Tag: mackinac policy conference

Fun at the Mackinac Policy Conference?  Detroit Chamber antics apparently have a new cheerleader.

Ta da da da!!  I can hear the horns blowing from here, as Duke Rick enters the room to the throng of NITC peasantry.

H/T Junior.

Drolet, a former member of the House, was on Mackinac Island as an "uninvited guest" today to draw attention to a private party hosted by Gov. Jennifer Granholm at the $3.2 million mansion.

Holding a press conference outside the mansion, Drolet emphasized "this second mansion, a vacation retreat, symbolizes the Governor's priorities; lifestyles of the government elite are protected, while the incomes and services to citizens are expendable."

A news release distributed to media at the Mackinac Policy Conference indicated the Mackinac Island mansion has 11 bedrooms and 9.5 bathrooms.

"Michigan is the only state to provide their governor with two taxpayer-paid mansions," said Drolet. "Laying off state police and raising taxes is unacceptable when the Governor continues to enjoy perks more generous than any other U.S. governor enjoys."

For the latest reports, follow Dennis Lennox on Twitter.

8:27 p.m. Thursday -- It's been a while since the last update, but things have been busy this afternoon and early.

Besides a plethora of legislators and opinion-makers mingling about, there was a much-anticipated debate this evening with Sen. Tom George, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, Attorney General Mike Cox, Congressman Peter Hoekstra, and Democratic Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith.

While Lt. Gov. John Cherry snubbed the event -- a day after polls indicated a majority of Democratic voters are uncomfortable with his candidacy for governor -- there was plenty of people in attendance, including U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Stabenow, who has polled higher than Cherry in some polls, was going out of her way to work the crowd while those on stage debated corrections reform, selling the governor's mansion, reforming the legislature to part-time status, and the abolition of term-limitations.

The debate was well received, and the Republican field of candidates stood out as an alternative to the Granholm-Cherry administration.

Cherry has been missing-in-action since this afternoon, and it's rumored that he's holding a closed-door fund-raiser bash with Lansing lobbyists.

Earlier in the day, I caught up with Michigan Republican Party chairman Ron Weiser. Weiser, who has held the position in February, was on Mackinac Island sending a message that Republicans are preparing to win in 2010.

The chairman stressed the importance of keeping majority in the Senate, which he called "the firewall," while also winning back the Governor's Mansion and Supreme Court. All three will be crucial for the party when county commissioner, legislative, and congressional constituencies are redrawn followed the 2010 Census.

Weiser also noted that unlike Democrats, Republicans have a choice for governor with several sound candidates vying for the party's nomination. "We have a choice -- Democrats don't," he said referring to Granholm heir-apparent Cherry. "It's very good for us to have these primaries -- it's an open debate."

In addition to 2010, Weiser says the Michigan Republican Party is focusing on assessing the frontbench in all 83 counties through the help of the party's deputy chairmen. This includes candidate recruitment for House campaigns. He noted there is also a strategy to regain majority in the House -- a chamber that Democrats are taking for granted.

All in all, this year's Mackinac Policy Conference had a substantially different atmosphere than last year. While there was a definite mood to get things done and turn Michigan around, attendance was noticeably down with many legislators and big-business interests opting not to attend.

The conference continues Friday with breakfasts with members of the state's congressional delegation, as well as opportunities for attendees to have brunch with legislators.

And if you haven't already done so, make sure to visit Twitter for the latest on what's happening on Mackinac Island.

11:43 a.m. Thursday -- Yesterday may have been slow, but things in full swing today with a virtual who's who's of business and politics getting together at the Grand Hotel.

Businessman Rick Snyder, who is exploring a bid for governor, is working the conference and held a mini-press conference with Tim Skubick on the porch of the Grand Hotel.

Attorney General Mike Cox, who is declared for governor, is also working the conference.

While Snyder and Lt. Gov. John Cherry skip tonight's forum, Cox will join Congressman Pete Hoekstra, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, Sen. Tom George, and Democratic Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith.

A lot of people are buzzing about the forum and wondering aloud why Cherry is skipping it. One Democratic operative was overheard saying there needs to be a better candidate after yesterday's poll indicated 51 percent of self-described Democrats were undecided about supporting Gov. Granholm's heir-apparent.

Stay tuned for further updates ... I sat down for a couple interviews and will have them posted later today.

For the latest reports, follow Dennis Lennox on Twitter.

MACKINAC ISLAND -- With new polls showing the heir-apparent to Gov. Jennifer Granholm struggling to gain traction in the face of strong Republican challengers, Lt. Gov. John Cherry is skipping an open forum in favor of holding closed-door fund-raisers with lobbyists and special interests.

Cherry, who is facing no declared opposition for the Democratic Party's nomination for governor in 2010, has made headlines after announcing he wouldn't partake in the Detroit Regional Chamber's forum with 2010 gubernatorial candidates.

