Field in 61st gets Crowded.

Last week 590 KZO broke the story that State House Representative Larry DeShazor intends to run for the seat left vacant in 2010 by term-limited State Senator Tom George. 

In an exclusive interview, DeShazor tells 590 KZO that he plans to come out ahead in an increasingly crowded field.

Running as a Republican, DeShazor is entering a race that already sees several Republicans and Democrats seeking the same seat.

Also running for Senator Tom George’s seat so far…republicans Lorence Wenke and Tonya Schuitmaker and Democrats Robert Jones and John Taylor. 

Deshazor says he was actually approached two years ago by members of the business and education communities about a run for the seat.   There could be more candidates in the race before the primaries--the filing deadline isn't until May of 2010.

It didn’t take long for a candidate to surface to run for DeShazor’s seat, now that he says he will be giving it up to run for the State Senate.  

Thomas Batten a graduate of Portage Central and the Kalamazoo Math and Science Center, announced he will be running for the State House next year in the 61st District as a Democrat.  He has filed paperwork with the Secretary of State to form a Campaign Committee.   

 Batten is a former defense engineer, a graduate of the General Motors institute who has operated a private tutoring business for the last seveN years.  It will be his first attempt at political office.