One of the common themes among those who like to bash the Michigan Legislature is that new lawmakers spend their first terms lost in baffling process and lucky if they can find their way to the bathrooms.
Maybe 2011 will be different, with the help of the Michigan Political Leadership Program.
Now in its 18th year, MPLP is a year-long boot camp for aspiring community leaders seeking elective office. Participants compete for 24 spots per year, then learn the ropes through intense and bipartisan sessions on public budgeting, campaign finance, and many other nuts and bolts of running for office.
A record 26 MPLP alums are running for state House this year. They are among more than 700 legislative candidates statewide who this week received in the mail the Great Debates 2010 candidate issue guide, which serves as a crib sheet for many of the issues new legislators will face when they get to Lansing.
Through the help of the Great Debates sponsors, and MPLP, 2011 can be more about policy than public restrooms for incoming lawmakers.
