In primaries for the top state and federal spots on the August 3 Michigan ballots, "outsiders" are playing to the anti-political establishment sentiment that abounds across the nation. Hiss-boo to "career politicians."

"In his quest for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, wealthy Ann Arbor venture capitalist Rick ("One Tough Nerd") Snyder touts himself as "a businessman, not a politician," who can solve state woes better than his four GOP opponents -- all multi-term officeholders.

His first TV ad began: "We've tried career politicians. ...And we're 50th out of 50 -- dead last" (in what was not cited.)

"In the toss-up 1st Congressional District, where Representative Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) is not seeking reelection, political newcomer Dan Benishek, longtime surgeon from Iron River, cites need for fresh ideas.

A periodic attendee at Tea Party rallies, he had been waging the strongest bid for the GOP nomination -- until the entry of state Senator Jason Allen, who moved from Traverse City to Alanson to be in the district.

The sole Democratic candidate, after a number of dropouts by those who had been considering, is Representative Gary McDowell of Rudyard. Like Allen, he now represents counties on both sides of the bridge.

"In the solidly Republican 2nd Congressional District, where Representative Pete Hoekstra (R-Holland) is running for governor, newcomers are competing against two veteran GOP state lawmakers -- Senator Wayne Kuipers of Holland and ex-Representative Bill Huizenga of Zeeland.

"Look, the career politicians aren't cutting it," conservative activist Jay Riesmersma, a former University of Michigan and pro tight end, said in his first TV ad.

Businessman Bill Cooper of Norton Shores says that on the campaign trail, "I keep hearing the same sentiments -- it is time to elect people from outside of the political establishment."

Cooper and Riesmersma both have attacked Kuipers and Huizenga for voting for the Michigan Business Tax.

It's a legitimate issue in an election campaign to challenge voting and other records of opponents, and especially to focus on the record of the incumbents in the office being contested.

But I don't buy blanket criticism against career politicians.

The retirement of career politician Stupak -- elected to the state House in 1988 and the U.S. House in 1992 after a career in law enforcement -- is a loss to northern Michigan and all Michiganians concerned about the Great Lakes, consumer product safety, and other issues he championed.

The incumbent politicians seeking to replace him have useful backgrounds: Three-term state Representative McDowell had extensive local government experience in Chippewa County, as did Allen in Grand Traverse County before election to the House in 1998 and the Senate in 2002.

Before their elections, McDowell had commercial and farming experience, and Allen was involved in a family business.

Among gubernatorial candidates, before election to Congress, Hoekstra -- during a 15-year career with furniture manufacturer Herman Miller -- had key roles as project manager and vice president for marketing. Other gubernatorial candidates of both parties had business or professional experiences before becoming politicians that are relevant to their current quests.

In short, those branded as career politicians weren't always just that. They had earlier lives that contributed to successful political careers.

A retiring longtime politician who, like Stupak, will be missed on Capitol Hill and in this corner is eight-term 3rd District U.S. Representative Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids), a physicist and former state senator who in Washington, as earlier in Lansing, worked well with Democrats on environmental and other issues.

Ehlers is one career politician with whom gubernatorial candidate Snyder, despite his criticism of some such folks, should be comfortable.

The 2010 Almanac of American Politics says this of Ehlers: "A selfdescribed nerd in high school, Ehlers is fond of telling school groups: 'They shouldn't look down on nerds because if they are not a nerd, they are going to end up working for one.'"

In a recent Snyder TV ad, daughter Kelsey Snyder says: "My dad is such a nerd. I'd like to have a cool boyfriend, but dad says if I got one he'd just end up working for a nerd."

Sound familiar?

Environmental Voices

Over the years, Republicans for Environmental Protection (REP) has voiced support for those all-too-rare candidates in the party who speak out for the cause.

In Michigan, REP recently endorsed Snyder, a businessman with an ear to the earth, for governor, and Field Reichardt of Spring Lake, who is chummy with state environmental groups, to replace Hoekstra in Congress.

Lieutenant Governor John Cherry, Jr., has been a strong voice on Great Lakes and other environmental issues since his years in the state Senate.

On Friday, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans for allocating more than $63 million in funding under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Cherry said, "Michigan is wellpoised to take advantage of this wave of restoration funds."

Out of more than 1,000 proposals that had been made, the EPA invited 270 "finalist" projects, including 99 from Michigan, to submit formal applications.

Cherry said Michigan's projects include those "aimed at combating aquatic invasive species, non-point source pollution, contaminated sediment, and protecting and restoring critical habitat in Michigan such as our headwater streams and coastal wetlands."

Among Michigan finalists: Grand Traverse Regional Invasive Species Network, $935,184; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Bear River Habitat Restoration, $196,148; St. Marys River Sea Lamprey Control, $228,000; and Alger County Watershed Restoration, $789,384.

George Weeks retired in 2006 after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features.