Primary Election Date: 08/07/2012
General Election Date: 11/06/2012

Who Am I?

I am not a politician; I am a teacher, a parent, a grandfather, and a citizen of the State of Michigan and this great country! I am an individual who understands firsthand the hardships being faced by most families, having being laid off from my teaching position, while at the same time still paying for my mortgage, my college loans and most importantly providing for my family. I understand the day to day stresses that effect everyday working people, because I am one.

I was born and raised in Lansing and graduated from Lansing Eastern High School in 1987. My father was a combat-wounded WWII Veteran, Lansing Police Officer and Small Business owner; my mother was an elementary teacher in the Waverly Public Schools for 37 years. Both of my parents provided examples of a strong foundation and belief in public service, and most importantly, doing what was right and fair.

I have been an activist in Democratic politics for many years, running for state office in 1998. Since running as a candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives in 1998, I continued my education; earning Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Secondary Education, from Lake Superior State University and a Masters degree in Special Education from Michigan State University, which included certification in both Learning Disabilities and Emotional Impairments.

I was the 2010 Democratic Nominee for this District.

Why Am I Running?

Since the 2010 election, Michigan and the United States have continued to suffer. We have the highest levels of unemployment since the Great Depression. Our educational system is failing our youth. Greed and corruption are destroying our natural resources. The wealthy pay less of a percentage in taxes than the working class while our leaders, Mike Rogers included, continue to balance the budget on the backs of the middle class, all the while offering even more incentives and subsidies to the already wealthy, and cutting the programs working and poor people depend on..

This is why I am continuing my fight for the working families and small business owners in Michigan who have been left behind and are continually asked to carry the burden of our struggling economy brought on by the corrupt forces of Wall Street and Corporate America, who are not asked to contribute at all. Where is the sense of vision and leadership that made our country the greatest in the history of the world? We certainly have not received such from Mike Rogers for the past eleven years. I am willing to bring new and progressive ideas to the table, and have no interest in waiting for a public opinion poll or party leaders to tell me what to do; it is about doing the right thing, not the popular one! Over the winter I have been fighting side by side with working families and labor in Michigan to stop the Republican/corporate oppression that is sweeping across our country. I have not been fighting from an office, or from behind a press release, but instead have been in the trenches, along with the working men and women of Michigan, and that is where I will always be!

The problems facing Michigan and America are serious and still remain; I pledge to lead by example and to stand up against everything that is wrong with our political process. I am not afraid to make the hard decisions that are needed, and will never forget who I represent. I want to be a voice of the people and not the special interests. Money should not be the dominant influence on our political process, it is imperative that we get back to the root of our great American experiment called Democracy. I am a free thinker who believes in doing the right thing, all the time. If given the privilege and honor to serve the People of Michigan and this great country of ours, it is my goal to bring integrity back to the office and do what is in the best interest of ALL people.

This is why I am running to be the next Congressman from Michigan’s 8th Congressional District in 2012!

Hold Me Accountable!

The 3 E's in Enderle; Economics, Education, and Environment. This question is too complex to answer in 500 words, please go to my website and explore my issues page.

I will say Jobs are a main priority. We need to eliminate ALL free trade agreements and increase tariffs on ALL imported goods into the United States; we need to level the playing field.

My DFA values:

I believe strongly in the core values of DFA!
-I believe in community, it is important to do for a greater cause than ones self, this is done by working with neighbors, friends, and family to make our community the best it can be. This cannot be done by one person, it is going to take all of us. We embrace diversity and open our campaign to all who want to make a difference. Our campaign is the peoples campaign.
-I believe in security. Security will only be achieved when we stop giving up our freedoms for the false security that has been imposed since 9/11. We need to reduce our dependency on foreign resources and get back to manufacturing in America. Our national security is dependent on reinvesting in American manufacturing, education, and infrastructure. I will stand up and give voice to those who have been silenced. I will fight for what is right and fair in the name of the American people.
-I believe in liberty and each and every Americans right to to practice their own religion and to live a life free from bigotry, abuse, and harassment. I will do everything within my ability to protect the liberties and freedoms of the citizens of America.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

1) My staff is completely volunteer.

2) I got in the race as a write in in 2010 and have not stopped running yet; there is a bigger story behind the 2010 election.

3) I was the first endorsed candidate, in the country, by The Occupation Party; the party of the 99%. I am honored as a Progressive Democrat to receive this endorsement and be a spokesperson for the people, the 99%.