JOHN ‘WALDO’ JAMES

Republican gubernatorial candidate John James skipped most of the earlier annual gathering at Mackinac Island and in October was a ‘no show’ at the Grand Rapids GOP debate, the first of three sponsored by the state Republican Party. Although the second term member of Congress is doing well in polling and campaign contributions, his campaign reportedly has issued a statement that James will not be attending any primary debates until the field is more “set.” His failure to appear prompted fellow candidate Aric Nesbitt, GOP state Senate Leader, to post a “missing person” sign (think milk cartons) outside of the debate hall. At an intimate gubernatorial debate in mid-November, when James assured the party, and his fellow candidates, he would attend, he was once again an unannounced last minute no-show – which insiders later discovered was due to a donor meeting.

John James