I
7
World
The Levin Factor
Veteran senator shares views on range of issues important to Jews.
C
arl Levin, D-Michigan, was
elected to the U.S. Senate in
1978 and has been re-elected
every six years since then.
The former Detroit City Council presi-
dent comes from one of Michigan's best-
known political families and often has
been called by supporters "the conscience
of the Senate."
His Republican opponent this year is
state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk of Kalamazoo
County, who is completing his third and
final term representing the 61st District,
which includes the cities of Portage and
Parchment.
The son of immigrant parents from the
Netherlands, Hoogendyk says individual
responsibility is at the core of his cam-
paign. "I want to take the lessons I learned
from my father — hard work, integrity,
not-being defined by circumstances or
surroundings — and put them to work on
behalf of the people of Michigan. My pas-
sions are for smaller government, lower
taxes and personal responsibility:' he says
on his Web site.
He adds, "Public service is in my blood.
It is really quite amazing how similar
my political path and philosophy are to
my father's. He ran for office and lost the
first time — so did I. He ended up on the
county board and so did I. My father is
one of the biggest political influences in
my life."
Hoogendyk is known for his conserva-
tive views on taxes, government spending
and family issues.
In 2002, Jack Hoogendyk was elected
to the first of his three terms as state
representative. Since then, Hoogendyk
has been working, he says, to protect tax-
payers, strengthen education and defend
families. Other candidates opposing Levin
are: Doug Dern of Highland, Natural Law
Party; Scotty Boman, Detroit, Libertarian
Party; Michael Nikitin, Brighton, U.S.
Taxpayers Party; Harry Mikkelson, Caro,
Green Party.
The annual pay for a U.S. senator is
$169,300. Michigan's other U.S. senator is
Democrat Debbie Stabenow.
Levin responded to the IN's senatorial
candidate questionnaire while Hoogendyk
chose not to. Levin's answers follow.
A30
October 2 • 2008
Jack Hoogendyk
Age: 53
City of Residence: Portage
Family. wife, Erin, five children, seven
grandchildren
Business and Professional Career:
Elected to the state House in 2002.
Worked in sales and marketing, becom-
ing a national manager for a Fortune
500 company. Formerly in Kalamazoo
County, executive director of Alternatives
Pregnancy Care Center, a faith-based non-
profit serving young women and families
facing unplanned pregnancies with servic-
es such as clothing and shelter. Currently,
chair of SHALOM, a non-profit adult
foster care agency. Previous public service,
Portage City Zoning Board of Appeals,
Kalamazoo Public Health Advisory Board,
Kalamazoo County Commission, elected
2000.
Rep. Hoogendyk
Religious Affiliation: Baptist
Campaign Office:
(www.jackformichigan.org ). Jack
Hoogendyk for U.S. Senate, P.O. Box 10051,
Lansing, MI 48901-0051, (517) 444-1181
Carl Levin
Age: 74
City of Residence: Detroit
Family: wife, Barbara; three daughters,
five grandchildren. Brother Sander is a
U.S. representative from Michigan's 12th
Congressional District.
Business and Professional Career:
Before being elected to the Senate in
1978, served as Michigan assistant attor-
ney general and general counsel for the
Michigan Civil Rights Commission, 1964-
67. Special assistant attorney general for
the State of Michigan and chief appellate
defender, 1968-69. Member, Detroit City
Counci1,1970-77, the last four years as
president.
Religious Affiliation: Reconstructionist
Congregation of Detroit, Detroit.
Campaign Office: 26115 Greenfield Rd.,
Southfield MI 48076; (248) 443-6846.
CarlLevin@FriendsofSenatorCarlLevin.
corn.
LEVIN/AT ISSUE
1. Israel
The U.S.-Israel bilateral relationship is
critical and is rooted in our shared demo-
cratic history. I believe an important piece
of that relationship is our commitment
to a robust defense. I have worked to
strengthen that relationship as the chair-
man of the Armed Services Committee.
I believe it is also important for the U.S.
to serve as an intermediary in Israeli-
Palestinian peace talks and that a final
settlement agreement will be difficult to
reach without the involvement and sup-
port of the United States.
2. Iran
I believe the U.S. must continue to work
with the international community to pres-
sure Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions.
3. Gun Control
I support the enactment of common-
sense gun safety legislation and aggressive
enforcement of the laws that are on the
books. Congress can and should pursue
legislative solutions to prevent gun vio-
lence without infringing on the rights of
law-abiding citizens.
4. Homeland Security
Keeping America safe requires a commit-
ment to providing funding for our first
Sen. Levin
responders, and we need to ensure that
funding is allocated in an equitable and
efficient manner. We also need to make
sure that our borders are secure by hiring
a sufficient number of border agents and
providing them with the equipment they
need, such as interoperable radios.
We must ensure that containers arriv-
ing in the United States are screened for
radiological and nuclear materials. Finally,
we need to make sure that our mass tran-
sit system provides adequate protection to
the passengers that depend on it.
5. U.S. Supreme Court
With each Supreme Court nomination, I
have done my best to fairly evaluate the
nominee to determine if he or she fairly
satisfies the fundamental requirements
of qualification and temperament, and
whether the nominee's policies and values
are consistent with fundamental principles
of the United States Constitution.
6. Never Forget
We must never forget the impact of the
Holocaust and other horrific acts of
genocide. I believe that the United States
and the international community have a
responsibility to protect victims of geno-
cide, whether in Eastern Europe or Africa,
wherever these acts occur. We have a col-
lective responsibility to educate ourselves,
Levin Factor on page A32