Over at Domemagazine.com, they take a close look at the enigma that is Brian Calley.
During the 2010 campaign, Calley played a surprisingly tiny role as Gov. Snyder’s running mate. He was barely visible — and probably an unknown to 90 percent of the electorate.
But since taking office as lieutenant governor just 4 1/2 months ago, Calley has already made his mark unlike virtually any LG who has come before him.
Dome calls it the reinvention of the lieutenant governor position.
Here’s an excerpt of the piece, written by Susan Demas:
“Lt. Gov. Brian Calley didn’t have to cast the deciding vote last week on the biggest tax overhaul in Michigan in a generation.
“Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville had the 20th vote in his back pocket if he needed it, although several freshmen had told the Monroe Republican they weren’t wild about backing the pension tax and freezing the income tax at 4.35 percent for another year.
“But the newly minted LG wanted to be on record for the centerpiece of Gov. Rick Snyder’s plan — and he got his wish, which earned him the lead of most news stories. But before voting in his capacity as Senate president, Calley took the highly unusual step of “asking for the chamber’s indulgence” to make a statement.
“Now, the second-youngest lieutenant governor in Michigan history is not an imposing figure — no taller than five-six with a banker’s haircut, and porcelain skin and slightly rosy cheeks somewhat reminiscent of a marionette. But standing on the Senate dais that afternoon, Calley displayed a powerful and almost serene confidence.
“’So we have heard time and time again that there’s more needed to fund each of these budgets. I have listened patiently as we have heard time after time that we should not cut this and that,’ he announced.
“’And, yet again, I heard time after time we should pass out or restore over a billion dollars in additional tax credits. It seems to be self-defeating. It seems to be inconsistent. What I ask is that everyone in this state start to pull in the same direction; that we start believing in the future, instead of denying the reality that we face today.’
“Democrats panned his remarks as unprofessional. Republicans lauded them as bold.
“Regardless, Calley had made the ultimate declaration of allegiance to his boss’ vision, fully aware that his own political future will depend largely on its success. The speech was an interesting bookend for the Portland Republican, who had helped craft the much-reviled Michigan Business Tax while serving in the House in 2007, and who won a place on Snyder’s ticket in 2010 by devising the plan to dump it with a flat corporate income tax”
Bill Ballenger, the dean of Michigan political analysts, noted that the LG’s job is often like that of the vice president in the White House — hard to define, easy to slip into oblivion. Here’s how Ballenger assessed Calley:
“Calley has a far greater role than John Cherry.He was the soul of loyalty to Granholm and they never disagreed, never shared a cross word. But you never had a sense he was driving the ship.”
To read the full story, click here.
