$100-a-plate Fieger fundraiser fails to draw crowd

YPSILANTI - Geoffrey Fieger alienates, insults and chides members of his own Democratic party - not to mention his opposition in the governor's race.

And a visibly tired, but nevertheless energetic Fieger continued his path to election day Friday morning when he addressed a scantily attended, $100-per-plate fundraiser at the Washtenaw Country Club.

Fieger, fresh off a two-day bus tour of the state, arrived late to the event. His Mercury Villager caravan pulled in at 8:45 a.m. for the breakfast that officially began at 7:30 a.m. When he took the microphone, Fieger returned to his familiar rhetoric.

He attacked Gov. John Engler's claim that Michigan's water is safe and clean as a "shameless and absolute lie."

"We can put a man on the moon, but we can't figure out how to get fecal content out of Lake St. Clair," Fieger told the crowd.

Fielding questions on the environment and health care reform, the attorney who previously defended "Dr. Death" Jack Kevorkian attacked Engler's policies as bigoted, racist and completely inept.

"There's enough evidence of corruption to make your head spin," Fieger said.

And he didn't ease off on Engler as the speech continued, claiming that the governor has never held a "real job" in his life.

"And if he applied to my law office, he wouldn't get a job," Fieger said. "I don't consider him to be a highly talented individual."

After his 40-minute address concluded, Fieger addressed the higher education funding concerns raised by University Regent candidate David Brandon from Plymouth and current Regent Daniel Horning (R-Grand Haven).

The two Republicans held a press conference Thursday, claiming Fieger's proposed repeal of the single business tax could cripple the Legislature's ability to give adequate funding to the state's colleges and universities.

"Don't worry about it, because I'm the biggest supporter of higher education you can find," Fieger said.

He said the economic growth resulting from the tax cut and a trimming of other budgets would pave the way to continued high funding for all universities.

The fundraiser, sponsored by the Better Michigan Fund, included addresses by Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem Twp.), Mayoral candidate Chris Kolb, incumbent county board member Martha Kern and supporters of the environmental proposals on November's ballot.

Although disappointed with the turnout, Smith said she hoped that by hearing the Fieger message, turnout at events and at the polls could ensure a strong Democratic showing.

"If we don't get the turnout, we could be in trouble in races we expected to be safe in," Smith said. "Michigan will go under if we don't get out and vote."

Smith said that while many Democrats have been distancing themselves from the controversial candidate, Fieger's address at the Democratic convention actually displayed the "first true Democratic message" she had heard in years.

Kolb, in an impromptu time-filling address, talked about the deteriorating Ann Arbor environment, blaming the "do-nothing" mayor as a major contributor to the problem.

"There are people that let things happen, and there are people that make things happen," Kolb said. "Too often, our mayor lets things happen."

10-12-98