Leader Publications

House District 78 Republican candidate Brian Savage found a cool way to campaign with temperatures in the 90s.

Savage dipped dishes of black cherry and chocolate for seniors at Woodland Terrace at Longmeadow’s ice cream social Monday afternoon.

Savage, a restaurant manager at Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, seeks the Republican nod Aug. 7 against Dave Pagel of Berrien Springs, chairman of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners; and David Mann, Niles City Council member.

The GOP nominee in November faces either Democrat Gerry Welling of Niles or Jack Arbanas of Buchanan.

Incumbent Sharon Tyler of Niles departs after two terms to run for Berrien County clerk.

“We just got done with the Three Oaks Flag Day parade,” Savage said. “(Wednesday) morning is the women’s Republican breakfast to meet the candidates. We’ll be going door to door pretty soon in New Buffalo and Niles Township. I’m trying to cram in as much as I can while working. It’s a balance with all we’ve got going on. I started off in fast food in high school, then moved into restaurants. During college, I worked at a casino in Joliet. I came here in June 2007.”

“People want to see the quality of life improve,” Savage, the son of two police officers and a reserve deputy for the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, said of feedback. “Galien’s school district closing is on people’s minds. The concern I see when I’m campaigning is that some people tend to look at where we are as the ‘new normal.’ We’re doing okay, we’re stable, but we’re not back to where we were. Republican leadership in Lansing has worked really hard to cut spending and streamline agencies so, for me, now that we’ve got our own house in order, how do we set priorities? Do we focus on social issues or economic issues?”

Savage has served as the board chairman of the OutCenter in Benton Harbor and on the state board of community colleges in Illinois.

Savage has said the biggest challenge he will face if elected is bringing businesses back. He plans to address the issue by attracting and retaining businesses and young professionals in the area as well as reinvesting in schools and police and fire departments.

Savage favors giving serious consideration to Right to Work legislation, which would prohibit unions from making workers join a union or pay union dues. He also wants to restore the revenue sharing municipalities lost.

For more information about Savage, visit www.savagefor78th.com or facebook.com/savagefor78th.