Former Kellogg’s Lobbyist Announces Run for Congress as Democrat

A former lobbyist for cereal maker Kellogg’s is set to jump into the race as a Democrat for Michigan’s 6th District Congressional seat now held by Republican Fred Upton.

George Franklin served as Kellogg’s Vice President of Government Relations until he left in 2005. He then formed a public affairs consultant business, according to his Linkedin page.

“I’m not a career politician, and I never want to be,” Franklin said in a statement published by MLive.com. “I don’t want to spend decades in Washington as part of the partisan machine. I’m running for Congress because I want to keep making a difference and improving lives in our community.”

Thank you Cass County Dems for a great meeting last night! Did you know Cass County has over 800 #farms? pic.twitter.com/cewcWmJr0R

— George Franklin (@franklin4mich) August 16, 2017

“Michiganders deserve a champion who will put them first,” Franklin added. “That’s why I’m committed to focusing on job creation, ensuring safe workplaces, supporting strong schools, delivering clean drinking water for our communities, and guaranteeing every family has access to affordable, quality health care.”

Franklin’s only substantial brush with government service is a governor-appointed stint to the Board of Trustees of Western Michigan University where he served between 1989 and 2001.

The Democrat also worked as a volunteer on the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade of the U.S. Department of Agriculture under President Bill Clinton.

The current occupant of the seat, Fred Upton, recently told the media that he did not intend to retire from Congress where he has served since 1987.

Upton won re-election last year by a comfortable margin, taking 59 percent of the vote and beating his Democratic opponent by 73,000 votes.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.