If past elections are any indication, your televisions, car radios and home mailboxes will be filled next year at this time with loud, overly partisan, and factually dubious political campaign fodder.
There’s a new and better way for candidates to frame their issues, especially candidates for governor, thanks to the hard work of Lansing insiders Rick Cole and Richard McLellan (who both serve as founding champions of the Center’s public engagement campaign, Michigan’s Defining Moment.
Cole, McLellan and a handful of others have assembled a detailed, 21-page document which any gubernatorial candidate can begin to get their arms around on the ride to the next campaign stop.
It’s called “Michigan’s Next Governor Project” and it basically asks candidates to look in the mirror an answer dozens and dozens of questions about themselves an their intended policies.
The Michigan’s Next Governor document is a beautiful civics lesson for any concerned citizen. Click here for a copy.
Here are 11 of our favorite questions Cole, McLellan and gang hope the winner next November can clearly and thoughtfully answer…
1. Do you have an articulated vision for Michigan? Does this vision address in a meaningful way the changes that are occurring in this state?
2. What role do you envision for state government? Will the size, scope, services, and meaning of state government be maintained or changed? How?
3. How will you address K-12 School Aid funding?
4. What changes would you make in business taxes, including the MBT surcharge?
5. How would you deal with the automobile industry in 2011 and beyond?
6. What would you do to protect Michigan’s water?
7. What are your views on corrections policy and prison funding?
8. Given the importance of brain development in children ages 0-3 yrs., what should be the state investment in early childhood education and family support?
9. Will you encourage state government involvement in the Aerotropolis?
10. Which local government services could be consolidated? What will you do about it?
11. Will you restore state cultural funding and support?
Of course, the candidates can already get a glimpse of the views of thousands of citizens and community leaders on this issue. All they have to do is read the Michigan’s Defining Moment Common Ground Agenda for Michigan’s Future. The Center for Michigan remains busy in the field, moving toward our goal of 10,000 Community Conversation participants who have helped develop and refine a citizens agenda for our state’s future.
We’ll publish an updated version of that agenda in early 2010 — just in time for campaign season.
