Non-Partisan -- Not! by Curt Guyette e-mail feedback   FIRST IN A SERIES: The Big MAC Attack How special interest groups and their think tanks waged the real Engler Revolution. SECOND IN A SERIES: Political Casualties Inside Gov. John Engler's war against worker's compensation. THIRD IN A SERIES: Onward Christian Scholars How Gov. John Engler and the radical right are campaining to make taxpayers fund religious schools. SERIES HOME PAGE

The Mackinac Center claims that part of its success is that it is a non-partisan organization. But a look at its present and past directors reveals that the think tank has been a Republican group since its inception. The following is a partial list of key GOP players in the Mackinac saga:   Gov. John Engler-- Helped launch the center.   D. Joseph Olson-- Former insurance company executive and lobbyist served eight years as chairman of the center's board of directors; now serves as Engler's insurance commissioner.   Richard McLellan-- Another Mackinac co-founder, the lobbyist and Lansing attorney has served on the Mackinac board since its inception. Frequently described as one of Engler's closest political advisers, he headed Engler's transition team following the 1990 election.   Lawrence Reed-- A one-time GOP congressional candidate, Reed is president of the center's board of directors and is directly responsible for running the think tank. Has been appointed by Engler to serve on at least two state commissions.   Peter Cook-- Board member and also a member of the GOP $100,000 contributor club.   Hon. Paul Gadola-- Gadola served as state? campaign chair for Ronald Reagan during the '84 presidential election.   Linda Shinkle--Appointed by Engler to serve on ? commission, she was a Republican delegate before joining the board in 1994.   Dick DeVos--The son of Amway co-founder Ricard DeVos, Dick DeVos is a promient Republican Party activist. The senior DeVos, a major Mackinac donor, contributed $2.5 million to the Bush campaign in 1992. His partner, Jay Van Andel, another Mackinac supporter, also contributed $2.5 million to Bush.