The GOP Gubernatorial Field

By Mark Brewer, MDP Chair
June 9, 2009

Nolan Finley's recent column about the 2010 gubernatorial election ignores critical facts concerning that election. Elections are about choices between candidates and Finley failed to analyze the deeply flawed GOP field.

In alphabetical order, here are some examples of those flaws:

• Michael Bouchard: A landslide loser statewide in 2006, he is dogged by allegations of a pay to play system of contracts for political contributions in the Oakland County sheriff's department.
• David Brandon: The CEO of Domino's, the company featured in an infamous YouTube video in which employees do disgusting things to the food. This is good management?
• Mike Cox: Chose a strange way to admit infidelity and he may have covered up the infamous Manoogian Mansion party.
• Pete Hoekstra: A staunch supporter of George Bush's policies which have devastated Michigan.
• Terri Land: She has so badly managed the Department of State that a recent Auditor General's report found that cash could be stolen at branch offices and that tens of thousands of drivers have been charged the wrong vehicle registration fees.
• Rick Snyder: Gateway, the company Snyder cites to demonstrate his business experience, outsourced thousands of American jobs to Communist China while he was a director of the company.

Democrats have just started our research on these candidates, but it is clear already that any of the Democratic candidates for governor in 2010 is a far better choice than these Republicans. We are looking forward to the 2010 governor's race.

Mark Brewer
Chair, Michigan Democratic Party