Sunday, January 2, 2005

Pastor considers Senate run

Church founder and GOP-backer the Rev. Keith Butler sets sights on Stabenow's seat.

By George Weeks / The Detroit News

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The Rev. Keith A. Butler, a former Detroit councilman who has helped Republican candidates for governor and president, is considering running against first-term U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2006.

Butler, founding pastor of the Southfield-based Word of Faith International Christian Center Church, received a standing ovation at the conclusion of a New Year's Eve service upon informing his congregation that he is forming an exploratory committee for a possible challenge of Stabenow.

"She is indeed vulnerable," Butler, 49, said in an interview. "Ask 100 people to name what she has done. They can't say what she brings to the table. Our state needs more assistance from Washington."

Republicans are not expected to have the same long search for a candidate against Stabenow as they did in 2002 against five-term Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan's longest-serving senator, when several high-profile recruits declined to run. U.S. Rep. Candice Miller of Harrison Township, the former secretary of state who carried all 83 counties in 1998, is among those pondering a bid for the nomination to challenge Stabenow. The News reported in December that President Bush is encouraging her to run for the Senate.

Republican National Committee member Chuck Yob, who was among party leaders contacted by Butler, said Saturday "we have a raft" of prospective challengers, but he believes Butler "is in, no matter who runs. He's conservative and formidable.

"He's not well-known statewide, but he's a proven vote-getter in Detroit."

A rare Republican on the City Council, Butler was elected in 1989 to a four-year term.

Butler was an adviser on urban matters for 1982 gubernatorial nominee Richard Headlee; state chairman of Blacks for Reagan-Bush in 1984; statewide director of the urban coalition of the Bill Lucas for Governor Committee in 1986; a Michigan leader of New York Congressman Jack Kemp's 1988 bid for the presidential nomination; and President George H.W. Bush's designee as deputy chairman of the 1992 Republican National Convention.

Lansing businessman Saul Anuzis, the only announced candidate to replace retiring Betsy DeVos as chair of the Michigan GOP, said Butler, former member of the Republican State Committee, gets high marks in the party for his efforts on behalf of statewide candidates and for being an articulate communicator on state and national issues.

Butler is among six religious leaders who do regular faith and policy opinion columns for The Detroit News.

In addition to being senior pastor of his 21,000-member Michigan congregation, he has bishop status and oversees 15 ministries elsewhere.

Butler and his wife, Deborah, have three children, who serve with them in the ministry.

You can reach George Weeks at 313(222)2470 or gweeks@ detnews.com.