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Saginaw Democrat enters House race
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Saturday, March 22, 2008 10:05 PM EDT
SAGINAW - Attorney Andrew Concannon, 40, a Democrat, has announced he is running for election to Michigan's 4th Congressional District seat. He is challenging Republican Dave Camp, 54, of Midland, who this week announced he is running for a 10th consecutive two-year term in the district, the boundaries of which extend from Traverse City in the north, south to Owosso.
This is Concannon's first attempt running for elective office.
A native of the Cleveland, Ohio, suburb of Willoughby, Concannon grew up in Troy, and has lived in Saginaw Township the past 10 years with his wife, Tracy, and their two sons.
A 1985 graduate of Troy Athens High School, he earned an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 1990 and then a law degree from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1993. He practices law with the firm of Smith Bovill in Saginaw, specializing in general and commercial litigation.
“Citizens of this district and this state are hurting,” Concannon said. “Over the last five years, 180,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Michigan. People in our communities are faced with an array of economic worries: high unemployment, the risk of foreclosure, lack of affordable health care - the list goes on and on.”
According to Concannon, the state has probably the most difficult economy in the country.
“Yet, regrettably, Mr. Camp has shown no leadership on helping to revitalize Michigan's economy after nine terms as our representative,” he said. “And he has stood in the way of bringing mortgage relief to Michigan homeowners and health care to children of the working poor.
Concannon says he would be a “new voice in Congress,” putting the focus back on creating new jobs in Michigan and bringing relief to people struggling with financial woes.”
“Together, community leaders, small business owners, farmers, academics in our universities, we can harness our talents, take advantage of innovative technologies and put together a plan to put Michigan back to work,” said the Democrat.
According to Concannon, taking on a nine-term incumbent in Camp is a challenge.
“But I love Michigan,” he said. “And I want to make it better for my children and yours.”