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January 20, 2010
With the continuing headwinds buffeting our Michigan economy and the growing frustrations of concerned citizens over the lack of vision, courage, and leadership within our State government, I believe it is time we sent someone to Lansing who will put doing things right and doing the right things ahead of concern for re-election.
Therefore, effective today, I am humbly and earnestly announcing my formal candidacy for the Michigan State House of Representatives, 65th District.
It’s time for Michigan to Win!
We’re all tired of losing. Losing jobs; losing population; losing property values; losing our educated and talented youth; and losing our national stature.
It’s time we sent people to Lansing willing to make the tough choices, fight the right battles, and stop talking about change but actually leading change so we can retool, rebuild, and revive our great state.
Though the formula is simple…the pathway is fraught with deeply entrenched obstacles. Michigan has become a far too frequent occupier of last place on many of the lists of things we all believe represent the life styles we value and desire. We’re tired of losing.
Developing a shared vision, defining precisely what that means, identifying those things which could prevent success, and then executing strategies and their supporting tactics to achieve the desired vision… that is what Michigan needs to WIN.
Jobs, jobs, and jobs are high on everyone’s list of priorities. Appropriately so.
But jobs are an outcome…of an environment friendly to business. The role of government is not to create jobs. It is to create an environment that is stabile, predictable, consistent, honest, and attractive to the deployment of capital so businesses can thrive. Simply put… Michigan must establish itself as “business friendly”. And the best metric for proving we are successful is when the rest of the world acknowledges our “Open for Business” posture.
We have to change our image of being unfriendly to business. I am confident and encouraged that with the right people… doing things right…we will do the right things to accomplish this goal.
Speaking of honesty and consistency… we must hold accountable our leaders in Lansing to demonstrate their commitment to returning integrity to government by constantly “process checking” whether their actions are consistent with their rhetoric. There is no longer time for obstructionism, non-value adding partisanship, or placing the prospects for re-election ahead of doing what is right.
Lastly, and in my heart, most importantly, we need to understand what it takes to keep, nurture, and attract families in Michigan. Public safety, solid, fundamental education, affordable, and accessible healthcare, and the hope and expectation of being able to economically thrive are all essential to this objective.
With strong families as our foundation … and a structure of streamlined and integrity driven government… we will create the environment where capital is attracted and free markets thrive.
And the natural outcome will be abundant and competitive jobs.
I look forward to the high honor and privilege of serving the people of Michigan’s 65th District.
It’s time for Michigan to Win!