11/05/2006

Editorial

A look at governor's race endorsements

The Associated Press

Excerpts from newspaper endorsements in the Michigan gubernatorial race:

"Difficult times have forced Michigan to recognize that creating and retaining jobs are the two most important tasks facing the state's governor. While the decision about who is best suited to handle that presents us with somewhat unappealing choices, we believe Dick DeVos deserves a chance to test his vision since incumbent Jennifer Granholm has clearly fallen short."

— The Daily Telegram (Adrian)

"We don't fault Gov. Jennifer Granholm for the collapse of the domestic auto industry or for the resulting avalanche that continues to decimate Michigan's economic base. ...

"But in measuring her performance in leading Michigan through this crisis, we find her lacking. ...

"DeVos can no longer be accused of not having a plan for fixing Michigan. He's got one, and it's solid.

"But more important, he has the executive skills to implement the plan, the independence to shirk off the special interests that are holding Michigan back and the focus to make the vision reality."

— The Detroit News

"A new course must be charted, one that confronts the reasons for Michigan's situation, that engages the global economy and moves directly to again make the state appealing to investors and entrepreneurs.

"The candidate best suited for that mission is Dick DeVos, the Ada Republican and businessman. His business background and the campaign he has waged sufficiently establish his fitness for the governor's office and the priorities he would bring to it. Those set a pro-business agenda, which is what Michigan at this moment must have.

"Far more than the Democratic incumbent, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Mr. DeVos has emphasized the importance of change."

— The Grand Rapids Press

"A governor cannot fairly be blamed for the global changes that have wreaked havoc on the state's economic base. But a governor must provide the leadership for our state to reinvent itself so that its citizens can thrive in the 21st century.

"While undeniably an intelligent, caring and charismatic person, Gov. Jennifer Granholm has failed to demonstrate the required level of leadership needed in Michigan. Her style has failed. That's why voters should select Republican Dick DeVos as Michigan's next governor."

— Livingston County Daily Press & Argus (Howell)

"Gov. Jennifer Granholm has had four years to find solutions and foster an atmosphere that would attract businesses to employ residents. Michigan, under her watch, has only slipped deeper economically.

"Something isn't working, and it's time to try something different.

"While Republican Dick DeVos may not be the most polished of politicians perhaps that is all the more reason for him to become Michigan's next governor. Smooth talking, slogans and catchphrases aren't cutting it in this economy."

— The Macomb Daily (Mount Clemens)

"Granholm has had four years to turn around the state's economy — the worst in the nation. For whatever the reasons, she hasn't done so.

"It's time to let someone else — an expert in business, among other things — to take a shot at it.

"In baseball, when a starting pitcher gets pulled in the seventh inning, it's not necessarily because he has done a poor job. It's just that he's done all he can do and it's time for a fresh hurler.

"Figuratively speaking, it's time to pull Granholm and go with a solid relief pitcher in DeVos."

— The Oakland Press (Pontiac)

"DeVos, a longtime business leader in Michigan, is far better situated to streamline regulation and to push policies to better retain and attract business to our state. DeVos better understands the effect that the Single Business Tax has had on Michigan's sagging fortunes, and as governor he will be better positioned to work with the state Legislature to enact a replacement tax. ...

"It is our hope that DeVos would help change Michigan's culture of entitlement, a heritage that as much as anything has held our state back as employers continue to hemorrhage manufacturing jobs overseas or to other states. Granholm, though charismatic and likable, will not significantly seek to change the status quo if re-elected."

— The Herald-Palladium (St. Joseph)

"The past four years in Michigan haven't been pretty. We've endured crippling job losses, especially in the auto industry, and the outlook for economic recovery remains grim.

"As the state's leader during this period, Gov. Jennifer Granholm is naturally a lightning rod for citizens looking for someone to blame. Republican challenger Dick DeVos has capitalized on this economic angst, portraying Granholm as responsible for Michigan's high unemployment rate and a host of other problems. ...

"Charges on both sides present half-truths and misrepresentations, and the attack-dog approach to this year's race for governor has been disheartening.

"Spurious jabs aside, here's the bottom-line question: Who is best suited to lead Michigan for the next four years?

"Though we're not thrilled with either candidate, our answer is Granholm, and we endorse her re-election."

— The Ann Arbor News

"While Michigan certainly could stand for serious changes, it would be a terrible mistake to assume that the current situation would improve under DeVos' leadership. Indeed, governors have relatively little influence over the performance of a state's economy, particularly in the short term. No matter who wins next Tuesday, the unpleasant reality is that the decay of Michigan's manufacturing base will likely continue.

"Although Granholm has often lacked political courage during the past four years, DeVos' extremely conservative social views and unsound plans for running the state represent a dangerous model for change — one Michigan voters should reject."

— The Michigan Daily (Ann Arbor)

"There is no quick and simple solution to regain the thousands of jobs that have been lost, but we think Michigan's governor has laid the groundwork for a recovery that will help diversify the state's economy and, ultimately, make it stronger. It won't happen overnight, however; it will require a sustained commitment, and that is why we endorse Democrat Jennifer Granholm for re-election."

— Battle Creek Enquirer

"It takes skill and practice to stay ahead and on top without falling down.

"Granholm has the grace and the knowledge and the skills to weave a common cloth from the competing threads of business and labor, Democrat and Republican.

"With another four years in office, a term-limited Granholm could free herself from the shackles of pending re-election and have the guts and freedom to make her promise ring true.

"'In five years, you're gonna be blown away,' Granholm bragged in her State of the State Address in January. She now winces as Republicans throw it back in her face.

"But when the electioneering does die down, we'd really like to — well — be blown away by a Michigan turnaround.

"In the next four years, let's do it, guv."

