The hard work of 1,800 statewide residents who came together in the past year to develop "Michigan's Defining Moment: A Common Ground Agenda for Michigan's Transformation" is reaching the desks of the hundreds of candidates running this year for seats in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Here's some of their early feedback:

Inspired by Mr. Galligan's email handle ("galliganforallegan"), Public Sector Consultants Vice President and MDM Project Manager Peter Pratt harkened back to his own political career: "The guy is fated to win--reminds me of my opponent in elementary school, whose motto was 'I swam the ocean to vote for Godoshian.' Unfortunately, I'm not Armenian and was clobbered."

Final clarification... Mention of these candidates in this newsletter should not imply endorsement. The Center for Michigan and the MDM Campaign are in the business of spreading dialogue about the issues, not endorsing particular candidates. But there's nothing preventing individual candidates from endorsing MDM.

Shoot us a note if you'd like to be involved as we work to hold small- and large-audience conversations with candidates in the 46 House campaigns in which no incumbent is running.