The Positive Voices

We asked and you told us what you wanted us to cover. Just like an election the majority rules. You selected the Governor’s race. In November we will probably cover more but let us know early. We acknowledge the many other primary battles going on and we urge people to gather information, get to know your candidates and go to the polls! In some cases November may be too late. Remember if you know or even think you are going to be out of town on an election day you still have time to vote absentee right up to election day. Call your local or county clerk for details. Voting is not just a right but a responsibility. Do your duty. With record unemployment, home foreclosures, an uncertain economy, and many necessary tough decisions that will make most people unhappy why would anyone want to be Governor? Actually there are a lot of good reasons and genuine concern and commitment to the state they love is a large one so you have five Republicans and two Democrats campaigning hard for their respective party’s nomination. They have been out of the Governor’s mansion for eight years so let’s take the GOP field first. The field is composed of four longtime office holders and the rich, self proclaimed “One Tough Nerd.” Peter Hoekstra a nine term member of Congress and former VP at Herman Miller leads the Republican field by a slim margin over Attorney General Mike Cox despite not being the top fundraiser. Hoekstra burst unto the political scene in 1992 as a young outsider upsetting entrenched and powerful but scandal tainted GOP Congressional powerhouse and consummate Washington insider Guy Vander Jagt. Oh the scandal was tame compared to what we face nowadays no sex or outright corruption just VanderJagt and other members of Congress on a junket to an island paradise where they dined and enjoyed the company of lobbyists and were caught swimming in the ocean by national television cameras. Pete Hoekstra ran an incredible grassroots campaign riding his bicycle throughout the Second Congressional District and playing the outsider non-politician role to the hilt portraying his foe as the example of everything that was wrong in Congress. Sound familiar? After arriving in DC, he joined Newt Gingrich and others in forming the Contract for America that some say helped lead to the Republicans to capturing the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. Representative Hoekstra promised along with others to serve only six terms in office. While many members of Congress from both parties kept their pledge Hoekstra did not saying the people of his district needed him. He has risen through the ranks over the years serving on the Education and Labor, Budget and especially the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, becoming the House Chair and ranking member of that powerful committee giving him experience and expertise in the field of national security. That position gave Representative Hoekstra a national platform and he has become a fixture on cable news shows resulting in name recognition and publicity aiding his campaign for Governor. Hoekstra’s platform is called J.O.B.S. and the acronym stands for Jobs, Opportunity, Background, and Servant Leadership with little buzz words explaining each one. Cute huh? I’ll give him credit for bicycling around the state (worked before) and trying different jobs. Maybe it’s a gimmick, or maybe he is really learning something, at any rate it can’t hurt and being in touch with the people is always good. His endorsements include Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Dr. James Dobson, Candace Miller, Vern Ehlers, Citizens for Traditional Values, the Lansing Regional and the Grand Rapids Area Chambers of Commerce. His message seems to be streamline government, cut costs, and overhaul the states tax code. Though he is against every tax except expanding the sales tax to services and reducing it from 6% to 5.5% overall. He does give himself then at least some revenue to use along with cuts in balancing the budget. Hoekstra does have an understanding of business and a reputation as an effective legislator who takes care of his constituents. Let’s just take a minute to examine the campaign of State Senator Tom George the congenial and candid candidate with the least chance to win his party’s nomination. Let’s face it without money, name recognition, or a powerful interest group to provide your grown troops and move voters to the polls it is hard to win any office, but virtually impossible to win a statewide race. George is a former State Representative, a current practicing physician, and a State Senator sitting on the powerful Appropriations Committee. He wants to reform and streamline state government, and programs like Medicaid, but doesn’t support any tax increases. George supports Michigan being a Right to Work state, a State Constitutional Convention to consolidate governments, and a part time legislature. Attorney General Mike Cox follows Hoekstra closely in the polls and is the only person running ever elected to statewide office. A Marine and former prosecutor Cox has a long line of endorsements including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Mike Huckabee, the Police Chiefs of Wayne County, Dick and Betsy DeVos, Right to Life of Michigan and, along with Hoekstra, the Citizens for Traditional Values. Cox has a 92 point plan to put Michigan to work by cutting $4 billion in specific budget cuts and a $2 billion dollars in tax cuts for families and job creators. It is a comprehensive plan recognizing the importance of agriculture, bio tech and life sciences, tourism and manufacturing to Michigan’s economy. Cox is tough, smart and has shown the ability to run a large government agency. He also has eight years experience working with Michigan’s legislature. In the past he has received Democratic votes in the general election, but it won’t help him in a GOP primary. His opposition to any tax and call for tax cuts gives Cox no alternatives to cuts when trying to balance the budget. Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard has been a police officer, small business owner, State Senator and for the last decade has managed one of the largest sheriff departments in the country. Elected to office by the citizens of Michigan’s second largest county Bouchard’s voter base is second in electoral power only to Mike Cox. I looked for endorsements on his website but the only thing I could find is a split endorsement Bouchard shares with Hoekstra from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and don’t forget Terri Land. I’m sure he has others but this piece is to spotlight races and give commentary and opinion not do the work of campaigns for them. Bouchard says we need to support the manufacturing sector as the heart of our economy. “We need to prepare Michigan for the jobs of the 21st century while addressing the needs of those currently in the workforce. The manufacturing sector is at the heart of Michigan’s economy. If we’re going to boost the manufacturing sector of our economy, we need to ensure our companies are capable of competing with the rest of the world. Increasing our investment in today’s workforce – and the workers of tomorrow – is a key component to our future success.’’ Sounds good since the manufacturing center is the best engine we have for high paying jobs. I’ll give him credit for recognizing unfair trade is hurting Michigan. His website asserts: “Michigan’s working families need trade agreements that are both fair and enforceable. Agreements that help open foreign markets to our goods can be very beneficial to our economy, but we haven’t always done all we can to ensure that these agreements are fully verifiable and enforceable. The best trade deal in the world doesn’t benefit us if our partners don’t keep their side of the agreement. As governor, Mike Bouchard will work to ensure leaders in Washington vigorously enforce current trade agreements.” Fair enough, but did he support or oppose NAFTA and the other free but not fair trade agreements made over the last two decades? Bouchard ran statewide before when he was trounced by Senator Debbie Stabenow in her last re-election campaign. Did he run against those trade policies then? As a gimmick he “selected” popular Secretary of State Terri Land as his running mate mostly to help him secure support in West Michigan to undercut Pete Hoekstra’s power base. It hasn’t worked yet.” Whoever is making those huge double signs is certainly enjoying some economic success. Now in desperation he is grabbing making Michigan a Right to Work state as his signature issue hoping to rally anti-union forces to his side to help him come from behind and win the primary. I guess maybe Sheriff Bouchard believes unions and workers with good paying jobs and benefits are the cause of all of Michigan’s problems? Doesn’t he realize the prison, child, and dirt cheap labor and lack of safety, environmental and other humane regulations are job creators and show that China, India, Mexico and other countries we compete against in our trade agreements are open for business? Mike Bouchard could run Michigan, but would he run it like a third world country or a poor Southern state? Last but not least is Rick Snyder a wealthy self pro-claimed “job creator,” former President of Gateway computers, a venture capitalist who assisted many companies with start up help and early investment, and first Chair of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and under his leadership both the Michigan Life Science Corridor and SmartZones were initiated. Clearly he does know business and has experience with state government. Snyder is famous for his “one tough nerd” television commercials launched during this year’s Super Bowl. In them he claims career politicians are responsible for the problems with Michigan’s government and it’s time for a nonsense tough nerd with a successful track record of job creation to take control meaning of course Rick Snyder. His massive spending catapulted him into contention but now the nerd thing seems to getting a little old and some of Snyder’s mistakes regarding the private sector operations are coming back to haunt him and take the bloom off the rose. Though Snyder shares the other Republican candidates’ (except Hoekstra and his support of an expanded sales) steadfast aversion to tax hikes he does separate himself from the rest of the pack not only by being a job creator but by snagging the first endorsement of a Republican Gubernatorial candidate ever given by the Michigan League of Conservation voters. According to Lisa Wozniak, Executive Director for Michigan LCV, “ Without a doubt, Rick Snyder is the clear choice for any Michigan voter in the Republican primary that cares about the future of our beautiful Great Lakes and valuable natural resources. His focus throughout the campaign on the benefits that a green vision brings to Michigan’s economy is a key element in any honest plan for our state’s future. The unfortunate lack of attention to this vital part of Michigan’s recovery by his Republican opponents only further highlights Mr. Snyder’s stand-out presence in this race.” So there you have it. Not only is Rick Snyder one tough nerd, he is also a green one! He too has the skills to run Michigan, but can he deal with the legislature? He will also find out the public sector is very different from the private sector. So