— The Bay City Times

"Michigan government must strike a balance over the next several years between building a new economic model and helping the thousands of people hurt in the crumbling of the old one.

"Gov. Jennifer Granholm is the best candidate to lead the state through this difficult transition. She is a dynamic leader who is pushing Michigan in all the right directions against formidable economic and political forces.

"Dick DeVos, her Republican opponent, has spent personal millions to wage a tireless campaign against the governor and in this, his first major race, established himself as a credible political figure. He has a number of good ideas, but also a lot of ambitious plans with vague financial details and a history that suggests he'd try to take Michigan hard to the right, further dividing a state that already has too many fractures for its own good."

— Detroit Free Press

"At a time when Michigan needs gifted leadership in the governor's office, that possibility does not exist on the Nov. 7 ballot.

"Gov. Jennifer Granholm's performance makes an unspectacular case for her re-election, and Dick DeVos, we fear, would take us in the wrong direction. ...

"In evaluating who would improve this record more over the next four years, we grade Democrat Granholm high for showing a clear vision for fixing Michigan's problems."

— The Flint Journal

"The best person to lead Michigan back to the road of prosperity is Jennifer Granholm. ...

While Granholm's Republican opponent, Dick DeVos, has waged a strong campaign, and has come up with some good ideas, he has been too vague on how he would finance his plans to turn around the economy in Michigan. The DeVos campaign has been more about public relations than it has been about issues and specific answers."

— Grand Haven Tribune

"Granholm has provided Democratic oversight to keep the state's Republican Legislature honest. That's proven to be a good thing the past four years. There's no reason to believe that would change between now and 2011.

"Most importantly to this region, she's gone above and beyond assisting the Greenville area ever since Electrolux announced it was considering closing the world's largest refrigerator factory here, idling 2,781 workers, during Granholm's first year in office."

— The Daily News (Greenville)

"Michigan's economic problems — tied to the declining domestic auto industry — are far too vast and systemic for any mere governor to have caused.

"Although we agree that Granholm took too long to get her economic plans going and sometimes picked the wrong people for key economic development positions, catastrophic news from General Motors Corp., the Ford Motor Co., Delphi and other big suppliers would have happened, no matter who was in the governor's office, no matter who controlled the Michigan Legislature.

"Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos has failed to convince us that he has the answer to Michigan's economic problems. ...

"Gov. Granholm has faced down a considerable amount of adversity in the last four years, and has done it with aplomb.

"She has the experience and the smarts. She is pragmatic and not an intractable ideologue.

"On Nov. 7, send her back to Lansing to finish the job."

— Kalamazoo Gazette

"Gov. Jennifer Granholm and her Republican challenger, businessman Dick DeVos, have built their campaigns around the central claim that they are best equipped to revive Michigan's economy. There are far more issues on the plate for the state's next chief executive, but jobs come before everything.

"And, on point after point, it's Granholm with the better plan for Michigan's revival."

— Lansing State Journal

"Her plan for the state's economic future is on the right track, including a strong component of retraining the work force and promoting higher education. In the end it's having the best work force that attracts employers. ...

"In a state of economic slowdown, she's shown fiscal responsibility in keeping state spending under control while saving critical services from failing.

"In contrast, we are extremely concerned about the future of Michigan government services should they be under the leadership of Dick DeVos, who has said he'd replace only about half the income from the SBT (single business tax). That's another billion dollars that would have to be cut from services we have come to expect. ...

"It appears extremely likely the state will maintain a Republican Legislature, and we like to see the two parties have a balance of power. ..."

— Ludington Daily News

"Granholm already has the tools necessary to lead Michigan; not only does she have a mastery of the law, she's familiar with the territory. ...

"The road ahead will not be an easy one for Granholm.

"She must actively work to create an environment in Michigan that fosters growth.

"The governor needs to make allies wherever she can — including in the White House, a power DeVos has mentioned his ties to more than once.

"If Granholm is to take Michigan out of its slump, she needs to pull out all the stops. She needs to foster a strong working environment with Republicans and Democrats alike."

— CM Life (Mount Pleasant)

"We want a real fighter for our state, and in Gov. Jennifer Granholm, we've got one. ...

"The Democratic governor has kept Michigan together in the face of an enormous inherited budget deficit and a single-state economic hurricane caused by the meltdown of the Big 3 automotive manufacturers. She has advanced strong, intelligent economic plans, like her Jobs Today, Jobs Tomorrow program and her 21st Century Jobs Fund, despite the machinations of a largely hostile Republican Legislature."

— The Muskegon Chronicle

"As tempting as it may be to replace her, Michigan needs a leader who can speak to more than just business concerns. The state's turnaround must be inclusive — and Granholm stands a better chance of ensuring the state's poor and low-income residents won't bear an inordinate amount of the sacrifice.

"It is uncertain what any governor could have done to reverse Michigan's dire economic fortunes in the past four years — particularly in view of the Big Three's crisis. Still, Granholm has the ability to lead the state to better times.

"She already proved she can lead state government through tough austerity measures without victimizing the poor. Now, she must prove she can lay the groundwork for Michigan's recovery."

— Times Herald (Port Huron)

"We openly concede that our choice for governor in 2006 is a provincial embrace. All politics are local, as the political dictum goes, and more than ever Saginaw requires a leader in Lansing who understands the needs of one of the most economically challenged areas in the most economically depressed state.

"So when it comes to deciding Tuesday, Nov. 7, between Republican Dick DeVos and Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the choice for us is simple — if not easy.

"Gov. Granholm understands the Saginaw region's problems and has worked diligently with Saginaw Future Inc. and other economic development agencies to help address the region's needs."

— The Saginaw News

"Inheriting a state of problems and financial hardships has put Granholm in the hot seat. We believe she needs another four years to put her ideas into action."

— Sturgis Journal