LWVKA 2010 Voter Guide

Provide biographical information, including your qualifications for this office and the reasons you are running. [100 words]
What are your top budget priorities and how would you adjust revenue and expenses to support those priorities? [100 words]
What are your top two other priority issues, why did you select them, and what actions would you take regarding them? [100 words]
How would you develop a working relationship with the State Legislature to achieve your priorities? [100 words]

Rick Snyder / Brian N. Calley
Republican, www.rickformichigan.com

After growing up in Battle Creek, I earned three degrees from U of M. Following a successful career as a tax partner I left Michigan to manage Gateway, growing it to over 10,000 employees and a Fortune 500 company. I have guided the growth of startups and created Ann Arbor SPARK, a successful economic development program. I’ve been on the receiving end of government and know what it takes to create jobs. I’m running for governor because career politicians have failed us and I have a vision and concrete 10-point plan to reinvent Michigan.
Michigan’s budget system and bureaucratic model is flawed. Special interests and lobbyists control the dialogue in Lansing, resulting in a broken budget system that doesn’t improve how we deliver services through schools, roads, public safety and other essential programs. I’ve proposed a system that ties spending to results, puts power back in the hands of citizens, brings multi-year stability, and reports measurable, transparent outcomes to citizens. Value For Money budgeting was used successfully in the state of Washington to reduce a $2.4 billion deficit without raising taxes and I believe we can do it here.
My priority is to cultivate a thriving, competitive economy with a diverse business base, enabling job growth and prosperity. My entrepreneurial and job creating experience make me uniquely qualified to lead Michigan out of today’s economic disaster. Just some of the ways my plan accomplishes this include: elimination of the Michigan Business tax, reducing the regulatory burden, innovative spending and government management helping small businesses grow and thrive through economic development efforts. We have to deal with difficult fiscal realities across Michigan, which is why I’m the only candidate who is not seeking special interest money or endorsements.
Our legislative process is broken. I am running as an outsider who will bring a business perspective to Lansing. I have spent my career bringing people with different experiences and backgrounds together to get things done. I know how to work with different groups of people to find common sense, real world solutions. For years, Lansing has lacked this vital leadership. I asked Brian Calley to join me because of his wealth of experience working across the aisle, producing real results. The time for bickering and party politics is over. We need to work together to reinvent Michigan.

Virg Bernero / Brenda Lawrence
Democratic, www.VoteVirg.com

As Mayor of Lansing, I rolled out the red carpet instead of the red tape for business to attract more than half a billion dollars in new investment that led to 6,000 more jobs. I cut government nearly 20% to balance the budget on time every year without a single tax increase, and without any layoffs. In tough times, everyone needs to sacrifice—so I cut my own pay, refused a city-funded car and doubled what I pay for health insurance. We need a governor with a proven record who will hold the state capitol accountable to people again.
Expanding economic investment and job creation is my top priority. By holding the state capitol accountable we can cut inefficiencies and do more to create an environment of job growth. When I took office Lansing’s budget was a mess—much like Michigan’s now. I erased $40 million in deficits without raising taxes. I cut unnecessary government nearly 20% while strengthening vital services and growing the economy. At the same time, we put more police on the streets, funded education programs and substantially increased investment in job creating economic development. I did it for Lansing and I’ll do it for Michigan.
Creating jobs and strengthening education. These two things are interrelated. Improving schools and universities makes Michigan a more attractive place to live and do business. We must invest in our kids so they can succeed in a global economy. My economic plan focuses on breaking the credit crunch so small businesses can access the capital they need to invest and grow, as well as the aggressive use of economic incentives to attract new job-creating investments to Michigan. I will also directly tie tax incentives to Michigan job creation to reward investing here and help stop outsourcing to put Michigan first.
I will lead by example by drawing upon my experience as a former lawmaker to demonstrate not only that I understand the challenges of their role, but that I am willing to work across party lines as I have done throughout my career. A successful relationship between the Governor’s office and the Legislature must be based on mutual respect and a willingness to set aside partisan bickering and work together to move the state forward. Mayor is a non-partisan position, and by working together I have earned broad support from both Lansing Republicans and Democrats.

