Saturday, July 26, 2008
News
Schneider files as write-in for District 4
By DOMINIC ADAMS Argus-Press Staff Writer
DURAND - The battle for the Shiawassee County Commissioner seat in District 4 just got a little more crowded.
Democrat Les Schneider, 54, of Durand, said running for county commissioner was the next logical step.
“Honestly, I think we don't have enough (military) veterans as politicians,” Schneider said. “I want to correct that and I want to help more veterans. I don't think we have enough representation.”
Republican incumbent Jon Michael Fuja faces Durand resident Donald McKay in the Aug. 5 primary.
Schneider said he filed as a write-in candidate because he wasn't aware of the filing deadline. He said he talked with Shiawassee County Commissioner Jack Johnson and Johnson said he still had time to file.
Schneider is the adjutant for the Shiawassee County chapter of the Disabled American Veterans
“There are so many veterans and veterans issues are overlooked,” he said, “not on purpose or anything, but there are a lot of us in the county.”
This is Schneider's first attempt at elected office. He served in Operation Desert Storm and was part of the last official draft for the Vietnam, but served six months in Thailand when the war ended.
“I never really thought about any kind of politics before,” Schneider said. “I was in the service for 26 years and in just the last couple of years I've been available to do other things that's why I got into the veterans outfits - I realized there was quite a void there. I keep getting more and more involved. To me it was just a logical step to take.”
Shiawassee County Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Spaniola said she talked with Schneider about his candidacy.
‘I'm always pleased when someone steps forward to run,” she said.
Spaniola said she hasn't checked if Schneider is a registered Democrat in the county but, “he has Democratic leanings,” she said.
- Contact Dominic Adams at 725-5136 extension 239 or by e-mail at dadamsarguspress@gmail.com.
Democrat Les Schneider, 54, of Durand, said running for county commissioner was the next logical step.
“Honestly, I think we don't have enough (military) veterans as politicians,” Schneider said. “I want to correct that and I want to help more veterans. I don't think we have enough representation.”
Republican incumbent Jon Michael Fuja faces Durand resident Donald McKay in the Aug. 5 primary.
Schneider said he filed as a write-in candidate because he wasn't aware of the filing deadline. He said he talked with Shiawassee County Commissioner Jack Johnson and Johnson said he still had time to file.
Schneider is the adjutant for the Shiawassee County chapter of the Disabled American Veterans
“There are so many veterans and veterans issues are overlooked,” he said, “not on purpose or anything, but there are a lot of us in the county.”
This is Schneider's first attempt at elected office. He served in Operation Desert Storm and was part of the last official draft for the Vietnam, but served six months in Thailand when the war ended.
“I never really thought about any kind of politics before,” Schneider said. “I was in the service for 26 years and in just the last couple of years I've been available to do other things that's why I got into the veterans outfits - I realized there was quite a void there. I keep getting more and more involved. To me it was just a logical step to take.”
Shiawassee County Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Spaniola said she talked with Schneider about his candidacy.
‘I'm always pleased when someone steps forward to run,” she said.
Spaniola said she hasn't checked if Schneider is a registered Democrat in the county but, “he has Democratic leanings,” she said.
- Contact Dominic Adams at 725-5136 extension 239 or by e-mail at dadamsarguspress@gmail.com.