Tim Nendorf, center, talks about running for state representative with Battle Creek residents Don Marx Jr. and his son Austin Marx, 6, left, Kathie Marx, Kari Marx and Don Marx Sr., right, as they read his flyer Saturday morning at The Pancake House in Battle Creek. Nendorf, an MSU law student, visited The Pancake House as part of his listening tour.
Battle Creek — Pancake House waitresses wearing maroon T-shirts — the color of choice for the restaurant’s carpeting, tables and booths — float around the dining room, taking orders and delivering food. The collective chatter from more than 100 people eating breakfast and a constant waiting list of 15 people accumulates.
Through all the calamity early Saturday morning stands a man dressed in a black cable-knit sweater, gliding from table to table, engaging nonchalantly in conversation.
Some of these people are strangers to Tim Nendorf.
But for somebody as active in his community as the 23-year-old MSU College of Law student vying for Battle Creek’s open Michigan House of Representatives seat, “strangers” is a relative term.
If you asked Nendorf, he’d probably say he’s always known these people. And for the most part, he’s right.
Home sweet home
Many people at Nendorf’s “listening tour” already know him — whether they are former guidance counselors, neighbors or friends’ parents.
But Nendorf’s “listening tour” wasn’t an invitation-only event. He arrived at The Pancake House unannounced at 9 a.m. and personally knew many customers.
“I’ve been involved in this community for all 23 years of my life, and I want to continue to keep being involved,” Nendorf said.
While Nendorf had always been involved in his community — he served on the Battle Creek Community Foundation Finance and Investment Committee while in high school — he said he realized his passion for the city during an internship working for Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek.
During his time with Schauer, Nendorf helped handle citizens’ complaints and concerns, which brought him closer to the community.
“Once I had that experience I really made the decision to run for state representative,” Nendorf said.
Candy Crooks’ sons attended school with Nendorf, so when she saw him at The Pancake House, she wasn’t surprised.
“He’s a special case,” the 53-year-old Battle Creek resident said. “He’s always been very focused in high school and he’s always been involved with school and different committees.”
23 years young
Nendorf is aware of his age.
He knows he’s still a part-time student running against an opponent in the Democratic primary who has served as Battle Creek county commissioner.
He realizes his friends are just starting new jobs — if they have one — and have little money to donate to his cause.
But although Nendorf is 23 years old, he already has accomplished plenty politically.
Following his internship with Schauer, Nendorf interned for U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and worked as a policy fellow at a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm. Before pursuing his law degree at MSU, he worked in Kellogg Co.‘s government relations department. Last summer, he was a legal assistant to the Michigan Speaker of the House’s Legislative Counsel.
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Jordan Weber, who attended Western Michigan University with Nendorf, was so convinced his friend could win the election that he left his position with Kellogg Co. in Arizona to head Nendorf’s campaign.
“I’ve known him long enough to know he is an individual who will work for what is right for his community,” Weber said.
Election day
It’s still about five months until August’s primary election, meaning Nendorf has many doors to knock on and phone calls to make.
Right now, he’s working on getting donations. His father, Rob Nendorf, said Nendorf has a “tough row to hoe” monetarily, but added his cash-strapped college friends’ time and effort goes further than their bank accounts.
While on the campaign trail, Nendorf has seen more of the familiar faces that greeted him in The Pancake House.
Naturally, the same questions arise.
“I’d run into my friends’ parents and the first thing they’d say to me is, ‘When are you running for president?’” he said.
“I’d say, ‘Well, it’s looking like 2028, but right now I’m running for the House of Representatives.’ They would look at me, smile and ask what they can do to help.”
