Democratic candidate for Michigan Governor Andy Dillon on Thursday gained the first major labor endorsement in the wide-open race, getting the nod from the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council.

Michigan House Speaker and Democratic candidate for governor Andy Dillon

Dillon officially threw his hat into the field of candidates last week. He’s said he’ll consider stepping down as state House speaker during his gubernatorial run, but for now will remain in his current post.
Dillon, who represents Dearborn Heights and Redford in the legislature, has regularly reached out to Arab Americans over the years for political and financial support.

Republican candidate for governor Michael Bouchard, who is of Arab descent, also has strong ties with the community, and Democratic candidate Virg Bernero met with a group of Arab American leaders in January before announcing his gubernatorial bid.

Other candidates include Democratic state Rep. Alma Weller Smith and Republicans Mike Cox, state Attorney General, state Sen. Tom George of Kalamazoo, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland, Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder and Troy businessman David Kniffen.

Bouchard proposes spending reforms

Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said this week the state should require a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to raise taxes.

Mike Bouchard

Unveiling government spending reform proposals during campaign stops and in press releases this week, Bouchard also said a two-thirds vote should be required to increase total state spending that outpaces private-sector spending each year.
He proposed changes to state employee benefits plans, and an online database making every check written by state agencies available for viewing. Bouchard has also said the legislators should become part-time employees, and proposed privatizing public rest areas.

Bernero wants to open state bank

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero this week proposed opening a state-owned bank that could provide low-interest loans to businesses and college students.

Virg Bernero

He said the idea would follow the example of the Bank of North Dakota, founded in 1919.
Capital for the bank would come from a bond sale and state assets.

He said the bank could work with private banks to ease the foreclosure crisis and help economic development projects.

“Hundreds of job-creating projects are still on hold because Michigan businesses and entrepreneurs cannot get bank financing. We can break the credit crunch and beat Wall Street at their own game by keeping our money right here in Michigan and investing it to retool our economy and create jobs,” Bernero said.

Benson meets with Arab Americans

Democratic candidate for Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson met with Arab American leaders Monday at the Lebanese American Heritage Club in Dearborn.

Candidate for Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson during a meeting with Arab American leaders Monday.

Benson is a national voting rights advocate and Wayne State University law professor.
She spoke about wanting to increase voter turnout by providing more bilingual poll workers and registration materials, including Arabic language documents and speakers. She also said that, if elected, she’d put together a diverse staff, representative of the population both at the executive level in Lansing and at the local level.

“Our country has been at its best when we’ve been inclusive,” she said.

A March 16 fundraiser for Benson’s campaign is scheduled at the Arab American National Museum.

Benson is up against Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey on the Democratic side. Democratic Party leaders will nominate a final candidate for Secretary of State in the summer. Five Republicans have also said they’ll seek their party’s nomination for the position. Benson this week formally requested endorsement of the Arab American Political Action Committee.

Candidate for Attorney General Richard Bernstein also requested the group’s endorsement. AAPAC is scheduled to meet to discuss endorsements on March 24.