Shri, not for we? (Grosse Pointe Democratic Club image)
By Nancy Derringer
Alarmed by polls that show Shri Thanedar with a fighting chance of winning the Democratic gubernatorial primary, the Grosse Pointe Democratic Club -- largest in the state by membership, its leadership claims -- has taken the unusual step of "anti-endorsing" Thanedar, urging members not to vote for the self-funded outsider candidate and entrepreneur.
"...(It) is the official position of the Club that Thanedar is exceptionally unfit to serve as governor of Michigan due to moral and ethical reasons, and that his candidacy should not be taken seriously by voters," a press release posted on the club's Facebook page reads.
Generally, party organizations stay silent or remain neutral during primaries, letting voters choose their nominee. This is the first such declaration for the east-side club.
Colton Dale, a board member, said in an interview with Deadline Detroit that the "moral and ethical reasons" include but are not limited to the treatment of lab animals at one of Thanedar's former companies, a testing lab; allegations he misrepresented his company finances in 2016; and claims Thanedar, who calls himself the most progressive candidate in the race, himself considered running as a Republican.
If he were to win the nomination, "it could be potentially devastating to the party," Dale said.
Asked about similarities between Thanedar's self-funded, outsider run and that of a certain 2016 Republican candidate, Dale acknowledged "a little bit" of deja vu.
"Republicans should have spoken out about Trump," he said. "We felt this was our duty."
