Page 8--Thursday, August 3, 1978-The Michigan Daily DEREZINSKI I F THERE IS a Polish picnic or a Slavic ethnic festival anywhere in the state these days, rest assured State Senator An- thony Derezinski (D-Muskegon) will be there. The 36-year-old American-born son of Polish immigrants is counting on this state's large Slavic vote to make his bid for the U.S. Senate nomination a success. Although generally considered the un- derdog, Derezinski, a University and Har- vard Law School graduate, sincerely believes that with ethnic backing he can surmount Carl Levin's name recognition and Philip Power's money and catch the Democratic nomination. Derezinzki has one of the most liberal voting records in the state legislature. But he bills himself as a moderate Democrat and takes a hard line on U.S. foreign policy, especially on detente and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks with the Soviet Union. And Derezinzki knows that is exactly what most Slavic immigrants in this country, who came from behind the Iron Curtain, want to hear. "THEY LOST THEIR human rights and that is why they're immigrants," he said. Derezinski has gone so far as to say he would have supported the recent movement in Congress to oust U.S. United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young for his statement that there were "hundreds, perhaps thousands" of political prisoners in the U.S. The slightly balding, personable Derezinski relinquished a possible third term in the state Senate to run for his par- ty's U.S. Senate nomination. He called the act "a leap of faith," but several state political observers have called the move a "no lose proposition." THESE OBSERVERS have hinted that Derezinski would have faced stiff com- petition in a re-election campaign for his state Senate seat. But ever if he loses the primary, a strong ethnic showing could force state Democrats to nominate him for the lieutenant governor spot. Derezinski is proud to say he is a Navy man and a Vietnam veteran. He served in Vietnam as a military court judge and sometime defender. He said he reads everything he can on the subject of Viet- nam-a situation he does not want repeated. Derezinski views a U.S. Senator as someone who "helps shape this country's goals, both domestic and foreign, and to arrive at mechanisms to fulfill them." He said he would like to see "idealistic men in Washington who are willing to gamble their jobs to do what is right and not what is politically expedient." See DEREZINSKI, Page 12 Derezinski OTTERBACHER They want tA A YOUNG MAN and woman were waiting for an elevator which would take them to the floor where State Senator John Otterbacher was scheduled to speak. One said to the other, "I heard he was a psychologist." Otterbacher, standing unnoticed behind the couple, offered: "He is a psychologist." The person turned, Otterbacher apologized for eavesdropping and introduced himself. The person then asked the most logical question: Why is a psychologist running for the U.S. Senate?" Otterbacher's reply came by way of a long narration of his struggle through college during the anti-war era and the seed of his frustration with government's inability to provide adequate social services and its propensity for making war. The 36-year-old Otterbacher is trim and very athletic. He runs five miles several times a week, "for his mental health," he said. He resembles Bobby Ken- nedy and has been compared to Calif. Gov. Jerry BrownN Like Brown, Otterbacher studied for thepriesthood. He received his BA from Aquinas College, a seminary in Grand Rapids. Otterbacher is a philosopher; he views the Senate as a place "where all the diversity of the country ought to be reflected in a public and open way." "We ought to look to the Senate not only as a place for strategic change,.or legislative or problematic change, but we also ought to look there to get a sense, at any given time, of what's going on in this country, what we're thinking about, what questions are being asked. It ought to be a place where we go to learn," he said. Otterbacher received his M.A. and Ph.D. in psychology from St. Louis University and is proud of thefact that he paid for his entire education by working various factory and construction jobs. He is an ambitious, quick-thinking, fast-talking liberal Democrat representing a basically Republican constituency in Grand Rapids-a fact which he believes makes him a formidable match for Senator Robert Griffin. Like all his opponents, Otterbacher would like to see a matching federal funds program for federal elec- See OTTERBACHER, Page 13 In a non-presidential election year marked by more than usual roter apathy, the Senate primary race appears lackluster. But it should be anything but that. For the first time in a dozen years, pollsters say the Republians face possible defeat. The contest in the Democratic camp may decide who uwill represent Michigan in the nation's capital. In the Republican corner, Oakland County Prosecutor L. Brooks Patterson has offered incumbent Sen. Robert Griffin only minimal competition and Griffin's nomination seems assured. But on the Democrat's side, roters will u-ade through six candidates to annoint the one they beliere best capable to defeat Griffin. The candidates are former Detroit City Council President Carl Let-in, State Senator Anthony Derezinski (D- Muskegon), State Senator John Otter- bacher (D-Grand Rapids), State Rep. Paul Rosenbaum (D-Battle Creek), Ann Ar. bor newspaper publisher Philip Power, and former U.S. Rep. Richard Vander- Veen. Everyone seemed to jump on the bad- wagon when retirement. But when he changee run for re-electiu in the excitement With candidat corerage and ro usual. Daily ret Otterbacher ROSENBAUM S TATE REP. PAUL Rosenbaum (D- Battle Creek) may not have all the money he would like to spend on his primary campaign for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, but there is one thing he will never be short of-confiden- ce. "Outspoken" may be an understate- ment. Rosenbaum has distinguished him- self in the primary campaign by making personal attacks on his Democratic op- ponents. The 44-year-old Rosenbaum, who was raised on 138th St. in the Bronx, New York, calls himself "the best political street fighter" in the race. And he adds, "I'm a very outspoken human being." SEVERAL SOURCES HAVE said that even if Rosenbaum wins the primary he will 'ot be able to count on the'Hel of the other candidates asaresult of These per' sonal attacks. Therefore, the sources have the issues. I go into an audience and look said, a divided party would not be able to for controversy," he said. offer Rosenbaum the support he needs to BUT THROUGHOUT AN hour-long in- beat incumbent Bobert Griffin. terview, Rosenbaum hedged or evaded a Rosenbaum moved into the political number'of questions. On the subject of scene by way of a taxpayer's association marijuana, Rosenbaum said he favored he formed in Battle Creek in the early 70s. decriminalization. When asked about He was one of the first Senate candidates legalization, he evaded the question. When to endorse the so-called Headlee proposal pressed, he said "legalization would not which is now backed by all his opponents work." When pressed further, he said "the except VanderVeen. The tax limitations society and legislature are not ready for issue has been a central target in Rosen- it." baum's campaign largely because of its Despite attcks on his opponents, Rosen- natural appeal. baum is one of tl'.e most personable can- Rosenbaum, who worked his way didates in the campaign. He is by far the through school playing the saxophone, best speaker, with a propensity to take a graduated from Springfield College and tired, restless audience and within a mat- George Washington University Law ter of minutes transform it into an excited, SchooJ lie, often says his opponents are cheering crowd. , circumventing the issues in this primary campaign.' Iri the only-rie f'alihg'aut,S p , , RO.SSENBAUM, Page 13