BR
The Relentless Ross
A year away from nomination, Doug Ross is burning
up the campaign trail in his pursuit of the state's top
political position.
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PHOTO BY GLENN TRI EST
A
s long as I have known were versus [George] Bush," he
Doug, he's always been pointed out.
rallyhig people together to
"Winning Again" is based on
fight for one cause or an- four cornerstones, the first of them
other," said Karol Ross of her educating Michigan's children.
husband, Doug Ross, candidate
"We need to be the first com-
for governor in 1998.
munity in the world to help its
Bringing together citizens to members become active, compe-
solve problems comes naturally tent learners," Ross said. "I'm
for Ross, 55, who has been in- committed to a public system of
volved in state and national gov- education, but with dramatic re-
ernment for more than two forms. We need dear performance
decades. He attributes his ac-.. standards; we need to empower
tivism to his Jewish heritage and teachers to be the heroes of this
its emphasis on social responsi- new system; and we need to cre-
bility.
ate an array of public learning
"Growing up in this
Jewish community has
had an enormous im-
pact on my life," said
Ross. "Having grown up
immediately after
World War II, the son of
European immigrants,
I learned that for sur-
vival reasons I must be
involved in the commu-
nity. Bad things happen
to small groups who
don't pay attention."
Charity was a matter
of course, something he
learned back at Temple
Beth El Sunday school.
The words of Hillel
hold deep meaning for
Ross: "If I am not for my-
self, who will be? If I am
only for myself, what am
I? If not now, when?"
Thus, after much dis-
cussion with his No. 1
team — his family — Doug Ross aims to be the first Jewish governor in
Ross tossed his hat into the Midwest.
the governor's race, vy-
ing to win the Democratic nom- styles and settings."
ination. To his knowledge, there
Secondly, Ross wants the com-
has never been a Jewish gover- munity to become more entre-
nor in the Midwest.
preneurial. "The new jobs will
Ross speaks eloquently of his come through people starting new
"Winning Again" • agenda, a businesses and growing small
grass-roots campaign born of his businesses," said Ross, "not For-
frustrations with the 1994 elec- tune 500 companies coming into
tion.
Michigan.
"I was struck by a couple of
"I am a pro-growth, pro-small
things (in 1994)," he said. "The business development Democrat,"
candidates were not debating the he said. He would get rid of the
real challenges of the new cen- single business tax, which he calls
tury and the Democrats went on an anti-entrepreneurship tax.
the attack, failing to articulate
The third cornerstone of his
their own vision and agenda. program involves supporting and
There was no good, progressive strengthening families, particu-
larly in low-income areas. "We can
alternative to John Engler."
And so, after launching what not leave another generation of
he calls the biggest grass-roots poor children behind," he em-
campaign in the last half-centu- phasized. He is convinced that
ry, with 2,400 volunteers and a teams of volunteers, serving as
goal of 50,000 by next July 4, Mr. education coaches and mentors,
Ross aims to follow in Bill Clin- can make a difference in these
ton's campaign footsteps.
children's lives.
"My numbers versus Engler's
Lastly, candidate Ross advo-
are better today than Clinton's cates a commitment to protect