Harley Mikkelson / Lynn Meadows
Green, harleymikkelson.com

The following are some brief facts about me: Grew up in rural environment. U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran, Honorable Discharge. Retired state employee; worked three years, Michigan Department of Mental Health; fourteen years, Michigan School for the Deaf; nine years, Michigan Department of Human Services. B.S., MSU, major Psychology plus two years SVSU, major History and Education. Married 33 years, five children. Was active union member with AFSCME and UAW, held several union offices.
My top priority is reforming Michigan’s tax system so there is money available to provide needed services and improvements. We need money to hire more state employees, improve our educational system, and rebuild our state infrastructure. As Governor I would work to implement progressive income, property, and energy tax systems in order to raise the money to rebuild our state. Taxing people who can afford to pay more in taxes will not hurt our state economy. Raising taxes to provide better education, improve services, and infrastructure will provide jobs and improve our quality of life.
We need to rebuild our urban environment and protect our rural environment. We need to combat urban sprawl by instituting statewide zoning regulations. Factories and businesses must be zoned back into cities and towns. Confined Animal Feeding Operations need to be discouraged. Local food production and processing needs to be encouraged. To rebuild our cities and towns we need to expand the City Income Tax statewide. The proceeds from a statewide City Income Tax would provide the money to rebuild our cities and towns.
Teamwork is important; my first job would be to assemble a good team. As Governor it would be my general policy to promote from within the State Department people who are most knowledgeable of their Departments goals and needs. The main job qualification of all Department heads would be the ability to effectively communicate the needs of their Departments to me and to State Legislators. Not being part of either of the major parties would allow me to focus on solutions to problems which would be good for the people of Michigan rather than partisan politics.

Stacey Mathia / Chris Levels
US Taxpayers, www.staceymathia2010.com

I home schooled my children for 13 years. I was also involved in local politics: President of Library, Village Trustee, President and secretary of Planning Commission, and recording secretary of Sewer Board Authority. I have volunteered for Big Bro/Big Sister, Youth Friends, Special Olympics, Tea Party activist and countless other programs. I am running for governor of Michigan because of the failed liberal policies of the past eight years. Our Declaration of Independence states that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.
My top two priorities is to eliminate taxes (income tax, MBT, and property tax) and fees that make it hard for businesses and families to prosper. We need to dramatically reduce the size of our State Government. Our founding Fathers who sacrificed their lives and money never intended for the government to take care of us. Only when we can get the government off our backs will we see growth, innovation, and American pride. We need to assert our Sovereignty under the 10th amendment and hold those accountable who voted for Obama Care. I will personally give half my salary ....
Repealing the Smoking law, Drivers Responsibility Fee, and helmet law are just among the few things I would like to see repealed. Just by Eliminating the MEDC and DELEG would save the State of Michigan millions of dollars. All the money we can save by reducing the size of our state government can be given back to those that have paid taxes. I am pro-life and believe that life begins at conception and am against using embryos for stem cell research. Child Protective Services is out of control, we need to drastically cut their funding so that they are only ....
I can only work well with our State Legislature if they are willing to reduce the size of our State government, do what is right for Michigan to bring the power back to the people, stop big government, reduce their own pay / benefits and cut taxes. Gone are the days of reaching across the aisle. Our two party system has failed us miserably. It is time for we the people to take the State in our own hands! I am not running for governor of Michigan to make everlasting friendships, I am only running to preserve our very freedoms and liberties.

Ken Proctor / Erwin J. Haas
Libertarian, http://www.lpwm.org/KenProctor

Ken is retired from General Motors. He was Captain of an all volunteer Emergency Response Team. In 1998, Ken earned a degree from Lansing Community College, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He is a Viet Nam Infantry Veteran and was awarded the Bronze Star. Ken is a NRA Firearms Instructor and is proud of his association with organizations like The Cato Institute, The Mackinac Center, National Taxpayers Union, Fully Informed Jury Association, Term Limits U.S.A. and Amnesty International. Became politically active in 1992 Ken has since promoted Individual Liberty, a Limited, Constitutional Government, greatly reduced Taxes, and a Noninterventionist Foreign Policy.
I will work to eliminate the Michigan Business Tax and replace it with less government spending. I will work to require all State Agencies post their budgets on-line so people can see how their money is being spent. I will work to end mandatory collective bargaining for government employees. I will work to eliminate the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority, the state film production subsidies, and the 21st Century Jobs Fund. I want to greatly reduce the cost and intrusiveness of government on our economy. The people of Michigan deserve a Fair, Honest, and Open government.
My highest priority would be to change Michigan’s toxic economic environment so that jobs can be created, thus improving our economy and people’s lives. I will concentrate on reducing the size, cost, and intrusiveness of government so that people and businesses keep more of their own money and have the freedom and resources they need to prosper. Michigan needs Regulatory Reform, Labor Law Reform, Occupational Licensure Reform and Educational Reform. I will oppose government over-reach, like the one forcing independent Day Care Providers to belong to a union. The people of Michigan deserve a Fair, Honest, and Open government.
As Governor of Michigan I would change the direction of Michigan from being a state with too many regulations, and too many taxes, to a State where people and businesses have the freedom to live, work, and prosper. I believe that all government officials should be good stewards of the taxpayer’s money. As Governor, any budget or bill that does not reflect that philosophy would not have my approval. I will refuse to sign any budget or bill that increases taxes, or that increases the size of, or intrusiveness of government, or that reduces personal and business freedom.