Visit With State Senator Tom George

Physician/State Senator Tom George (R-District 20), who represents Kalamazoo County and its environs, visited Saginaw yesterday in his quest to become Michigan's next governor.  This was the second time I have had the pleasure to listen to his measured and experienced voice speak on the challenges we face and the fixes required for a healthy Michigan.  I first heard him speak at our county Lincoln Day breakfast last year.  Although our Republican Attorney General Mike Cox, who's also running for governor, was our keynote speaker, Sen. George spoke as did other candidates running for statewide offices.  I was impressed then, and remain so, with his 10 point plan to reform state government, fix the budgeting process, and to create a culture of competitiveness.  You can see for yourself at georgeforgovernor.com.

I told him it was a shame that he didn't come from the kind of power base that our other Republican candidates for governor enjoy, specifically, Mike Cox (mikecox2010.com), Mike Bouchard (bouchardforgovernor.com), Pete Hoekstra (hoekstraforgovernor.com) or even Rick Synder (rickformichigan.com).  All of these men, with the exception of Rick Synder, have large consituencies from which they can draw money, volunteers, and influence.  As noted earlier, Mike Cox is Michigan's AG, Mike Bouchard is currently Sheriff of Oakland County, and Pete Hoekstra is a congressman from Michigan's west side.  Having admitted his difficulties in raising attention and money in a crowed field, it occurred to me that Sen. George's odds of getting the nomination would increase substantially if people like me stopped downplaying his chances of winning.  So Godspeed Sen. George!