Meekhof Responds to Unfounded Personal Attack
West Olive, MI –Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, responded today to dishonest personal attacks made by Bret Vanderkamp, an opponent in the Ottawa County State Senate race. With no original plan to better Michigan, VanderKamp instead attempted to smear and discredit Meekhof by attacking his history as a businessman and calling for his withdrawal from the race.
Meekhof will not withdraw. “I am extremely proud of my business background,” he said. “I brought Hudson Lock from Massachusetts to Michigan and built the Michigan business from scratch. Brett’s accusations are groundless and untrue."
While working at Herman Miller, Meekhof noticed that there was a great opportunity for any supplier who offered “just-in-time” delivery, and he began to explore the idea of starting a business to fill this need. During this process Meekhof met the owners of Massachusetts-based Hudson Lock. They agreed that Meekhof would create and manage the Hudson business in Michigan. Meekhof began as the only employee of the new branch and grew the business from $2 million to $12 million in annual sales. He expanded the client-base to serve numerous furniture companies, and even earned Hudson Lock the distinction of Herman Miller’s “Supplier of the Year.”
Robert Sylvia, the President of Hudson Lock released the following statement:
"Mr. Arlan Meekhof was an employee/owner of Hudson Lock LLC from 1992 to 2006. During this time Arlan ran a separate satellite business, which was located in Holland Michigan. This particular site independently serviced the domestic furniture industry in the surrounding area, with annual sales in excess of 12 million dollars. "The success of this independent facility during his tenure continues today, and the sole credit goes to Arlan who designed, organized and established the operational policies and procedures that are still in place. "
Meekhof is the only candidate with a plan to create jobs and lower the tax burden by cutting over $1 billion in spending, saving Michigan taxpayers money and allowing for tax cuts. This plan is available for everyone to see at www.votemeekhof.com.
“As Michigan wrestles with an uncertain economy, we must elect experienced, knowledgeable leaders to jump start the state’s revitalization,” said Jared Rodriguez, Sr. Vice President of Government Affairs for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. “Arlan Meekhof is a pro-jobs candidate who will work hard to strengthen the principles of our free enterprise system which have enabled us to overcome past economic hardship."
“Arlan understands the needs of job providers and the incredible contribution they make to our state’s success. Michigan needs the kind of leadership that comes from his experience making tough decisions leading a business,” continued Rodriguez. "Arlan will be tireless is in his efforts to see the state is restored to economic health.”
“This brazen personal attack is just the latest in a line of desperate attempts for attention by a candidate with no new ideas,” said Bob DeVries, a member of Meekhof's campaign team. “VanderKamp's demand for Meekhof to withdraw must be the only way he thinks he can win the race, and it seems he has forgotten that the voters get to decide.”
Endorsement for Ottawa County
s 30th Senate District: Rep. Arlan Meekhof
The Grand Rapids Press
The Michigan Legislature’s 30th Senate District covers all of Ottawa County and encompasses the Kent County communities of Sparta Village, Sparta Township and Grandville. The district is currently represented by state Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland. He will be forced from office this year because of term limits. Three Republicans have lined up to replace Mr. Kuipers. The winner of that race will face Democrat John Chester of Holland in the fall.
One Republican stands out from the crowd for maturity of judgment and a solid record of public service: Rep. Arlan Meekhof of Olive Township. Mr. Meekhof served as an Olive Township trustee and supervisor, positions that have made him sensitive to the needs and concerns of local government. He first was elected to the Legislature in 2006. There, Mr. Meekhof has established himself as a conscientious fiscal conservative who is sensitive to the state’s environment and seeks pragmatic solutions to problems.
Mr. Meekhof was part of a group of lawmakers that developed a new funding mechanism for state parks. He recognized the importance of a healthy parks system to tourism, because he recognizes the importance of tourism to Michigan’s economy.
Mr. Meekhof has been a friend to agriculture, an important constituency in farm-heavy Ottawa County. He pushed legislation that would allow farmers to operate small ethanol plants, and sponsored a law that enables cast-off cows and other animal carcasses to be used in methane digesters as an alternative energy source. Mr. Meekhof isn’t afraid to rile his colleagues, either. He sponsored a measure that supported making Michigan a right to work state, then insisted that lawmakers go on the record with a roll call vote, something some Republicans, in particular, would have preferred to duck.
