Published: June 27, 2009 11:40 pm      

Op-Ed: Land bows out of governor's race

There was a notable development last week in early jockeying for the 2010 campaign to replace term-limited Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

Popular Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, who got 56 percent in winning each of her two four-year terms, bowed out of her gubernatorial exploratory effort and made a surprise endorsement of Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard for the Republican nomination.

Said Land: "I believe Michigan needs a leader like Mike Bouchard. I've worked with Mike for many years. I have always been impressed with his ability to make tough decisions. And I also appreciate his resourcefulness and grit: Mike is a real bulldog who won't let challenges go unmet."

The bulldog failed mightily in his 2006 challenge of Sen. Debbie Stabenow, getting just 41 percent of the vote. But Michigan and other states abound with early statewide losers who became later winners.

In the primary, former Kent County Clerk Land's exit is likely to help U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, of Holland, the only high-profile contender from GOP stronghold West Michigan and one who has been polling well. It could hurt Attorney General Mike Cox, of Livonia, as he competes with Bouchard in their Metro Detroit turf.

Bill Ballenger, publisher of the Inside Michigan Politics newsletter, told the Detroit Free Press: "My first thought was that maybe she really wants to stick it to Cox." They're not all that chummy.

My first thought was that a Bouchard-Land ticket could be a good pairing. He's not the only one with whom she'd be a good fit, and an aide to one of them said her potential interest was "hinted" when she met with the candidate.

On Friday, I asked Land, one of the more candid Lansing politicians I have covered, whether she would like to be lieutenant governor. She said, "I want to contribute" in some capacity, and, when I pressed the point, "that would be great" if it is as lieutenant governor.

Cost-cutter Land, whose 1,600 employees are 20 percent fewer than her department had when she started the job, said she's "frustrated as heck" by what she sees as Granholm's "weakness" leading the executive branch.

Among Republican contenders, media attention has focused of late on Hoekstra (a national TV figure as top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee), Cox (who's been slapping fines and settlements on wrong-doers in assorted criminal fronts), and Bouchard (thanks most recently to Land).

Also in the GOP mix is well-regarded state Sen. Tom George, of the Kalamazoo area, and Ann Arbor businessman and civic leader Rick Snyder.

Keep an eye on Snyder. That won't be hard to do in July, when he plans a mid-month announcement blitz that includes an Upper Peninsula swing spanning from Sault Ste. Marie to Ironwood.

Below the media radar, Snyder has assembled an impressive early-stage gubernatorial campaign organization.

It abounds with state and national figures from John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign. Among them:

Chief Strategist John Weaver, helpmate of several leaders who had a decade atop the McCain team before some internal disputes; senior political adviser and Michigan strategist John Yob, who was McCain's deputy political director (his father, ex-Republican National Committeeman Chuck Yob, touts Snyder); campaign manager Dane Waters, who worked on almost every Republican presidential campaign from Reagan/Bush in 1980 to McCain/Palin in 2008; Communications Director Jake Suski, most recently California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's deputy communications director and strategist for McCain's campaign.

Voters care little about operatives behind candidates. But GOP activists should be impressed by the topflight staff that soon-to-be-announced candidate Snyder has assembled.

Public attention on Democratic contenders of late has centered primarily on Lt. Gov. John Cherry, who has shared the stage with Granholm in several venues, including distribution of federal stimulus funds. He also has spoken out on Great Lakes and other environmental issues in such forums as the annual meeting of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, and has been assembling endorsements of district and county party leaders.

State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, of South Lyon, scheduled an announcement this week as a candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

In 2002, then a state senator, she was the running mate of then-Congressman David Bonior, of Mt. Clemens, in his unsuccessful pursuit of the Democratic gubernatorial nomination after she dropped her own her bid for governor.

Other Democrats expressing varying degrees of interest are Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, House Speaker Andy Dillon, ex-Rep. John Freeman and George Perles, Michigan State University trustee and former football coach and athletic director.

Cheers for Cobo

Northern Michigan has a stake in keeping the annual North American Auto Show at Detroit's Cobo Center. For starters, beyond its important part in the state's culture and history, it is important for all regions of our struggling state that Michigan continue to get the estimated $600 million in revenue generated by the event.

Furthermore, successful auto operations in the Motor City spin out to northern suppliers.

So there is good reason to hail the bipartisan collaboration in the state Senate and House that resulted Thursday in approval of a regional deal to renovate, rehabilitate and expand the aging facility.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, called the deal "fair and balanced not just for the city of Detroit, but for the entire state of Michigan."

The deal, worked out with help of new Mayor Dave Bing, came after rejection of an earlier deal by the Detroit City Council that went bonkers under leadership of its then-President Monica Conyers, wife of U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit. On Friday, she pleaded guilty in a bribery scandal tied to a sludge hauling contract.

Granholm, according to a Saturday report by the Booth Newspaper chain, said that all elected officials should take note of her plea deal and conviction on bribery charges.

"Honor and integrity when you are serving is critical," she said in answering a question at a Friday press conference following an announcement of a major new General Electric facility. She said that a silver lining in the Conyers story is that "I hope it serves as a message to anyone in public office."

Well said.

George Weeks retired in 2006 after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features.