Consultant Predicts Courser Gamrat Outcome

A Lansing-based political consultant who provides crisis management says Michigan House members have to think hard before voting to throw out Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat.

Both have been cited in an investigation into whether they used state resources to cover up an affair.

Tom Shields, president of Marketing Resource Group, tells The Michigan Radio Network lawmakers have to balance House rules with the fact they did not elect the lawmakers — voters did.

Shields does say, however, neither lawmaker has handled their crisis properly.

He predicts Gamrat may resign, but believes Courser won’t and that both could go kicking and screaming if colleagues vote for expulsion.

The last Michigan House member to be expelled was Monte Geralds in 1978.