New York Times Blogs, NY
July 8 2008
Thousands Back Kevorkian Candidacy
By Mike Nizza
A nationally-known figure is mounting a challenge for a House seat,
and an aide to the incumbent is cracking wise? `It looks like
Congressman Knollenberg is running against death and taxes,’ Mike
Brownfield, the congressman’s campaign manager, told The Detroit News
today.
It’s funny because it’s about Jack Kevorkian, the Michigan doctor who
took the euthanasia debate into his own hands by helping terminally
ill people end their lives. What he did in one of his 130 cases got
him 8 years in prison for second-degree murder.
About 10 months after his release, he decided to enter elective
politics with a vow to bring `honesty and sincerity instead of corrupt
government in Washington.’ The move sparked national headlines and
much local doubt, but he hit the pavement anyway to collect signatures
for a petition to get on the ballot as an independent.
On Monday, a local elections official gave Mr. Kevorkian the green
light, thus inserting him into a tight race between Mr. Knollenberg,
the Republican incumbent, and Gary Peters, his Democratic rival. But
the biggest name in the race was immediately labeled a `a very minor
factor’ by one political guru talking to The Detroit News.
Electoral prospects notwithstanding, more than 3,200 people in the
district backed his candidacy. What kind of people signed on the
dotted line for Jack Kevorkian? The Oakland Press found several
enthusiastic supporters, but not many people who were tepid: the
debate was divided between `wholehearted support and wholehearted
condemnation.’
Those who passed on the chance to sign the petition did so in a
friendly way, except for one man who reportedly threatened the
80-year-old candidate in June while covering a petition sheet with a
big X.
In a test of his sway with the local police, Mr. Kevorkian obtained
the man’s license plate number and filed a police report. Instead of
springing into action, though, officers gave him a lecture on
priorities. `We aren’t going to be doing anything with it,’ a police
official said. `It’s a minor crime. We have major crimes to
investigate.’