While attendance is down at Mackinac this year, a healthy crowd of young professionals mingles with the old-timers. One member of the Detroit Regional Chamber's "fusion" group of young leaders took a bold step Thursday. A suburban property developer with a MBA from Stanford, he launched an exploratory committee for a state Senate seat that will open up in 2010 due to term limits.

Ok, it wasn't really a committee — he put on a nice suit and tie and asked a lot of questions.

It didn't take long for our newbie to hear rumors of stiff competition — two sitting state representatives as well as a veteran suburban mayor were supposedly eye-balling the same Democratic primary next year for the Senate seat.

Gulp.

By noon it was clear one of those state reps would stay put in the House. "Why would I go to the Senate now?" she asked. "I'm a Democrat and I'm in the MAJORITY in the House. I couldn't get anything done in the Senate."

Gulp.

Suddenly fully enlisted in our newbie's adventure, I found the sitting state Senator waiting in line for lunch. She'd caught wind of the whippersnapper's interest in her seat, but was puzzled by the idea. "He has no political experience at any local level, right?" she asked, and I nodded. "Why does he want to start out seeking a seat in the Senate?"

Gulp.

By late afternoon, our newbie had his branding pitch down cold and tried it on Meijer President and CEO Mark Murray in the Grand Hotel lobby. "The decisions we make as a state over the next few years will go a long way toward setting our course for a long time to come," our newbie proffered. "My wife and I have made commitments to stay here. I'm by no means sure I'm going to run for office, but I'm searching to find the best possible way to help my state."

Murray was impressed with the idealism, but suggested our newbie direct it elsewhere beyond the state capitol. "I believe the most heroic leadership in our state between 2010 and 2020 is going to be among the entrepreneurs who are creating new industries," Murray said, and then spun a metaphor. "It's not going to be about farm policy — it's going to be about the farmers and their new crops."

Gulp.

By sundown, our newbie was on a bar stool, seated next to a bright young state rep. His beer half-empty, he clearly wasn't sure what to do. But his tie knot was still tight.

Murray might very well be right on this one (as usual). And political vets are going to be glad to shake hands and smile at the Fusion types but they aren't going to make it any less intimidating for the newbies to gain entry. However, until recruits from Fusion and Detroit Young Professionals and the numerous other young professional socieities cropping up from Kalamazoo to Midland to Traverse City actually get more seats at the legislative tables, their power to create bold change will be too limited.