Race For Governor

ON THE COVER

Statehouse Stakes

During stops at the JN, candidates
for governor confront the issues.

H

eading into the Nov. 7 election, there's no question that
the main issues in Michigan's gubernatorial race between
Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Republican chal-
lenger Dick DeVos are job related.
The statistics are hard to escape: Michigan's unemployment rate is 7
percent, tied for 49th place with Alaska – only Mississippi has a higher
rate of 8 percent, according to July 2006 Bureau of Labor statistics.
Each candidate believes he or she is the right choice to lead
Michigan out of its harsh economic realities. Each wants to diversify
the state's auto-centric business climate, transforming it into one that
will draw new business in a new century. At the same time, they both
want to keep Michigan residents from moving out of state where jobs
and the economy are better.
They both want the best for Michigan and its citizens, but they have
different views on how to achieve a brighter future. Their plans reflect
their vastly different backgrounds – one business, the other law.
Each spoke with the Jewish News editorial board during separate
visits in September.11

Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Dick DeVos

Granholm Stresses Her
Progress On Challenges

Harry Kirsbaum

Staff Writer

G

ov. Jennifer Granholm knows
what the state of Michigan
is facing. "We know that our
economy is enormously challenged by the
automotive industry," she said."We know
that the auto industry has obviously been
affected by globalization and market share,
but the question is what are we going to do
about it as a state?"
Diversification, job creation and educa-
tion are key to Michigan's future, Granholm
said.
"We have to be the most aggressive state
in the nation when it comes to diversifying
our economy," she said. "If we had done
this aggressively 10 years ago, we wouldn't
be in this spot today"
Granholm looks to her 21st Century
Job Fund, a $2 billion, 10-year initiative
approved by the Michigan Legislature to
diversify Michigan's economic base by
creating jobs in advanced manufacturing,
life sciences, homeland security and after-

-4,..,

native energy.
The fund was created from money
Michigan was awarded from a tobacco
settlement. Its goal is "to create jobs of the
21st century that will not be outsourced,
and jobs that will take advantage of our
natural niches as a state': Granholm said.
Manufacturing is a natural niche, she
said,"whether it's Toyota's expansion of
their research and development center in
Ann Arbor, or Hyundai putting its R&D
center in Michigan — its taking advan-
tage of the international economy and the
high end of R&D."
Granholm said that Michigan's life sci-
ences corridor would be "put on steroids,
so to speak"
"We want to commercialize the patents
that are locked up in universities and
use them as the economic drivers for the
future': she said.
The homeland security component has
an Israeli connection. A "trade mission to
Israel for that particular niche is a huge
opportunity to take advantage of Israel's

Granholm on page 14

DeVos Stresses His
Business Expertise

Harry Kirsbaum

Staff Writer

T

he issues facing Michigan are
certainly complex, but the solu-
tion is simple, according to Dick
DeVos, Republican challenger for governor
of Michigan,
"Simply stated, if there was ever a time
for a businessperson to be sitting in the
governor's office, I would argue that today
would be that time': DeVos said, citing an
unemployment rate 50 percent above the
national average and job creation in July
and August down 11,000 jobs. "These are
Michigan-specific and we are clearly out of
step with the rest of the nation.
"While some would like to point to
Washington as the problem for what's hap-
pening, 49 other states seem to be able to
navigate the changes that have occurred:' he
said. "These are challenging issues that we
face economically and yet it's comfortable
ground for me as someone who has grown
up in business!'
DeVos took his father's business, Amway,

to an international level, and served as
president of a company that manufactures
and markets closet organizers.
"I hear an awful lot of businesspeople
around the state say that the thought of
having a businessperson sitting in the
governor's office would immediately change
their perception of the future he said.
"We can all send a powerful message that
Michigan is electing a businessperson, a
state that is assumed to be dominated by
organized labor, or a variety of political
factors!"
In his first 100 days as governor, DeVos
said he would staff his office with a team
that "understands the realities and brings a
balance of government and business."
"I have a management view that if you
and I agree 100 percent of the time, one of
us seems to be unnecessary around here
he said.
Diversification is a key attribute required
in the resurgenCe of Michigan's economy.
"We have to create an attractive economic
environment, not one based upon par-

DeVos on page 14

October 5 2006

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