KALAMAZOO, MI – Former state Rep. Lorence Wenke is leaving the Republican Party and will run for state Senate in November as a Libertarian.

Lorence Wenke

In a statement dated April 25, the long-time Southwest Michigan Republican cited the party's "discrimination" against gay citizens and what he characterized as "taxpayer abuse," which he said has created "an elite class" of government employees, as the reasons behind his decision.

"I support the constitutional right of our gay family members to enjoy the same rights as our heterosexual family members," Wenke wrote, citing his record as one of just two Republican legislators to vote against the Marriage Protection Amendment to the Michigan Constitution in 2004.

"I was the only legislator to call it what it is — discrimination against our gay brothers and sisters," he wrote. "At that time, three local Republican legislators with gay brothers never said a word in support of gay rights. I challenge them with this question: 'If you will not stand up for your own family members, who will you stand up for?' "

Before his decision to leave the party, Wenke was going to face state Rep. Margaret O'Brien, R-Portage, in the August primary. As of now, O'Brien will only face Ron Zuiderveen Jr., a Kalamazoo home appraiser who has never held public office.

The 20th District, which includes all of Kalamazoo County, will be vacant since incumbent Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Antwerp Township, is seeking re-election in the new 26th District. In addition to O'Brien and Wenke, state Rep. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, is also vying for the state Senate seat.

In his statement, Wenke called out Gov. Rick Snyder and Lt. Gov.Brian Calley for refusing to take a position for or against gay rights. "I can only assume it is because they fear the political consequences," he wrote.

Saying that Republicans encouraged churches to support political efforts to discriminate against gays by condemning them for "what they perceive as a sinful lifestyle choice," Wenke added, "These same people often ignore the clear teachings of Jesus and Paul stating that remarriage after divorce is committing adultery."

Wenke also cited Rep. Chris Ward's regret of his support for the Marriage Protection Amendment Act of 2004 in the letter. In April, Ward offered a mea culpa, writing that he had been "on the wrong side of history."

In his April statement, from which Wenke quoted extensively, Ward wrote: "Looking back now, one of the things that bothers me the most about the whole episode was how dehumanizing it was. It was just politics. But it wasn't politics. Those were people. We Republicans singled out a whole group of people, most of whom just wanted to be left alone, to forcefully discriminate against them for short-term political benefits."

With regards to out-of-control government spending, Wenke cited as examples Kalamazoo's Early Retirement Initiative, which resulted in lifetime pensions of $110,000 and $87,000 a year for the former city manager and assistant city manager.

"Our spending of taxpayer dollars has been immoral and is leading our country to bankruptcy," he wrote.

Wenke said the decision had been a difficult one.

"Most Republicans are good citizens and good friends who are sincere in their desire to make our communities better places to live," he wrote. "Although, I am leaving the party, I hope to maintain the relationships that I have built within the party."