David Bonior

BORN: June 6, 1945, in Detroit

RESIDENCE: Mt. Clemens

EDUCATION: University of Iowa, bachelor's in
history; Chapman University, Oragen, Calif.,
master's in history

FAMILY: Wife Judy and three children, Stephen, 35;
Julie, 32; and Andy, 29

PUBLIC SERVICE: Michigan House of Representatives,
started 1972; U.S. House of Representatives
Congress, 1976; elected Democratic Whip, 1991

WEB SITE: www.davidboniorforgovernor.com

ichigan U.S. Rep. David Bonior, D-
Mich., says holding firm to his beliefs
has served him well in his now 56 per-
cent Republican district.
And he believes those core beliefs about social and
economic justice would make him a great governor.
"I've weathered the political storms of a
Republican Party angry at my position on social,
economic and justice issues," said Bonior, who
served through the Reagan and Bush presidencies.
Name recognition in Oakland County doesn't
come easily to Bonior. Except for one four-year term
in Rochester and Rochester Hills, his constituency
has covered the 10th District, which includes most
of Macomb County (excluding only the cities of
Warren, Sterling Heights, Utica and Centerline) and
all of St. Clair County.
"I'm not well known in Oakland County," Bonior
conceded. "But at the end of this process, people
will know me."
He sees himself ideologically as a progressive
Democrat who cares about social and economic jus-
tice, immigration issues, religious tolerance and civil
liberties.
His voting record has been 100 percent for the
Latino community, the NAACP and the American
Civil Liberties Union, he said.
What keeps this candidate from garnering support
for his liberal domestic views from like-minded Jews
is his attitude towards Israel.
"I try to be honest and call it like I see it," he said.
"When I've disagreed, I've done so respectfully and
constructively."
When Bonior joined 20 other U.S. congressmen
who voted May 2 against House Resolution 392,
"Expressing Solidarity With Israel In Its Fight
Against Terrorism," he suspected Jews would not
look favorably on that vote, and it could affect their
vote for governor.

M

.

"I understood that when I voted that way, but I
did not feel that [the resolution] was an appropriate
measure to take because, at the time, the discussion
was too delicate and too important in terms of end-
ing the violence, and I thought the resolution was
terribly one-sided," Bonior said. "And I stand by
what I said."
He said he's glad the President George W. Bush
administration has become more engaged in the
Middle East situation.
"It's important for us to continue to strive for a
secure and free Israel and also strive to end the vio-
lence in the Middle East, end the occupation and
end the suicide bombings that have terrorized the
citizens of Israel as well," Bonior said.
If elected governor, he said he would expand trade
with countries all over the globe, including Israel.
"One of the great things about Michigan is the
multicultural makeup of our state and I want to take
advantage of that diversity to encourage not only
business and trade relationships, but also academic
and other cultural relationships," Bonior said. "I
hope to do that not only with Israel, but other
countries in the Middle East and Latin America,
Africa and Asia as well."

Outlining The Issues

Education
Bonior said he believes in public school education
and has always opposed issuing vouchers.
"I do not believe in this concept of 'failed
schools' and 'failed studerits,' or picking winners
and losers," he said. "That kind of thinking is
detrimental to the process of educating children."
Bonior is a strong proponent of after-school
programs and qualified teachers and he supports
early education and modernizing schools.
Health Care
"I want to make sure every child
in our state has health care,
and extend health care to
the extent that I can to
everyone in our state," he
said.
Urban Agenda
Bonior said he is most
passionate about the
problem of urban
neighborhoods, where
he often sees vacant
lots, abandoned
homes, parks in disre-
pair and a destroyed
infrastructure.
"We need to build

in rather than out," he said. "It means taking care of
our urban agenda in Detroit, Flint, Highland Park,
Saginaw and Benton Harbor."
Credit Unions
The candidate supports financial incentives to
encourage job creation and neighborhood invest-
ment.
Bonior said he wants to create credit unions
throughout the state, "especially [for] those who are
deprived of a financial engine; to empower them- --
selves and create the economic wherewithal to
improve their own communities and rebuild their
own communities, house by house, block by block.
I'm going to use some of the state resources to invest
in these credit unions."
Additionally, he said he will "freeze reduction of
the small business tax and the income tax. We have
the revenue to go forward and do the things that we
need socially and in health, education and public
),
safety.
Hate Crimes
In terms of hate crimes, Bonior said Michigan will
be "very active, and we will work very hard to end
profiling in our state, and to be as inclusive as we
can to draw people together."
Bonior said he is running for governor because,
"I'm at the point in my life where I have the energy,
the passion and I want to make a difference." ❑

AN

6/21
2002

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