'Planted' candidates has GOP leaders ducking

Eric Visger's tale of political deceit is becoming a hot election-year topic, both in local and statewide political circles.

Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer said the Holton teen-ager's allegations are further evidence that Republican operatives have been conducting "an organized scheme" to interfere with Democratic state senate primary elections.

State Rep. Gerald VanWoerkom, R-Norton Shores, said he will try to contact the Republican staffers in Lansing who allegedly tricked Visger into filing as a Democratic candidate in the 34th State Senate district. As the only Republican running in the district where Visger was a candidate, VanWoerkom said he wants to make sure his campaign isn't tainted by such tactics.

And some political leaders are wondering whether the Republican staffers may have broken laws in their alleged dealings with Visger. They say regulations governing the conduct of notary publics may have been violated, as well as laws preventing state employees from engaging in partisan politics while using state facilities.