Tribal Chairman will formally declare his candidacy Saturday.
Derek Bailey , Tribal Chairman for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, will declare his run for Congress Saturday.
TRAVERSE CITY -- A northern Michigan tribal leader plans to make his ties to Washington, DC even stronger when he formally announces plans to run for U.S. House of Representatives Saturday.
Derek Bailey , Tribal Chairman for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, will declare his run for Michigan's first district.
"In Congress we need vibrant, creative and strong leadership in advancing the needs of the citizens in northern Michigan," said Bailey. "We need to look at reigning in spending and reducing the nation's overwhelming pile of debt. We need to look at sensible tax policies that are balanced, fair and responsible, and that address needs of working people and not energy companies, which have seen record profits."
Bailey will declare as a Democrat, and said he would work with both parties to solve problems if elected. "I am running to truly represent the citizenship in District One in word and in deed, to make sure our voice is heard," he said.
Bailey said he would work to protect the Great Lakes environment. He has been an outspoken tribal and community leader on Asian carp and other invasive species. "Protection of our greatest natural resource must be shown through a commitment driven by knowledge, understanding and spirit. I will bring that strong northern Michigan voice to the halls of Congress," he said.
Bailey said he would work to strengthen education, and he currently serves on the National Advisory Council on Indian Education; an appointment made in November 2010 by President Obama. He said he would be a fierce advocate for early childhood education and meeting the needs for rural families. "Our children, our future leaders, not only need but demand that we find educational opportunities and funding that will secure their success in the future."
The first congressional district has been redrawn for the 2012 election cycle, and includes the entire upper peninsula, and portions of the northwest lower peninsula, including several counties currently not in the first district.
Bailey joins Gary McDowell, who announced this September, in the Democratic primary to challenge one-term incumbent Dan Benishek.
Derek Bailey will officially make the announcement starting at 9 am Saturday in Escanaba. His schedule is below:
9:00 am
Bay City College
Rm 952 University Ctr.
Escanaba
1:30 pm
Lake Superior State Univ.
Cisler Student & Conference Ctr.
650 W. Easterday Ave.
Sault Ste. Marie
6:30 pm
Good Works Collective
417 S. Union St.
Traverse City