Mr. Meekhof’s two primary opponents are Timothy O’Donnell of Spring Lake and Brett VanderKamp of Holland. Mr. O’Donnell, a firefighter for the Ferrysburg Fire Department, has not studied state issues as well as his opponents.
Mr. VanderKamp is co-founder of New Holland Brewing Company. Mr. VanderKamp has a good knowledge of issues facing the state, in particular the way the state’s tax and regulatory structure affects businesses. His background as a business owner would bring a good perspective to how Michigan laws and regulations can impede small business owners in particular. However, Mr. VanderKamp would be more rigid than Mr. Meekhof on some issues. For instance, the two part ways on the importance of tax incentives for business. Mr. VanderKamp opposes them. Mr. Meekhof recognizes their practical use in bringing jobs to the state.
Because of his background and practical approach to state problems, we believe ARLAN MEEKHOF is the best candidate for the 30th Senate District.
My take — My ideas for school funding
By Arlan Meekhof
Olive Township
Posted Nov 15, 2009 @ 06:51 PM
Last update Nov 15, 2009 @ 09:59 PM
Holland Sentinel.
Olive Township —
Everyone knows that the economy has been struggling in Michigan for almost a decade, causing everyone, including our Michigan state government, to tighten their budgets. In the past year, an even greater strain has been put on state resources because of dramatic drops in tax revenue. It is only logical that people spending less pay less in state sales tax. Falling home values have people paying less property taxes and the unfortunate rising number of unemployed people results in less income for the economy, as well as less income taxes paid into the system.
To solve the government’s revenue problems, some current legislators believe we need to decide what the right amount of money to spend is, and then find a way to get it. I believe that the right amount of money to spend should be limited to what the government already receives. Due to the reduced revenue, significant government cuts are being made, including, unfortunately, a 3 percent cut to schools. The governor recently announced that she was going to increase this cut because she thinks we will have less money to spend next year. She may be right, but I think it is irresponsible to further cut education because of what the governor thinks might happen.
Because of these cuts, school officials and board members have been strongly advocating for a tax increase. They incorrectly believe that this is the only way to provide additional funding to schools. I am supporting a plan that will reduce or eliminate the funding cuts to schools without increasing taxes.
In the short term, I believe that we need to stop the planned increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit. The EITC is a government subsidy given to low-income citizens. Freezing the increase would not take any money out of their pockets, but it would prevent the state from giving away even more. We also need to significantly roll back the film credits that pay movie studios to come to Michigan. Tax dollars are paying for more than 40 percent of the cost of movies filmed in Michigan, and there is very little benefit to the state.
Finally, we need to stop handing out huge tax credits to companies for job creation. These credits are certainly well intentioned, but they often cost the state more than $30,000 per new job. Doing these three things would immediately free up several hundred million dollars to be spent on schools and other priorities.
In the long term, spending reforms need to be implemented, or we will continue to have the same problems year after year. We need to take action to stop the $200 million to $800 million a year in fraudulent Medicaid and welfare disbursements.
We need to make some significant changes to the way our prison system operates. At the very least, we could mimic the operation of prisons in our neighboring states and save several hundred million dollars a year by considering privatizing a large portion of the prison system. Many other states have done this with increased safety and decreased cost. This could save close to $1 billion annually.
These reform ideas and many more, have been on the table for years. Two years ago the people of Michigan were told that these reforms would be implemented as soon as a tax increase was passed. Two years later, you’re still paying for the tax increase, but there has been minimal action on reforms.
Education is one of my top priorities, and I am committed to restoring funding as soon as possible. But that restoration needs to happen the right way — through reforms. Tax increases will not provide a sustainable source of revenue in an economic climate where so many people are struggling to afford their basic needs, and are more being threatened with job and home losses each day. Only long-term spending reforms can provide the stability Michigan and its residents need, and I am committed to working toward this goal.
— Arlan Meekhof of Olive Township represents the 89th District in the Michigan House of Representatives