From the “Little House” to the Congress?
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Actress and author Melissa Gilbert announced Monday that she will seek the Democratic nomination for 8th Congressional district in Michigan in 2016.
“I’m running for Congress to make life a little easier for all the families who feel they have fallen through the cracks in today’s economy”.
Gilbert, a working mom who lives in Livingston County with her husband Timothy Busfield, says she believes that supporting working families everywhere means building an economy that works for everyone.
She served as president of the Screen Actors Guild – a labor union representing film and television performers – from 2001 to 2005 and hit the campaign trail in 2014 as a supporter of Michigan gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer.
But someone with Gilbert’s celebrity could make a splash, especially when it comes to raising funds for her campaign.
Earlier this summer, it was revealed that the IRS had filed a $360,550.72 tax lien against her, alleging she had failed to pay her federal income taxes.
First term U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, now holds the seat and Gilbert’s tax woes appear likely to surface during the campaign.
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In the previous election, Bishop defeated his Democratic challenger, Eric Schertzing, by a 54%-42% margin. Sandler says her values are not in sync with those of the 8th District, adding that her dog has a personal stylist and a Louis Vuitton collar while her past taxes have gone unpaid. He replaced retiring Rep. Mike Rogers.