On Wednesday, two polls were released that raise new concerns about Cherry's candidacy.

Despite being Granholm's lieutenant for eight years, the former state senator is having difficulty locking up voter support.

An EPIC/MRA poll for The Detroit News reports that a shocking 51 percent of self-identified Democrats are undecided on supporting Cherry.

At the same time, only 31 percent of Republican voters were undecided -- though the GOP field of candidates includes Attorney General Mike Cox, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, Congressman Pete Hoekstra, and Sen. Tom George.

Cox, Land, Hoekstra, and George will join Democratic Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith at the forum, while Cherry hides from voters, apparently unwilling to defend the Granholm-Cherry administration's record to a crowd of growing skeptics.

For the latest reports, follow Dennis Lennox on Twitter.

9:10 p.m. Wednesday -- Calling it a night after mingling around the Grand Hotel. Former Speakers Craig DeRoche and Chuck Perricone arrived and were seen mingling.

Republican Ken Bradstreet, of Gaylord, and Democratic Rep. Joel Sheltrown are both on the island as well. It's worth noting that Sheltrown is running for term-limited Sen. Tony Stamas' seat, which runs from Midland to Alpena and over to Gaylord. Bradstreet, who was term-limited from the House in 2004, is also considering a bid for the Senate, according to MIRS. (Republican John Moolenaar, of Midland, who was term-limited at the end of last year from the House, is already running for the Senate.)

Congressman Bart Stupak, whose constituency includes Mackinac Island, and Lt. Gov. John Cherry both had a private fund-raiser with lobbyists earlier this evening.

Other legislators making the rounds on Mackinac Island include Sens. Hansen Clarke and Roger Kahn as well as freshmen Reps. Jase Bolger and Bill Rogers.

Attorney General Mike Cox, who has been on a statewide media tour after declaring his candidacy for governor this morning, arrived around 7:30 p.m. with his wife, Wayne County Commissioner Laura Cox.

I also ran into my colleague, John McCulloch, the drain commissioner in Oakland County. We had a good discussion about our duties overseeing water resources.

RightMichigan's coverage of the Mackinac Policy Conference will continue Thursday. And don't forget to tune into my live reports on WMKT AM-1270, which streams live on the web, at 8:20 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

7:02 p.m. Wednesday -- The "strolling dinner" is in full swing with a packed Grand Hotel foyer.

Despite rumors of low attendance, there is a surprising number of legislators and would-be elected officials in the crowd. Sen. Alan Cropsey and Reps. Jase Bolger and Kevin Elsenheimer were seen mingling with Mackinac Policy Conference attendees. House Speaker Andy Dillon was seen avoiding Michigan Democratic Party chairman Mark Brewer, who kept wondering the foyer alone looking for people he might recognize.

Former Court of Appeals Judge Bill Schuette, a Republican candidate for attorney general, is also working the crowd. Sen. Mike Bishop, the majority leader, is not on Mackinac Island, though he's expected to arrive tomorrow after a swing through the U.P. this evening.

Attorney General Mike Cox, who announced his candidacy for governor earlier today, hasn't arrived yet, as he has been during a media tour on his way up north.

6:30 p.m. Wednesday -- Sen. Tom George, who is running for governor, stopped by for an interview with RightMichigan.com.

George, a doctor by profession, emphasized that he supports a statewide smoking ban with or without exemptions. He noted with so many other states taking action in this matter that it's time Michigan step up to protect workers.

Commenting on Lt. Gov. John Cherry's decision to skip tomorrow's forum with 2010 governor candidates, the Republican senator from Kalamazoo County said the move was "very unusual and very odd."

With Attorney General Mike Cox announced his candidacy earlier today, George says the field of Republican candidates is a good thing as it's engaging voters that otherwise wouldn't pay attention to a primary contest. "We have a good field of candidates," he said.

Cherry, the presumed Democratic candidate and heir to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, is beginning a so-called commission that will study reforms to state government, though George cautions that Michigan needs real reform -- not window dressing. George stressed that "simply saying you have fewer (state) departments is just a nominal effect" that doesn't accomplish substantial restructuring of Lansing.

6:10 p.m. Wednesday -- It looks like attendance is significantly lower than previous conferences. The media room is about half as full as this time last year, though last year's conference was held in an election year.

6 p.m. Wednesday -- Today is the opening day of the Mackinac Policy Conference. Having arrived on Mackinac Island a little more than an hour ago, events are slowly underway. There is an opening session with various business owners, including longtime Republican supporter John Rakolta.

Several legislators, including Sens. Randy Richardville and John Pappageorge, have been spotted already, though published reports indicate there are fewer politicians at the conference than in previous years.

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, who is running for governor, has just arrived, and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson was seen mingling with attendees moments ago.

There are a couple of receptions on today's agenda, including a "strolling dinner" on the porch of the Grand Hotel.