The Detroit News - Quiet State Rep Fights for Seat in Congress

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By Marisa Schultz

The oldest of 10 children growing up on his family's farm in the eastern Upper Peninsula, Gary McDowell spent much of his time in the barn tending to "Gary's cows," as his siblings dubbed them. He preferred the quiet time.

McDowell, an unassuming state representative, has had anything but quiet time ever since he announced he's running for one of the most contested and closely watched congressional seats in the state and country.

While in the spotlight now more than ever, McDowell, a longtime hay farmer, believes his down-to-earth personality as a fifth-generation Yooper will resonate with the district's voters as he fights to preserve Social Security, Medicare and northern Michigan values. He paints his opponent, Dan Benishek, a medical doctor, as an extremist who wants to roll back government programs that help those in need.

"I'm a quiet, soft-spoken individual," McDowell said. "But I do feel strongly about these issues, and I'm willing to fight for them."

Opposite of a stereotypical flashy politician wearing tailored suits and relishing in rousing speeches before big crowds, McDowell has been crisscrossing the district -- the second largest east of the Mississippi -- feeling most natural in small groups and intimate conversations reminding voters that he's one of them. During the first debate in Petoskey, Benishek and three other candidates sported suit coats. McDowell wore a sweater.

The message resonates with Louis LaLonde, 70, from Sault Ste. Marie. He believes McDowell will protect entitlement programs, like Social Security, on which LaLonde relies. He's also written McDowell over concerns on bottle returns and pollution from Canada contaminating water near Sugar Island. The state representative responded.

"He's one of us," LaLonde said. "Benishek, I feel, is an outsider with his own agenda."

The race is a political toss-up with big national implications for either party, as the GOP tries to reclaim the majority of the House from the Democrats and political organizations from both sides have funneled hundreds of thousands into stinging advertisements.

"For the Republicans, winning this seat back is a major victory," said David Haynes, an assistant professor in political science at Northern Michigan University. "Keeping it is a major victory for the Democrats."

Roots are on the farm

McDowell grew up in Rudyard, in the eastern U.P., on an 80-acre farm. He and his brothers still run that farm, which has expanded to 1,000 acres, he said.

He attended Lake Superior State University for two years, but left without earning a degree when he was offered a full-time job as a driver with United Parcel Service in Rudyard, a job he kept for more than three decades.

Interested in serving his community, McDowell became a Chippewa County commissioner in 1981 and served until 2002. One of his most controversial yet rewarding tasks was heading up the effort to create a centralized 911 dispatch system in the area, which required a millage passage, he said.

He was elected state representative in 2004. McDowell has been attacked by his opponent for supporting tax hikes in 2007 to increase the income tax and expand the 6-percent sales tax to services. (The service tax was eventually repealed and replaced with business tax surcharge McDowell supported.)While in the Legislature, McDowell said he's proud of legislation signed into law last year that requires all new homes to have carbon monoxide detectors. He also said he worked with U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak to curb Canadian sewage that was washing ashore on Sugar Island.

McDowell, who is against abortion and endorsed by the National Rifle Association, considers his political views in the middle, similar to Stupak, who announced his retirement this year. McDowell has a history of winning votes in what he calls "the most Republican House district held by a Democrat."

In his 2008 state House re-election bid, McDowell took 65 percent of the vote. In the same election, the constituents in his four-county district favored Republican John McCain for president over Barack Obama.

He pledges to work cooperatively in Washington. The symbol for his campaign is the Mackinac Bridge. "A bridge connects people," he said. "A bridge brings people together. And that's what we are going to do."

Backers trust his handshake

One of McDowell's commercials features an interview with fellow farmers who say McDowell's word is his handshake.

"He's just like us, just dressed better," John Hill Jr., a farmer from Brimley, said in the commercial.

Interviewed recently, Hill said the filming was impromptu and unscripted. While most farmers are Republicans and he probably will get hell for his appearance, Hill said: "I put politics aside when it comes to him."

"He's a trustworthy businessman. Whatever he says, that's his word. That's the only way we operate up here."

Speaking recently at a luncheon with retired teachers, McDowell told the crowd, "We are strong, proud independent people in Northern Michigan" who care for each other in tough times. … "Do we want to continue to have those values or do you want to turn your back?"

The message hit home with Jan Hoffman, a retired teacher from Gaylord. "He's a friend of the ordinary people."

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