Rick don’t talk about running it like a business, just promise to run it efficiently and honestly if you get the chance. Who will get the GOP nomination? I think it will be down to Hoekstra and Cox with the Attorney General pulling it out in the last week because of his money edge and ground forces getting out the vote. Now to the two Democrats looking to keep the Governor’s office in their party’s hands. You have two very different persons with similar positions on many issues but styles so very far apart. It’s the Iceman versus the Human Torch. If we could melt them together they would be an impressive force. Let’s start with the Iceman, or as he is more commonly known Andy Dillon Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. Dillon earned degrees in accounting and law from Notre Dame then went to Washington where he served on the staff of Bill Bradley a centrist Democrat and a thoughtful intellectual. Returning to Michigan he practiced law then became an expert in assisting struggling businesses. He became Vice-President of GE Capital and President of Detroit Steel. Now in his third term as a Representative and second as Speaker. Dillon helped create the 21st Century Jobs Funds bringing thousands of companies and jobs to Michigan. Speaker of the House is the second most powerful elected position in the state but few have gone on to become Governor. Governing your own caucus, setting the House agenda, passing legislation and dealing with the Senate and Governor have always been politically risky and difficult but when you throw in term limits and ambition along with egos there are more challenges than ever! Dillon has a mixed record but on the whole has gotten things done. He has challenged the base of his own party regarding benefits for public employees. The AFL-CIO and the MEA are solidly against him for the nomination, but he has the support of many police and fire fighter groups, the Michigan Association of Retired Public Employees, the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, the Michigan Teamsters Joint Council 43, by the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, the Iron Workers Local 25, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 169, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324, the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters & Millwrights, and others. Some say Dillon also has a reputation of flipflopping on issues and promises. I will leave it to his opponents to make their case and let him provide the defense. Clearly he has a strong list of accomplishments, mastered the legislative process, was successful in the private sector, is not afraid to take on powerful groups, and is capable of running Michigan. Dillon also understands to balance a budget you need increased revenue as well as cuts. Flame on! We now get to the Human Torch the fiery and dynamic Mayor of Lansing Virg Bernero. I know Virg from the days when we were both staffers in the mid ’80s for the Michigan House of Representatives and I can tell you he knows state and local government inside and out. Governing is a craft and he has learned it well. Bernero has been a County Commissioner, a State Senator and Mayor of Michigan’s capitol city. As chief executive in a strong Mayor form of government he sets the budget and manages all operations. According to his campaign material under his leadership Lansing has leveraged over a half billion dollars in investment resulting in retaining and creating more than 6,000 jobs and he has erased $40 million in city budget deficits without raising taxes by making government more efficient and accountable. Bernero burst onto the national stage taking on Fox News and other talking heads, attacking Wall Street waste and greed while calling for assistance to America’s autoworkers. They called him America’s angriest mayor and he let them have it. He also has been letting Andy Dillon have it, calling him Speaker of the Mess and generally verbally punching him throughout the campaign. Doing this Virg risks a backlash from primary voters and dividing the party. However some would say a healthy fight to make sure Democrats have a choice not just an echo is vitally important. His efforts have earned him powerful party endorsements as mentioned before from the AFL-CIO and the Michigan Education Association. His endorsements also include the United Food and Commercial Workers, Clean Water Action, AFSCME, the Sierra Club, the Progressive Women’s Alliance, the UAW and many more. It is clear Virg could be a capable chief executive, understands the process and is passionate and effective, but the Legislature would have to be dealt with and can he reach across the aisle? Fire and ice, who will prevail? Polls show Dillon with the lead and he has the money, but if Virg’s labor allies and party activists can deliver the vote over Dillon’s supporters he will win, otherwise Dillon wins solidly. He will be the darling of the editorial boards throughout Michigan. Clearly both parties will have to do some real uniting at their conventions. History favors Republicans in an off year election when Dems are in power but there is not a real powerhouse coming out of the Republican pack yet. Democratic unity will be critical because there is little margin for error. As I said before, fusing the Iceman and Torch together or vice versa could give the Dems a strong ticket. Likewise the GOP will need to come out strong but I expect Terri Land will be the number two unless a Cox-Hoekstra ticket emerges. This spotlight was only a teaser. The stakes are high for all of us so study the candidates and the issues. The power really belongs to you. Use it and vote in August and you’ll shape the November ballot.