Peter Secchia, former CEO of the Grand Rapids-based Universal Forest Products and host of a fundraiser for Republican presidential candidate John McCain next week, has a longstanding relationship with McCain. Secchia--who's birthday party several years ago at the Amway featured Vice President Dick Cheney--is a prominent Republican fundraiser who has considerable personal contact with influential Republican lawmakers.
In recent years, Secchia has worked to oppose Native American casinos and has used his influence to speak with President Bush, Karl Rove, and various legislators about his opposition to a casino near Gun Lake, Michigan. Among those legislators was Senator McCain, whom Secchia said called him from the floor of the Senate during a key vote:
Secchia has contributed thousands of dollars to Republican candidates and parties for several years and has given $22,900 to Republican candidates already this election cycle.
