Berrien County GOP chair seeks statehouse seat

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Feb 22, 2008 at 6:36 PM EST

Story Updated: Feb 22, 2008 at 6:36 PM EST

Four candidates are now seeking the GOP nod in the race for State Rep. Neal Nitz’s term-limited seat in the 78th District.

Gary Campbell, chairman of the Berrien County Republican Party, announced his candidacy this morning during a press conference at Niles Township Hall.

Among his priorities are attracting and retaining good companies in Michigan.

The Baroda resident is a former Lakeshore Public Schools superintendent who practices law out of Campbell Law Office. Since retiring as Lakeshore’s superintendent in 2003 Campbell also has served as interim superintendent twice for Brandywine Community Schools.

Also running in the August Republican primary are Bruce Hipshear, of Buchanan; Berrien Springs businessman Bill Baber, and Sharon Tyler, executive director of the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance.

The winner of the GOP primary will likely face a tough challenge by Niles Democrat Judy Truesdell in the November general election. In 2006, Truesdell lost to Nitz by only about 1,000 votes in the heavily GOP district.

Nitz, a third-term Baroda Republican, cannot run for a fourth term in the August primary because of term limits.

The district encompasses southern Berrien County and parts of Cass County, including Dowagiac.

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