and one-time candidate to lead the national party, and state Rep. Holly Hughes were voted out of their posts at the Michigan Republican State Convention. http://bit.ly/LonHh4

Snyder tells Republicans to keep Michigan's momentum going in 2012: Gov. @onetoughnerd kicked off Saturday’s Michigan Republican Party convention by asking attendees to help maintain what he considers positive momentum during the 2012 election. Snyder noted the state’s economy has begun to turn around. Michigan’s unemployment rate, which topped 14 percent during parts of 2009, dropped to 8.3 percent in April. The jobless rate was in double digits when Snyder took office in January 2011. "We cannot be complacent or content," Snyder told the convention during a short welcoming speech at Cobo Center in Detroit. http://bit.ly/KnK2Eh

@MittRomney, @GOP take in $40 million in April: Mitt Romney and the Republican Party raised a combined $40.1 million in April, a figure that nearly matches the Democratic haul last month and shows the GOP coalescing around its presumptive nominee. By comparison, President Obama and the Democratic National Committee raised $43.6 million in April. Both candidates share their fundraising with the national party and state committees. "Voters are tired of President Obama's broken promises," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement released by the Romney campaign. "Mitt Romney has the record and plan to turn our country around - that is why he is receiving such enthusiastic support from voters across the country." http://usat.ly/JM15Ug

Michigan considers 'interlocal agreement' with Canada on new bridge: Gov. Rick Snyder said Wednesday that he's considering fallback options in case the state legislature doesn't back a plan to build a new bridge from Detroit to Windsor, Ont., including seeking an "interlocal agreement" with Canada that wouldn't require legislative approval. The Republican governor says he still hopes the Republican-led House and Senate will back the bridge plan. But given his lack of success in getting legislation through the Senate, he's also pursuing other options. Snyder met with Canadian Transport Minister Denis Lebel and other top officials in Windsor last week to discuss plans for a new bridge. He has declined to speak much about the negotiations, but said Wednesday he remains hopeful a bridge agreement can be reached this year. http://bit.ly/JvLASY

BIRTHWEEK: Monday. Mr. T. Wednesday. Mitch Albom, Drew Carey. Friday. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Frank Oz. Saturday. Queen Mary. Sunday. Henry Kissinger.