It’s no
Whitewater but the controversy over Terri Lynn Land’s past business dealings
continues to linger.
Whitewater but the controversy over Terri Lynn Land’s past business dealings
continues to linger.
The
Republican Senate candidate is trying to beat back the claims made in a TV ad
by her Democratic opponent, Rep. Gary Peters, that she evicted 170 residents from
her grandparents’ trailer park and bulldozed the place a decade ago to make way for a
developer.
Republican Senate candidate is trying to beat back the claims made in a TV ad
by her Democratic opponent, Rep. Gary Peters, that she evicted 170 residents from
her grandparents’ trailer park and bulldozed the place a decade ago to make way for a
developer.
I pointed out the other day that a biographical video on Land’s website has this sound
bite from the candidate: “They (the grandparents) are very proud of their family
business, which still continues to this day.”
bite from the candidate: “They (the grandparents) are very proud of their family
business, which still continues to this day.”
That, of course, is false.The mobile home business has not existed since 2005 and the west Michigan property has stood vacant since then. Land & Co. is now in the apartment rental business.
Yet Heather Swift, a spokeswoman for the campaign, said that she
sees no contradiction in Land’s statement on the videotape. Swift also offered
a statement about the Grandville site:
sees no contradiction in Land’s statement on the videotape. Swift also offered
a statement about the Grandville site:
“Terri
Lynn Land worked at the family motel and trailer park over different periods
until the early 1990s. Terri is not, and has never been, involved in the
day-to-day running of Land & Co; nor has she ever had an ownership share in
Land & Co. For the past few years, Terri has owned a small-business with
her son.”
Lynn Land worked at the family motel and trailer park over different periods
until the early 1990s. Terri is not, and has never been, involved in the
day-to-day running of Land & Co; nor has she ever had an ownership share in
Land & Co. For the past few years, Terri has owned a small-business with
her son.”
Here’s
the problem with that explanation:
the problem with that explanation:
Land, 55, apparently worked at the trailer park, on and
off, from the time she was a teenager until she was in her 30s. She took over
certain operations from her grandparents. And the company that bought the place
is run by her husband and named after Land.
off, from the time she was a teenager until she was in her 30s. She took over
certain operations from her grandparents. And the company that bought the place
is run by her husband and named after Land.
But she played no role in shutting down and
bulldozing this beloved family business?
bulldozing this beloved family business?
 |
| Bill Ballenger |
If you think that’s nitpicking on my part,
consider the optics that come out of the Peters ad as viewed by Bill Ballenger,
the dean of Michigan political pundits. On this week’s “Off the Record,” which
airs tonight on PBS stations across the state, Ballenger said the ad makes it
appear that Land “obliterated her whole homestead, kicked everybody out,
razed the place. She’s a disaster. She doesn’t care about people.”
Ballenger added
this about the potential damage done to Land by the Peters ad: “The issue
is, she’s insensitive and crass. Vulture capitalism. She kicks out all the
people from the trailer park in which she was born and raised and so
forth.”
consider the optics that come out of the Peters ad as viewed by Bill Ballenger,
the dean of Michigan political pundits. On this week’s “Off the Record,” which
airs tonight on PBS stations across the state, Ballenger said the ad makes it
appear that Land “obliterated her whole homestead, kicked everybody out,
razed the place. She’s a disaster. She doesn’t care about people.”
Ballenger added
this about the potential damage done to Land by the Peters ad: “The issue
is, she’s insensitive and crass. Vulture capitalism. She kicks out all the
people from the trailer park in which she was born and raised and so
forth.”
In a rare
public appearance where she talked with the press, Land told the Fox News TV affiliate
in west Michigan on Thursday: “I’ve never owned the park but the family members
that did worked very hard with the residents to make sure that they could go to
the community of their choice.”
I’m
assuming the vague reference to “family members who did” own the trailer park
refers to her husband, Dan Hibma, who owns Land & Co. and owns the property.
public appearance where she talked with the press, Land told the Fox News TV affiliate
in west Michigan on Thursday: “I’ve never owned the park but the family members
that did worked very hard with the residents to make sure that they could go to
the community of their choice.”
I’m
assuming the vague reference to “family members who did” own the trailer park
refers to her husband, Dan Hibma, who owns Land & Co. and owns the property.
“We
moved them all for free,” said Land, again opening herself up to possible
claims of untruthfulness. “They did that to make sure that they could be in a
community where they wanted to live.”
Dan
Calabrese, a Detroit News blogger, has poked some holes in the determination by
the Michigan Truth Squad (a group of journalists who act as fact-checkers) that
the anti-Land ad is accurate. The Calabrese blog also features Tim DeWitt, executive
director of the Michigan Manufactured Housing Association, coming to Land’s
rescue:
“Many parks were
closing at this time (2004-05). State laws only require park owners to give
their residents a one-year notice prior to closing. The major difference here
is that Land & Co. went way beyond the legal requirements and helped their
residents relocate to surrounding communities. Land & Co. bared the
cost of moving the homes, which included the takedown and setup, and helped
residents adjust to their new surroundings. They also assisted residents
who opted to move to apartments in the area as well. The Land & Co.
approach should be the model for others in the industry who are facing this
situation.”
Calabrese, a Detroit News blogger, has poked some holes in the determination by
the Michigan Truth Squad (a group of journalists who act as fact-checkers) that
the anti-Land ad is accurate. The Calabrese blog also features Tim DeWitt, executive
director of the Michigan Manufactured Housing Association, coming to Land’s
rescue:
“Many parks were
closing at this time (2004-05). State laws only require park owners to give
their residents a one-year notice prior to closing. The major difference here
is that Land & Co. went way beyond the legal requirements and helped their
residents relocate to surrounding communities. Land & Co. bared the
cost of moving the homes, which included the takedown and setup, and helped
residents adjust to their new surroundings. They also assisted residents
who opted to move to apartments in the area as well. The Land & Co.
approach should be the model for others in the industry who are facing this
situation.”
Now, that’s a good defense
of Land. Except … if she swears she had nothing to do with Land & Co. can
she really take credit for the praise the company receives from DeWitt?
To no
one’s surprise, Haley Morris, spokeswoman for the Peters campaign, isn’t buying
it.
of Land. Except … if she swears she had nothing to do with Land & Co. can
she really take credit for the praise the company receives from DeWitt?
To no
one’s surprise, Haley Morris, spokeswoman for the Peters campaign, isn’t buying
it.
“The question
remains, why did Land destroy her childhood community for no reason and why did
she try and hide the truth from Michiganders? Michigan middle class families
just can’t trust Land if she won’t even tell them the real story of how she
turned her back on where she came from.”
Stay tuned.
