Running Around the State

• First, my thoughts on John Cherry: For 27 years - starting with his joining the State House in 1983 - John Cherry has served Michigan with a tireless dedication to public service and commitment to the people of Michigan. He has served with integrity, always willing to work with others, but never willing to sacrifice his principles for the sake of personal gain. For that, I am grateful.
  
  A number of Democrats are joining the race for Governor. We Democrats are often a spoiled bunch when it comes to good candidates; there are usually so many good people to choose from! I look forward to finding out more about them, possibly meeting one or two, and supporting one in the primary.
  
• Joe Dumars and Denise Illitch are two new potential names for the Democratic nomination for governor. Incidentally, this is not the first time I've heard rumors surrounding Illitch; a couple weeks ago, I got a call from a polling firm that asked who I would vote for if the Democratic primary featured John Cherry, Andy Dillon, and Denise Illitch.
• Try Not to Hurl at the Thought, Part I: Bart Stupak (of Stupak Amendment fame) might also make a run, per The Detroit News. Incidentally, Chase Osborn is the only Yooper ever to serve as Governor.
• That same article says Dennis Archer, the former Supreme Court Justice and former Detroit mayor, and Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano will not run. The News also says Congressman Gary Peters will opt for re-election to Congress.
• Aside from the race for Governor, do you remember Jane Beckering? She ran for Supreme Court in 2006. Justice Elizabeth Weaver and others have suggested that Beckering might make another run this year. Weaver and Robert Young, both nominated by Republicans for a race that appears on the ballot as non-partisan, are in the final year of their current terms.
• David LaGrand, is making another run for State Senate in the 29th District (Grand Rapids area). LaGrand came within a few thousand votes of knocking off popular Republican Sen. Bill Hardiman in 2006. That year, Hardiman got 71% of the vote in Kentwood, where he used to be Mayor; Obama won Kentwood two years later.
• Try Not to Hurl at the Thought, Part II: Looking ahead to 2012, there's speculation that one John Mathias Engler might be looking to challenge Debbie Stabenow for the US Senate that year. He's looking for a home to buy in mid-Michigan. Hey John: There's a foreclosed home down the street from me here in Kentwood, in case you want to know what it's like for ordinary people. At any rate, it does seem to say something about the Republicans if they might be forced to pin their hopes on someone who's been out of the state for much of the past several years and who many Michiganians will have forgotten or not even heard of by then.
• Try Not to Hurl at the Thought, Part III: You don't know how tempted I was to call this post "Michigan Has the Runs."
• UPDATE: Michigan Radio says Gov. Granholm has offered some comments on the Governor's race, including that she will not publicly endorse anyone.
  

Trust

The economy - and what politicians do about it - is widely expected to be the #1 issue in next year's election for Governor. But just as important in any election is another issue that gets far less attention: Trust.

Trust is always important for a number of reasons. When we vote, we trust that those for whom we vote will do the best they can if elected. Politicians aren't perfect; they're humans like the rest of us. But we should expect them to do their best, even when we disagree with them.

Trust is even more important now in an age when many governors - including Mark Sanford, Sarah Palin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rod Blagojevich, and Eliot Spitzer - have humiliated themselves and their states. Local pols Kwame Kilpatrick and Monica Conyers have done likewise in Detroit.

If you think Michigan needs more embarrassment on the national stage, I suggest you support Mike Cox, who had an affair and blasted others for exposing the affair. Or you can get behind Pete Hoekstra, whose record in Congress stretches from opposing working families who have been hit by this economy to being hypocritical about the CIA to having an entire blog dedicated to his crazy tweets. Or how about Mike Bouchard, who was caught in a "pay-to-play" scheme in which he rewarded a company that contributed to his 2006 Senate campaign?

But if you think our lovely though beleaguered state deserves better, then I highly recommend supporting John Cherry.

