8/26/13 - A local TEA Party leader has thrown his hat into the ring to become Michiganâs next Lt. Governor. Wes Nakagiri, founder and treasurer of the Hartland-based TEA Party group RetakeOurGov has announced that he will be seeking the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor in 2014. Nakagiri has submitted his Statement of Organization to the Bureau of Elections, the first step in forming his campaign committee. In making the announcement, Nakagiri said he is running to bring a conservative voice to the administration of Republican Governor Rick Snyder, whose current Lt. Governor is Brian Calley. Itâs expected that Snyder will choose Calley as his running-mate next year, although that has yet to be announced. Nakagiri says that having a grassroots conservative on the 2014 ticket will energize the base of the GOP to come out and work hard on its behalf, which he says will âpay dividends up and down the ballot.â Nakagiri says that the proposed expansion of Medicaid, which has been endorsed by Snyder, is a sore spot with many Republicans, as is a proposed hike in the gas tax to fund road repairs. But itâs the Medicaid expansion that is most problematic for him, calling it directly at odds with the Republican Party platform and analogous to breaking a contract with Republican voters. Nakagiri says he will be in Lansing this week to urge Senators to vote against the expansion of Medicaid. He expects a close vote in the state Senate, perhaps even a 19-19 tie, adding that in that scenario, the Lt. Governor would cast the tie-breaking vote. He adds that if he were Lt. Governor, his would be a definite no vote. If Calleyâs expected nomination for a second term as Lt. Governor is challenged at the partyâs convention next year, it would be up to the partyâs delegates to decide. (JK)
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