Pete and son chat with GH Rotarians

Fri, Jul 3, 2009    to del.icio.us

This summer is special for Bryan Hoekstra. He will be helping his father, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, in the quest to be governor of Michigan and share in the driving on campaign swings across the state.

A senior this fall at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Bryan watched his dad in action as guest speaker at the Grand Haven Rotary Club meeting this week. The talk centered on politics in Washington, D.C.

"The first five to six months of President Obama were fascinating," Bryan said.

It was a question-and-answer session at the Rotary meeting. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, suggested he answer the questions with his opinions of what's happening in politics on the Potomac.

"I'm nervous over where we are headed in the economic struggle," he said. "I wish the administration would focus more on the economy."

Before entering politics, Hoekstra was an executive at Herman Miller Inc., dealing in figures and sales. His son is majoring in accounting at Calvin.

Bryan is not yet excited about politics as a career, but he said he looks forward to spending more time with his dad. It's more than a summer job driving his dad around the state, Bryan said — it's being together and helping in the run for the GOP nomination for governor.

The congressman will be the grand marshal of the Ferrysburg Fourth of July parade on Saturday and take part in Country Dairy's 10th annual ice cream social in New Era as he campaigns for the governor's job.

The first challenge for Pete Hoekstra is to be top Republican vote-getter in the Aug. 4, 2010, state primary election. Then the winner meets the Democratic candidate in the general election on the first Tuesday in November next year.

Hoekstra is a strong family and church man. He returns home from Washington, D.C., on weekends. With his wife, Diane, they have two daughters: Erin, who has a Washington office job; and Allison, who is married to Mike Murray. Bryan, 21, is the youngest in the family.

As a Holland Christian High School student, Bryan was a varsity soccer player when the team won the state championship.

At the Rotary Club luncheon meeting here, Congressman Hoekstra was asked, "Do you want to be governor?" He quickly replied: "I sure do and believe Michigan can do much better than it's doing. I'm hearing from and meeting a lot of people who are hurting and angry with loss of businesses, homes and jobs. They are unhappy about what the state is doing about solving the economic downturn."

At ease standing and moving about, while speaking to the club from the front of the large assembly room at the Grand Haven Community Center, Hoekstra readily answered questions. He used a microphone, but really didn't need to.

"The U.S. will have 30,000 to 50,000 troops in Iraq five to seven more years," he said. "Everyone was surprised by the passion of the Iranian people after the recent election and showed their desire for freedom with huge demonstrations. We can expect there will be a stronger underground movement over there."