In case you missed this news report:

Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox, Republican candidate for the State House, said he was "shocked and appalled" to learn a majority of the prisoners granted parole by Gov. Jennifer Granholm from March to October 2009 were violent felons incarnated for crimes such as rape, murder and assault.

That news came Monday from Gongwer News Service, which conducted a comprehensive review of the figures.

"These felons should be behind bars and not on the streets of Michigan in communities struggling to fund police patrols," said Lennox, of Topinabee, who is campaigning to replace term-limited House Republican Leader Kevin Elsenheimer. "Streamlining the administration of prisons, fully privatizing prison health and dental care and implementing other commonsense reforms would save money and keep felons behind bars."

On top of last year’s releases, Gongwer reports Granholm plans to parole an additional 3,500 criminals at a time when there are little job opportunities for ex-convicts.

"It's ironic the governor of Michigan is emptying prisons of Michigan felons only to take Pennsylvania's criminals," said Lennox. "That's just wrong."

The 105th District seat covers Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Otsego counties.