Zach Gorchow of Lansing-based Gongwer News Service posted a fulsome piece this afternoon that describes the emergence of Congressman Sandy Levin as one of the premier political powerbrokers in Michigan Democratic politics.
In retrospect, Lon Johnson’s victory in the party chairmanship race never would have happened without Levin’s persistent support. The UAW played a key role but Levin’s district office essentially served as Johnson campaign headquarters. His tenacious chief of staff, Hilarie Chambers, and his top district aide, Walt Herzig, handled much of the nuts-and-bolts work to get Johnson elected.
I’ve heard stories that the soft-spoken, genial congressman was unusually forceful – and uncharacteristically loud – as he rounded up votes.
Here’s a portion of Gorchow’s column:
“…It was actually Mr. Levin who spearheaded the idea that Mr. Brewer must be replaced. The UAW provided the delegates and the money, but it was Mr. Levin that supplied the passion.
“Democrats around the state, even those from Oakland County who know Mr. Levin especially well, were in awe of his commitment. He pushed hard to convince the other congressional Democrats to back Mr. Johnson. Former governor James Blanchard said Saturday that Mr. Levin asked him to do a robo-call on Mr. Johnson’s behalf.
“… Mr. Levin seemed to be everywhere – at the debate in Royal Oak last week between Mr. Brewer and Mr. Johnson, at the Friday night Rules and Credentials Committee meeting to settle a dispute over memberships, and even at the Southfield Democratic Club to sway some delegates.
“And at the 9th Congressional District Democratic Party caucus Saturday, when Brewer ally Ed Bruley, the Macomb Democratic Party chair -- as tough a political operator as there is in state Democratic politics -- tried to reignite (a) memberships issue, Mr. Levin fought back and didn’t hesitate to get into a shouting match with Mr. Bruley.”
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