The participants were Mike Cox, Pete Hoekstra,  Mike Bouchard, Tom George and Rick Snyder.

The questions from the panel revolved mostly around taxes,  economy and making Michigan more competitive.

A quick take of each candidates performance:

    * Mike Cox: Played it safe, didn't really offer anything new (I guess that that means he is getting his message out) and mentioned his web site many, many times.
    * Pete Hoekstra: I have to admit he was the candidate I was most interested in hearing. In my estimation, he was the best of the bunch. He delivered a solid consistent conservative, pro-growth,  get the government out of the way free market message. Also, he hit on the disastrous Granholm policy of blocking the construction of new coal power plants and keeping the Federal government out of our business.
    * Mike Bouchard: Turned in a solid performance and did hit on pushing back the encroachment of the Federal government. He also was touting his streaming the government philosophy.
    * Tom George: During each answer he gave I thought to my self "wait for it....wait for it.... Yes! He tied the answer to health care reform".  Well not really heath care `reform', more like making people healthy and staying healthy. `Nuf Said.
    * Rick Snyder: His main focus to make the State Government to be more `customer focused' in the way the state interacts with  it's citizens.