J
ohn Engler says he wants to
These candidates are expected to
munity support seems divided among
be the education governor. But
fight it out in the August 1994
the four Democrats and Mr. Engler.
state Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Democratic primary. The winner will
He sees no clear Democratic front-
believes he can't be.
face Mr. Engler on the ballot in
runner within the community, which
They both have become tar-
November.
he believes is rare.
gets of an onslaught of would-
It may still be nine months before
"We may still see another
be gubernatorial candidates
the deadline to register to run for
Democratic candidate get into this
vying for the state's No. 1 job,
governor, but these four Democrats
race," Mr. Muchmore says. "I don't
which is up for grabs in November
have been busy testing the waters.
see anybody saying one of the choices
1994.
Each is searching for much needed
is someone to dye in the wool with."
Since his election in 1990, Gov.
name recognition, campaign plat-
Like any cast of characters vying
Engler has lobbied hard for property
forms and enough money to survive
for local or state office, the 1994
tax reform and school finance reform,
what could be the longest ride of
Michigan gubernatorial race pits
(including schools of choice and
their lives.
candidates together who agree that
voucher programs for public
quality education is the key to
schools). Ms. Stabenow, one of
good jobs and economic sur-
his earliest opponents, has been
vival.
vocal in her opposition to his
What sets this race apart is
ideas.
the urgency to devise a funding
About a year after his elec-
plan for Michigan schools in
tion, Ms. Stabenow announced
the aftermath of this past sum-
she would enter the race for
mer's legislative action that
governor. But recently, the
took away property taxes as a
Lansing Democrat tried to call
major source of funding for
his bluff, and she helped pass
public schools. What the action
the plan he asked for, essential-
failed to do was provide an
ly removing property taxes as
alternative for funding.
the funding mechanism for
While legislators in Lansing
Michigan's public schools with-
have set December as a dead-
out having a ready-to-go substi-
line to come up with a bi-parti-
tute.
san solution, it is likely that
Now one of the issues that
the four Democrats and Mr.
always has been most crucial to
Engler will campaign in the
the Jewish community — public
coming year on philosophical
education — has been thrust
differences over this issue and
into the forefront of a political
how to revamp the only system
race that promises to be excit-
the state has really ever
ing. The question most asked:
known.
How much are the residents of
"Anything can happen," says
Michigan willing to pay for this
David Gad-Harf, executive
plan, and just what will it be?
director for the Jewish
Rumors have been flying, and
Community Council of
several ideas have been tossed
Metropolitan Detroit. "Jews
around, but a concrete solution
have a very strong feeling
to the state's education and tax
about the public school system
dilemma is at least months
and education in general.
away. The Lansing debate over
Their impression of John
taxes and the future of
Engler will depend on the out-
Michigan's schools adds fuel to
come of this whole issue."
these campaign issues for the
Both parties agree that it is
slate of four Democratic con-
the role of government to pro-
tenders, each hoping to unseat
vide public education. It is
Mr. Engler.
their philosophies that differ.
KIMBERLY LIFTON and JENNIFER FINER STAFF INFilTFRS
"The real issue here is
Democrats historically align
whether the most important
themselves with union-backed
issue will become education or
groups like the Michigan
taxes," says Dennis Muchmore, a
Though it is far too early to specu-
Education Association. The MEA
Lansing-based lobbyist who repre-
late on a winner, most believe all
opposes schools of choice, a plan
sents the Jewish Federation of
four of the current Democratic con-
backed by Mr. Engler and the state
Metropolitan Detroit. "I'm not sure
tenders have enough support, stami-
GOP.
which it is."
na and political savvy to make it to
The Republican schools-of-choice
Soon knocking at doors — if they
August.
plan would create competition among
haven't done so already — will be
"We saw Debbie get out of the gate
schools, which they say will force
representatives from the Democratic
before others heard the gun go off,"
teachers to be more accountable. One
campaigns of Howard Wolpe, a for-
explains one political insider."It is
GOP activist said allowing parents to
mer Michigan congressman and the
true that she stumbled, but this is a
choose which public schools their
only Jewish candidate; business
marathon, and there is plenty of time
children attend ultimately will fix
attorney Larry Owen; state Rep.
for the others to stumble."
districts like Detroit because "every-
Lynn Jondahl; and Ms. Stabenow.
Mr. Muchmore says Jewish com-
body will leave Detroit and they will
e
SC
In the race
for governor,
education is
the hot issue.
Is