How many people in Lansing know as much about working families - and the challenges they face - as John Cherry? Here's a guy who worked for Sen. Gary Corbin and served as political director for AFSCME before being elected to the state House in 1982 and 1984. He then won election to the Senate four times in a row, eventually becoming Senate Democratic Leader.

Then, in 2002, Attorney General Jennifer Granholm asked him to be her runningmate in that fall's election. The rest is history.

Or is it?

See, when you've been in Lansing as long as Cherry has, and when you've held a post like that of Senate party leader, getting caught up in the politicking of Lansing can cause you to forget the people whom you are supposed to serve. Not Cherry. From last year:

Republicans credit Cherry with keeping a level head, having a long-range perspective and improving relations after talks got rocky and legislative leaders sniped at each other in the media.

And as Alan Cropsey - yes, Alan Cropsey - said:

"This lieutenant governor has done a terrific job... Obviously, we disagree politically. But I have found him to be a very good guy to work with."

Ed Sarpolus of EPIC-MRA said that "Cherry's respected by both business and labor" after Granholm chose him as her running mate.

A level-headed, respected consensus-builder whom even Republicans say "has done a terrific job?" Good chance he'll be the same as Governor. Really important, even when - no, especially when - few people on the other side are willing to cooperate.

But why just 'trust' people's words? (Thanks everyone, I'm here all night. Try the veal.)

• The Detroit News named Cherry one of "Michigan's Most Effective Lawmakers."
• His colleagues elected him Chair of the National Lieutenant Governor's Association in 2006.
• During the 2002 and 2006 campaigns, the Posthumus and DeVos campaigns could not find any sort of scandal about Cherry with which to try to topple him and Granholm. Yes, it's true that people vote the top of the ticket - in Presidential and even more so in gubernatorial elections. But if there was something scandalous about Cherry, then why didn't they bring it up?

Oh, and one more thing. U-M Alum:

MSU Alum:

Need I say more? :-)

Maybe not. But I will note that that picture of Cherry - featured prominently on the bio section of his campaign website - was taken at CMU. More reason to trust him!

Cherry: Restoring our economy is important in helping to fulfill King's dream

Barack Obama's election as President signals that America has come a long way from the deep racial tensions that plagued our past. Still, in order to continue moving toward racial equality, we must ensure that our economy is restored.

I had the privilege of interviewing Lt. Gov. John Cherry by phone this morning, who conveyed that message and others from DC, where he will be attending tomorrow's inauguration. Cherry, who arrived there Saturday, says there is a growing sense of excitement and anticipation in the nation's capital.

The incoming President has announced a major stimulus package that focuses on job creation through infrastructure improvements. Being from the Great Lakes Region, Obama is also aware that the Great Lakes are an important economic as well as environmental asset. He has pledged to invest $300 million in protection and restoration of the Lakes.

Cherry says he would like our new President to make it clear in his inaugural address that we as a nation are united and that we are closer than ever to living up to our ideals of freedom and democracy. Cherry also emphasized that we must understand that solving our challenges will require commitment from alll of us.

Special thanks to Lieutenant Governor Cherry for offering his time and for Graham for helping set up the interview.

Bits of Tid: January 8, 2009

"Behold, All Things Have Become New" Edition

• John Cherry is running for Governor! Other fine Dems may also enter the race, and so I am not willing to say at this point that I endorse Cherry. However, I very much like what Cherry has done for our state.
• Meet Nancy Killefer, the first CPO of the United States. (That's Chief Performance Officer. :-) )
• When you're done meeting her, I'd like you to meet Chief Justice Kelly and Justice Hathaway.
• So they're raising hay about Attorney General-designate Eric Holder. You know what? Leahy's right. He'll be confirmed easily. I mean, the new President's got more Senators of his party than Bush did in 2001, when Ashcroft was confirmed 58-42.
  
• Any Republicans who oppose helping auto workers but support this proposed porn industry bailout can expect to hear an earful from me.
• I'm using 43things.com to help me keep track of my New Year's Resolutions and other things I want to do during my life. Highly recommended!