Fred Fry, Candidate

71st District State House of Representatives

Fred's Interview with Tim Nester on

 www.talklansing.net. It proves what a dedicated,

intelligent and experienced person he is and why

you should vote for him on Tuesday August 3rd! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa7V5YFHPsU

 Bobby Crim endorsed Fred!                                                                                 

 Take a look at the important points Bobby notes in his letter to the LSJ

Fry Is Your Guy

The voters of the 71st District have a unique opportunity to vote for a person who is experienced and knowledgeable in the legislative process.

When I was House speaker, Fred Fry was an outstanding staff member who was instrumental in the bipartisan negotiations and passage of several pieces of important legislation, especially in the field of education.

Fry is ready to be an effective legislator immediately. He knows the legislative process, the rules of the House of Representatives, the committee structure and the history of legislative issues.

Fred is a disciplined and committed individual. An example of this is that in the last few years, Fred has twice qualified for and run the Boston Marathon.

Fred will use his discipline and commitment, along with his outstanding knowledge and experience of the legislative process to be an excellent legislator for the 71st District.

Bobby D. Crim
Grand Ledge

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100730/OPINION02/7300311/Letters-on-the-Aug-3-election

Letter in the State Journal 

Fry Is Pick In 71st

We need Fred Fry as our Representative in the 71st District.

With his background in business, education and working in the Legislature for such people as former House Speaker Bobby Crim, Fry is the leading candidate for the job. He can step into the job because he is qualified, with the political know-how to do the job right away.

He has the ability to work both sides of the aisle to get things done.

He has a degree from Michigan State University in political science, a law degree from Wayne State University and is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.

Most of all, I like his own words that we need more "work horses" not "show horses"; cooperation not confrontation; and business-like, strategic thinking, not patchwork solutions. He can hit the floor running (he has run marathons), if you get my meaning.

Leland H. Williamson
Charlotte

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100709/OPINION02/7090307/1087/OPINION02

Letter of Support from Fred

Dear Supporter –

One year ago, I began planning my campaign for 71^st District State Representative. Since announcing my candidacy on January 22, 2009, I’ve spent nearly every day meeting the voters that decide this primary election, by knocking on their doors. I’ve trekked through sub zero temperatures in Vermontville, watched the trees turn green in Delta Township, and traded my winter hat for short sleeve shirts while meeting voters in Charlotte. I’ve knocked on thousands of doors and spoke with even more voters.

Aside from knocking on doors; we’ve held five successful campaign events hosted by close friends and former colleagues. 

Recently, we opened a campaign office in Delta Township at the corner of West Saginaw Highway and Winifred (or Win-It-Fred as I like to call it), near Waverly Road. We have had a steady flow of volunteers working out of the office since its grand opening. We’ve also been able to hire a wonderful office manager to assist with the day-to-day duties of the campaign.

I’m also very proud to mention two proposals I developed that display my understanding of the wants of voters. On the day I announced my candidacy I also announced my promise that, if elected, I would take a 20% pay cut from the current legislator’s salary. I know Michigan families are hurting and I think it’s only right to lead by example in these tough times. Secondly, working with Grand Ledge’s Republican Mayor Kal Smith, I drafted a clean campaign pledge to all candidates for this seat asking them to run a campaign based on issues and absent of the partisan name calling and bickering that has helped stick us in the rut we find ourselves in now. I am proud to say that the clean campaign pledge was widely received and signed by all but one of my opponents.

Our plan for winning this election is solid and already underway. Our plan is heavily dependent on volunteers coming into the office and making phone calls, going out and knocking on doors with me, and reaching out to everyone they can and asking them to support my candidacy. We already have over 50 hardworking, dedicated volunteers, from friends and family, to people I met knocking on doors. But we need more! I am writing to ask you to call our office and set up a time when you can volunteer doing some of these things with me. Winning this election is dependent on you! Our office phone number is 517.321.2200.

Along with volunteering, fundraising is critical to a successful campaign. I am proud to say that we have had over 100 individuals contribute and I truly appreciate that generosity. It means a lot! However, in these last few weeks before the primary election on August 3^rd, it is critical that we have enough funds to print signs and flyers that will help to get our message of reform out to the public. This would provide our campaign with an advantage over the rest. However, it is completely dependent on the funds raised. Please if you are able to help in any way possible, $10, $40, or $250, direct your contribution to our campaign headquarters at 4601 W. Saginaw Highway in Lansing. 

With your help, we can do incredible things in Lansing -- we can find ways to fund education so that our kids and grandkids have the same opportunities that were afforded to us, we can bring good jobs to our state, and we can maintain the critical infrastructure that gives us a high quality of life. But I can’t do it without your help in the next five weeks.

With gratitude and hope,

Fred Fry

Introduction Letter

Dear Friend:

My long-held dream (since boyhood) has been to help people by making government more responsive.  With that dream firmly in mind, I have announced my candidacy for the office of State Representative in the 71^st District, a seat that includes most of Eaton County.

Being an effective legislator, though, requires far more than a dream.  For just a moment I’d like to tell you about my journey to this decision, a journey I hope you’ll agree translates into a career of preparation to serve you in Lansing as your next State Representative.

Through the years, the dream did not fade; if anything, it burned even brighter.  In law school I took elective classes specifically designed to prepare me for a life in public service.  After law school, I served a number of years on legislative staff in the Michigan House of Representatives where I became an ardent student of the sometimes complex legislative process.  I was frequently cited for the ability to turn worthwhile ideas into state law.  In fact, at the request of leadership, I wrote a well-received article for the State Bar Journal on that very topic.

I left the Capitol to become owner of a successful small business in Delta Township.  During that period I was selected “owner of the year” four times by RE/MAX of Michigan.  The experience was invaluable.  I learned what it means to meet a payroll, to have entire families – including my own – depend on me for groceries, shoes, braces, college tuition and much more.  I’ve always felt decisions in Lansing would be far better if only more legislators had met a payroll.

I was fortunate to learn the importance of local government, not from some distant perch in a legislative office, but by serving on the City Council of Charlotte.  The problems of city government – ensuring critical services - are very real.  And it’s difficult to understand just how real until you’re called upon to balance limited resources in order to provide those services.

I also served on the Charlotte School Board and learned first hand about crafting a school budget that reflects the educational needs of our children.  While not evident lately, the state legislature has a pivotal role in that essential task.  I’m proud of my children, not only for their accomplishments, but because they are the product of our public schools.

I’m not the youngest, or the most handsome, or the most photogenic candidate in the field.  But I do know we need “work horses” not “show horses;” cooperation not confrontation; business-like, strategic thinking, not patchwork solutions.  And, most important, we need independence - the ability to examine problems and solutions without the baggage of shallow, partisan, self-serving politics.  My vote will be cherished.  It’s not for sale to special interests and won’t be surrendered on demand to deliver an agreement I had no part in creating.  It belongs to people of the district, and that’s where it will stay.

Finally, to those who would question my commitment or endurance, you should know that I qualified for, and ran, both the 2006 and 2007 Boston Marathons.  That same commitment and endurance will govern my approach to this race and my service to the 71^st District.

If you have a question or comment on my candidacy, or the manner in which I would represent you in Lansing, please e-mail me at fredfry4rep@gmail.com.  Further, please contact me if you know of a gathering and think it would be helpful or appropriate for me to attend. 

Sincerely,

Fred Fry