Mark Hackel’s political stock went
 up at the Mackinac Policy Conference.

There are several reasons why many Democratic officials –
in Macomb County and across the state – do not care much for Macomb County
Executive Mark Hackel. But the idea that he can win the governorship for the
party is not one of them.

As Hackel has emerged in recent days as potentially the
early frontrunner for the Democrats in the 2018 gubernatorial race, some party
stalwarts are quick to point out that the county exec has gotten along famously
with Republican Gov. Rick Snyder.

In fact, Hackel got himself in a bit of hot water last
year when he seemed reluctant to endorse Snyder’s Democratic opponent, Mark
Schauer. And since taking office as Macomb’s first elected CEO in 2011, he has
often said that he’s uncomfortable being labeled as a Democrat.

He once told me that he wishes he could run as a
nonpartisan or an independent because he doesn’t want to be seen as a Democratic county executive.

But that tendency to shun partisanship is one of the key
reasons why Hackel is so popular with Macomb GOP voters. In addition, he is a
decidedly pro-business exec and the former sheriff’s tough-on-crime mantra is
unbreakable.

Given those credentials, Dennis Lennox, a conservative
Republican strategist, warns the GOP in his column this week that Hackel’s middle-of-the-road approach could spell trouble for the party in 2018 – if the
exec can win the Democratic nomination.

Here’s a taste of Lennox’s commentary in The (Mount
Pleasant) Morning Sun:

“Hackel may not excite ideological Democrats as he is
considerably more
moderate — a rare example of a so-called Blue Dog Democrat — than the
party’s last two nominees, both of whom came from the hard-left (dare
I say socialist) wing. Then there is Hackel’s cozy relationship with
Snyder. Most political insiders believe he voted for Snyder both
times.

“While this could make for a competitive primary campaign against the
likes of Democratic princeling Dan Kildee, the congressman from Flint,
it also makes Hackel the strongest Democrat heading into the general
election.

“Then there is the fact that it is incredibly difficult, if not
electorally impossible, for Republicans to win statewide without
carrying Macomb County, where Hackel has never faced more than token
Republican opposition. Case in point was Hackel’s re-election last
year, when he netted an impressive 69 percent. By comparison, Snyder
won Macomb County with 53.9 percent of the vote.

“All of this should worry the Michigan GOP.”

 

 

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