I’ve been getting some blowback on my Sunday column that
suggested former secretary of state Terri Lynn Land will be the Republican
nominee for Sen. Carl Levin’s seat.
suggested former secretary of state Terri Lynn Land will be the Republican
nominee for Sen. Carl Levin’s seat.
Some have said Land still has a long way to
go to become the GOP’s consensus candidate.
go to become the GOP’s consensus candidate.
In addition, I noticed that the Democrats (the Democratic
Senatorial Campaign Committee) cited a Land quote from an interview she gave to
me in July 2009. Her comment, featured in a DSCC press release, was that she
abruptly dropped out of the 2010 gubernatorial race because she realized she
lacked knowledge on fiscal issues.
Senatorial Campaign Committee) cited a Land quote from an interview she gave to
me in July 2009. Her comment, featured in a DSCC press release, was that she
abruptly dropped out of the 2010 gubernatorial race because she realized she
lacked knowledge on fiscal issues.
It’s interesting to note that the same story contained
some wildly inaccurate speculation about Mike Cox, John Cherry and Debbie
Stabenow playing leading roles in the 2010 race. That shows how far off the
mark earlier prognostications can be.
some wildly inaccurate speculation about Mike Cox, John Cherry and Debbie
Stabenow playing leading roles in the 2010 race. That shows how far off the
mark earlier prognostications can be.
To put everything on the table, here is the entire Macomb
Daily story I wrote back then:
Daily story I wrote back then:
July
20, 2009
20, 2009
By
Chad Selweski
Chad Selweski
Macomb
Daily Staff Writer
Daily Staff Writer
Michigan
Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land says that her sudden decision to bow out of
the 2010 gubernatorial race was based on a hole she discovered in her resume.
Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land says that her sudden decision to bow out of
the 2010 gubernatorial race was based on a hole she discovered in her resume.
Land,
a Republican, said she abandoned her gubernatorial “exploratory
committee” on June 25 after five months upon realizing that she lacked
experience haggling with the Legislature on tax and spending issues.
a Republican, said she abandoned her gubernatorial “exploratory
committee” on June 25 after five months upon realizing that she lacked
experience haggling with the Legislature on tax and spending issues.
In
an interview with Macomb Daily reporters and editors, Land said that she met
with numerous business and pro-GOP groups during her exploratory process. Those
groups kept raising the need for changes in the state tax structure and the ability to work with
key legislators on budget issues.
an interview with Macomb Daily reporters and editors, Land said that she met
with numerous business and pro-GOP groups during her exploratory process. Those
groups kept raising the need for changes in the state tax structure and the ability to work with
key legislators on budget issues.
“They’d
say to me, ‘Terri, you do a great job, you run the trains on time’ … but the
problem the current governor has had is that she hasn’t been able to get
anything through the Legislature,” said Land, who is term-limited and
cannot seek re-election.
say to me, ‘Terri, you do a great job, you run the trains on time’ … but the
problem the current governor has had is that she hasn’t been able to get
anything through the Legislature,” said Land, who is term-limited and
cannot seek re-election.
Land
said legislators have been obsessed with tax and budget issues for two years,
to the point where her request for a simple election reform bill was buried in
the process.
said legislators have been obsessed with tax and budget issues for two years,
to the point where her request for a simple election reform bill was buried in
the process.
“I
realized that (fiscal policy) was an area where I probably didn’t have a lot of
experience. The reality is the next governor is going to have to come in on Day
One and do a lot of work because there have been a lot of bad decisions
made,” said Land, a political veteran and former Kent County clerk.
realized that (fiscal policy) was an area where I probably didn’t have a lot of
experience. The reality is the next governor is going to have to come in on Day
One and do a lot of work because there have been a lot of bad decisions
made,” said Land, a political veteran and former Kent County clerk.
Upon
dropping out of the race, Land said she immediately endorsed Oakland County
Sheriff Michael Bouchard because he has administrative experience cutting
expenses, much like she has accomplished in the Secretary of State’s Office,
plus he has eight years of service in the state Senate leadership.
dropping out of the race, Land said she immediately endorsed Oakland County
Sheriff Michael Bouchard because he has administrative experience cutting
expenses, much like she has accomplished in the Secretary of State’s Office,
plus he has eight years of service in the state Senate leadership.
“The
reality is I want it (the next governor) to be someone who has the same beliefs
that I do and the same style,” she said.
reality is I want it (the next governor) to be someone who has the same beliefs
that I do and the same style,” she said.
Land
said she originally anticipated a race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination to
shape up as a contest between her and Attorney General Mike Cox. When U.S. Rep.
Peter Hoekstra and business executive Rick Snyder joined the field, Land said
she was not concerned about the impact on her political prospects.
said she originally anticipated a race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination to
shape up as a contest between her and Attorney General Mike Cox. When U.S. Rep.
Peter Hoekstra and business executive Rick Snyder joined the field, Land said
she was not concerned about the impact on her political prospects.
But
when Bouchard got into the race, that changed everything, she said. Bouchard is
a political ally with whom she has worked on some “projects,” and
someone that she agrees with on issues 90 percent of the time. As for
speculation that she will be Bouchard’s 2010 running mate, Land said she could provide
political support in her home territory of western Michigan, but she is not
concentrating on the lieutenant governor post.
when Bouchard got into the race, that changed everything, she said. Bouchard is
a political ally with whom she has worked on some “projects,” and
someone that she agrees with on issues 90 percent of the time. As for
speculation that she will be Bouchard’s 2010 running mate, Land said she could provide
political support in her home territory of western Michigan, but she is not
concentrating on the lieutenant governor post.
“I
told him I’d do anything to help him” get elected, she said.
told him I’d do anything to help him” get elected, she said.
With
Gov. Jennifer Granholm term-limited, Lt. Gov. John Cherry has emerged as the
overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination. But Land said she
wonders if Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow may join in.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm term-limited, Lt. Gov. John Cherry has emerged as the
overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination. But Land said she
wonders if Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow may join in.
