Opponent gets award before insensitive and offensive remarks are made public

In an ironic twist, Mr. Ward was recently named 2006 "Legislator of the Year" by the Michigan School Counselor Association (MSCA).
Mr. Ward’s campaign press release said the association based the award on his sponsorship of House Bill 4375 that encourages school districts to include age-appropriate instruction programs regarding the warning signs and risk factors of suicide and depression. The award came just one week after Mr. Ward and his House colleague showed their immaturity, poor judgment and cruelty by making embarrassing and unfunny comments aimed at U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s weight during a “comedy routine” at the annual Ronald Reagan Dinner held by the Livingston County Republican Party.

Since we have demanded an apology from the pair for their embarrassing and hateful remarks that are offensive and demeaning to women and overweight people, we have heard nothing from either elected officials. However, we have heard from some overweight people telling us how constant unkind remarks like Mr. Ward’s and Mr. Hune’s made their lives miserable and led some to seriously consider suicide. Mr. Ward should be encouraged to undergo age-appropriate instruction regarding the warning signs and risk factors of suicide and depression and senseitivity traing aftr his apology.

Mr. Ward getting an award for sponsoring a bill that is supposed to deter suicide and depression among young people and a week later making insensitive remarks that are a cause for suicide and depression is repulsive.

Send a an e-mail to MSCA President Claudia Wojciakowski
at sowac@gvsu.edu and ask her to consider giving the award to a Legislator that really supports students.