The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Democratic hopeful Renier seeks House seat
Former resident mounts grassroots campaign for U.S. Congress
By Daniel Lai, Editor
PUBLISHED: May 1, 2008
In a question-and-answer session with local area residents April 24, Munith resident Sharon Renier vowed to seek congressional support for Michigan's dwindling economy if elected in November.
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Renier, a self-employed organic farmer and former Manchester resident, is running against state Sen. Mark Schauer, D-Bedford Township, in the August Democratic Party primary. Both candidates are vying for the opportunity to unseat first-term U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, who represents the 7th Congressional District.
"The bottom line is I'm not an establishment candidate," she said. "I don't take money from PACs. I'm doing this because I see the need for change.
"Our campaign is about the future of America. It is about the sovereignty of our Republic, and the decency and dignity of health care for all. It is about backbone and moral courage and pulling the purse strings on the War in Iraq, while saving our economy here at home. It is for our children, so they may live their dreams."
Though her name may sound unfamiliar around Washington D.C. and Lansing, Renier said she has been politically active her entire life.
"I ran for Congress two years ago and two years before that I ran for the state House of Representatives, so its not like I'm just jumping into politics fresh. I've been very political my whole life, so this is the next step -- to actually serve your country," she said.
Renier narrowly lost the election against Walberg in 2006 with 46 percent of the vote. But with another potential match up against Walberg, Renier said she is ready to fight.
"After telling people what (Tim) Walberg is really about, we can mobilize support and get people out to vote," she said. "He's a very ineffective legislator. I believe that 93 percent of the votes that he was in on, he refused to vote at all. So how do you legislate when you can't make up your mind about a piece of legislation? You're not effective. He was a lobbyist. He's all what's wrong with Washington. He ties himself to (President George W.) Bush and thinks that the war is okay. He thinks that its okay to discriminate against people."
Switching tracks, Renier also criticized fellow Democratic opponent Schauer's track record in the Battle Creek area.
"He is looking out for women's best interests; since he has been in office the number of strip clubs have doubled," she said.
Renier also blamed the lack of leadership in Lansing for the state's financial woes.
"Our communities are falling apart and the American Dream is fast fading. The dream that, 'If we work hard, we can get ahead,' has all become a big, fat corporate lie," she said. "Our Michigan state Legislature had a chance to make a difference last year, but made a complete debacle out of our state budget -- they couldn't even read a balance sheet to know that we had a surplus, instead of a deficit."
Despite a lack of experience serving as an elected official, Renier said she has full confidence in her ability to tackle local issues.
"I have 30 years experience in tax law and international human law," she said. "My work with the University of Michigan helped make rape a war crime."
Renier said one of the issues she hopes to vote on includes repealing President Bush's tax cuts for the rich.
"I want no taxes at all on anybody who makes under $20,000 a year," she said.
Other issues include upholding constitutional amendements and bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq.
"Getting out is the question now, and we have a plan to get out. Its not enough to stay the course with people still getting killed," she said. "We need to get an international peacekeeping group in there so that the Iraqi citizens can get about the business of taking care of their own government. We need to have no permanent U.S. bases in Iraq and we also need to help rebuild their infrastructure and do it without the face of groups connected to this administration like Halliburton."
If elected, Renier said she also plans to remain a resident of Michigan and commute to Washington D.C. when Congress is in session.
"I like being here and talking with people to learn about the problems they face on a daily basis," she said. "We need someone to represent us who can help bridge the gap between Washington and Michigan and start working toward our future."
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