ESCANABA — An organization advocating for the protection of Michigan’s term limits delivered its message to people in the Upper Peninsula in a unique way recently.

Scott Tillman, state coordinator for Don’t Touch Term Limits and national field director for U.S. Term Limits, said Don’t Touch Term Limits brought an 18-foot hog sculpture to the area.

“We were all over in the U.P. last week, and we had great reception,” he said.

The hog — which, according to a press release issued by Don’t Touch Term Limits, “symbolizes the gluttonous attempt by the Michigan Legislature to keep feeding at the public trough on the taxpayer dime” — was set up on a trailer attached to a van driven around the region by Scott’s father, Jeff Tillman.

“My dad used to drive a truck, and he knows how to cover ground,” Scott said.

Scott said the hog was built in Grandville, Mich., in 2006. It has been used in many different political campaigns over the years.

Jeff, deputy field director for U.S. Term Limits, visited the U.P. to advocate for the preservation of Michigan’s term limits and to encourage State Rep. Greg Markkanen to stand up for voters in the state’s legislature. He said people in the area were receptive to the message.

“They’re much more open and inquisitive as to what it’s all about,” he said.

Jeff also praised Yoopers’ winter driving skills.

“I was a lot more comfortable on those roads than downstate,” he said.

Under Michigan’s current term limits, politicians can serve for six years in the House and eight years in the Senate. A lawsuit meant to challenge Michigan’s term limits was filed on Nov. 20 by what Don’t Touch Term Limits described as “a group of lobbyists and former legislators.”

The press release issued by Don’t Touch Term Limits included information from a poll that was commissioned by U.S. Term Limits and conducted by Pulse Opinion

Research Oct. 29-30. The poll, which surveyed 600 likely voters in Michigan, found that 69 percent of Michigan voters were against changes to term limits that would allow legislators to stay in office longer. The results also suggested that 75 percent of Republicans, 65 percent of Democrats and 68 percent of independent voters were in favor of term limits remaining unchanged.

“Legislators have no business coming after this,” Scott said.

State Rep. Beau LaFave described Don’t Touch Term Limits’ and U.S. Term Limits’ complaints regarding lobbyists’ role in filing the lawsuit as “ironic.”

“They’ve spent over $60,000 in the last couple weeks to keep term limits,” he said, noting much of the spending went towards Facebook ads.

According to LaFave, one of the plaintiffs in the suit is former State Rep. Scott Dianda. LaFave went on to say Markkanen “has nothing to do with” the lawsuit, and that going after Markkanen will not affect its outcome.

“This organization clearly doesn’t understand how lawsuits work,” he said.