`wir-7E1111110-
Special Report
PRIMARY ELECTION 2010
Governor's Race from page 25
mandates. I opposed No Child Left Behind because I saw it as the federal government
taking a one-size-fits-all approach to education, when in reality the needs of kids in
Detroit are different than the need of kids in Birmingham, Holland or Marquette. We
can ensure top-flight instruction and education by reinstating parental involvement
and choice, expanding flexibility, adding competition and eliminating bureaucratic
barriers.
A: I have traveled the state on my 100 Michigan Jobs Tour, working different jobs and
listening to the people of Michigan. Doing so allows me to see the real impact gov-
ernment has on peoples' daily lives. The overwhelming message has been "get gov-
ernment out of the way." I do not believe that it will take a generation to turn around
Michigan. With the right leadership in Lansing we can create a culture where elected
officials and bureaucrats know they are working for the people they serve, not the
other way around. I believe we can make an immediate impact.
Q: Young Professionals — What would you do so more young people
will choose to remain in Michigan and contribute to our economy and
society?
A: We need to improve the economic environment in the state to keep our educated,
taxpaying workforce. Michigan has everything it needs to attract young adults and
families. It has been doing it for decades. They want to stay in Michigan, but they are
forced out because the lack of jobs. To create that environment that attract invest-
ment and job creators, my priorities are to get the bureaucracy out of the way, cut
costs, streamline the government and overhaul the tax code. By lowering the tax bur-
den and getting bureaucracy out of the way we will establish a culture that promotes
innovation, entrepreneurship and opportunity.
Q: Prison Propaganda — What can be done to monitor and filter mate-
rials coming into our prison system so it doesn't become a recruiting
ground for Islamic extremists and domestic terror?
A: I have been fighting in Congress to ensure that radical jihadists are kept off of U.S.
soil. I have led the effort in Michigan and in Washington, D.C., against the Obama
administration's proposed plan to transfer terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay
to a state prison — be it Michigan or anywhere else in the U.S. I believe doing so
would endanger Michigan families. I have been outspoken and a leader on stopping
any type of homegrown terrorism.
Q: Bipartisanship — What would you do to restore confidence in the
ability of our elected officials to embrace bipartisanship to address
important issues and govern effectively?
A: Right now we have a lack of leadership. With the right leadership, vision and
experience, we can break the gridlock and pass much needed reforms for our state.
I have a record of working on a bipartisan basis with some of the most liberal
members of Congress, including Rep. Barney Frank. I also had the honor of being
asked by Speaker Dennis Hastert to serve in leadership as chairman of the House
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. After Sept. 11, I worked closely with my
Democratic counterparts on the House and Senate intelligence committees — Sen.
Joe Lieberman and Rep. Jane Harmon — to reform the intelligence community.
Speaker Hastert enlisted my leadership capabilities and bypassed several more senior
members of the committee. I look forward to bringing that same leadership and
bipartisanship to Lansing and get results for Michigan.
Q: Michigan/Israel Cooperation — Would you lead/support efforts to
promote trade, security cooperation and cultural exchanges between
Michigan and Israel?
A: In my position as chairman and now ranking member on the House Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence, I have developed a deep understanding of the
importance of the relationship between the U.S. and Israel. My immediate focus as
governor will be Michigan's economy and job creation. Any opportunity to boost our
economy and create jobs will receive consideration, particularly with those whose
values and views we share. However, I want to get government out of the business of
picking winners and losers.
Q: Creationism — Should "intelligent design"/creationism be part of
the science curriculum in public schools?
A: I do not believe that government should make those decisions. We have to
empower parents, teachers and local communities to determine what is best for their
respective kids. Faceless bureaucrats in Washington and Lansing, who don't know the
names of the children in our schools, cannot possibly respond to the unique needs of
students in local school districts. Michigan needs a vibrant public, private, parochial,
and home school K-12 education system that makes our children's needs top priority.
Q: Welfare — What would you do to maintain a solid "safety net" for
those most affected by Michigan's economic downturn?
A: I recognize the need to protect the most vulnerable members of our society, how-
ever, we can also improve the lives of all Michigan's people by creating the opportu-
nity for good paying jobs. Our unemployment rate across the state is unacceptable.
Leadership that is serving the people that elected them should be focused on job cre-
ation first. The solution to the challenges we face is not more government bureaucra-
cy and new programs. Instead, the first order of business is to focus on creating good
jobs that keep people in their homes and allow them to provide for their families.
Q: Jobs/Economy — What would you do to get people jobs that can sup-
port a family, and how long will it take?
4
Q: Nonprofit Support — With shrinking state funding for social ser-
vices, how must the state support and facilitate the efforts of nonprofits
that are picking up the slack?
A: I am strong supporter of the work performed by nonprofits and would continue, as
governor, to encourage a streamlining of state bureaucracy in favor of nonprofits that
produce better results. Often times, nonprofits are more successful in fulfilling needs
because they do not have the strings attached to funding that comes from working
with the government. Nonprofits need to remain flexible.
RICK SNYDER
Republican
Rick Snyder, 51, is CEO, chair of the board and co-founder
of Ardesta LLC, a high-tech venture capital firm located in
Ann Arbor. He was an accountant before becoming presi-
dent and CEO of Gateway computers. By age 23, he had
received BA (1977), MBA (1979) and JD (1982) degrees
from the University of Michigan. Snyder and his wife, Sue,
live in Ann Arbor. They have three children.
Website: www.rickformichigan.com
Q: Education — What would you do to ensure
adequate funding and top-flight instruction in our public schools?
A: Our schools need to reduce overhead costs, track real results, reward good perfor-
mance, fix failing schools and leverage the private sector to improve the quality of
education. We should implement a data collection and support system similar to the
one currently used in Florida. Michigan needs to tie school funding to specific goals
and reforms and the private sector should contribute through philanthropic efforts.
We need to adopt a system of merit-based pay that rewards better performing teach-
ers and schools and should quickly address failing schools.
Q: Young Professionals — What would you do so more young people
will choose to remain in Michigan and contribute to our economy and
society?
A: The first priority for state government to help keep youth in Michigan is to create
a business-friendly and globally-competitive Michigan, which will provide the career
opportunities young workers desire. A second priority is to restore our cities, espe-
cially Detroit, to provide the quality of place that many young people seek. Retaining
our youth is a problem of special significance for the Detroit Jewish community since
the community's median age is 49 years old. In order to maintain the vibrancy of the
Jewish community in Detroit, a community that has produced so many of our finest
leaders and innovators, we need to adopt the right policies to enable our youth to
pursue their careers of choice right here in Michigan.
Q: Bipartisanship — What would you do to restore confidence in the
ability of our elected officials to embrace bipartisanship to address
important issues and govern effectively?
Governor's Race on page 28
26
July 29
e
2010
I