Kent Intermediate says “Yes”

Today we received two more endorsements:

• Friends of Kent County Schools is the PAC for the Kent Intermediate School District,

• Michigan Association of School Administrators.

It means a lot to me that both a local and a state-wide group recognize our commitment. You can’t spend seven years on a school board without giving it your heart.

Their endorsement puts a lie to the idea you’ll hear from Democrats, that somehow Conservative Republicans can’t work with education. This Republican certainly does. A first class education should be the standard in our State, and not the exception. To get there will take the the lessons I’ve learned working with our administrators and teachers: how to handle conflict, how to be tough-minded and fair, how to work for the common good.

It takes time — experience — to learn those lessons. And that experience lets us look forward to putting conservative principles to work for our State. After all, the future we are building here in West Michigan — the future our State desperately needs to find — is a future built on strong schools. And we can do that, starting August 5.

The Six Billion Dollar Question

Michigan faces plenty of challenges. A report released last week tells us what one of the biggest ones will be: our roads.

The report from the Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation Funding estimates that Michigan will need to double the money it spends on our roads and bridges. The total estimated price tag? More than 6 billion dollars annually.

This is a huge hit. It’s double what we are currently spending. And one thing is certain, we can’t take it out of our fuel taxes.

Rich Studley from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce stated it right:

“One of the things we’re learning is that a transportation funding system based on motor fuel taxes is increasingly obsolete. … I don’t think anyone on the task force is under the illusion the problelm is a small one or wil be easily resolved.”

No matter who gets elected in November, they’re going to face this challenge.

Ignore the problem? I don’t think so.

Of course, some might try to ignore the problem or postpone a solution, waiting for better times. Unfortunately, that is not an option. Our business and industry depend on our roads. We need this infrastructure in place if we are to reshape a new Michigan.

Can’t we just shift money?

The needs in our state are double what we’re spending now. Pitting one region against another will not solve the problem. So the question is, what kind of leader can help us meet this challenge together?

With a price tag like this, there will be plenty of disagreement. I have proposed a solution, including looking at truck weights. And let’s face it, others will bring their solutions as well — this is going to take some tough negotiation. And new ideas.

A problem this tough takes a different kind of leadership.

The answer to the 6 billion dollar question depends on the leadership we send to Lansing. So then, do we elect people who will keep on with the same approach we’ve been following with all its partisan deadlock? Do we turn to some ivory-tower brash new idea? Frankly, these are the answers we get when we talk to ourselves.

It sounds so obvious, but the great virtue of business is that you learn how to build practical solutions with people who may be very different. That’s the same lesson I’ve applied these last 7 years on the Caledonia school board. We’ve made it work by working together. I believe this type of practical leadership is the sort that Lansing desperately needs.

“Cooperative and Creative Leadership . . .”

Those are words of The Grand Rapids Press’ endorsement.

And modestly, I think they sum up what we’ve been trying to do for this campaign.

Everyone knows that Lansing is broken.  The question ahead is what we will do about it.  And I should emphasize that word “we.”  It’s going to take both sides to solve our problems.  As I’ve said before, we’re going to have to listen to one another.  Leadership is helping others see our principles in action.  That’s the style of leadership I brought to my business for 24 years, and to the Caledonia school board. It’s principle backed by real-world knowledge and a commitment to results.

And we have a term for that informed, principled, practical leadership: “West Michigan Values.”

And now its a Grand Rapids Press value, too.

So Bad It’s Almost Funny

Ever had a really bad picture? I can remember one they took of me in 2nd grade, goofy grin and all.

Well, it came back. Somehow the only picture The Grand Rapids Press had of me was one with my cowboy hat. And let me tell you, the picture is unfair to cowboy hats.

Take a look

Leaders line up for a change in Lansing

One of the privileges of this campaign has been to have so many civic leaders support our candidacy.  Many have stood for election themselves. They know how important it is to have some one in Lansing who understands the issues, and knows how to provide the practical leadership that can lift up our State and get it moving.

They’re part of more than 250 business leaders, elected officials and everyday citizens who believe that we need a new way of doing business in Lansing.  The old way has simply broken down.  With their support and yours we can begin to lift up our state with practical, proven leadership.

The complete list is below the fold.

Number Five Thousand

Sometime last week I shook my 5,000th hand in this campaign.

The values on our doorstep are the values we need in Lansing.

That also means I had my 5,000th conversation about our State, what makes it great, and what we need to do.

I’ve been carrying on this conversation for more than five months. The conversations took place across our district: the young family starting out in Gaines township, a worried single dad over in Kellogsville trying to do right by his kids; a very smart, very concerned manager out in Cascade; the elderly couple in Leisure Estates in Kentwood.

The variety of people I met at the door continues to amaze me. I count myself blessed to have met so many of you. My shoes may wear out, but my spirit is revived by this campaign.

And after a few thousand conversations, some topics keep coming up:

• What do we do with Lansing?
  The same old way of doing business just won’t do. We will need new approaches.

• What can we do for our kids?
  They’re our future, but our schools struggle to fulfill their promise. yet far too many are moving out of the state.

• How do we get our economy moving again?
  When one third of small business owners can’t find something good to say about Michigan’s business climate, you know we have work in front of us. Almost everything the State does affects business. Taxes, regulation, benefits – there’s a lot we can do.

They’re great questions. Tough ones, too. We have a leadership logjam in Lansing. It’s going to take a different style of leadership, and a renewed commitment to working together. Here in West Michigan we know something about that. We know that we need to listen to one another if we are to work together.

I believe the values I find on the doorsteps are the values we need in Lansing. That’s why I’m running. We can call them West Michigan Values, or simply call them what they are, common sense.

The Right to Be Heard

As a Christian, I have a commitment that listening is an important part of what we do. It’s what we give each other.

It’s certainly been true around our dinner table. It’s what I do at work with my employees and my clients.

And we also need to listen to our opponents. They may be wrong, but they deserve our attention. It’s the same reason we should listen to the cause of the defenseless – they deserve a voice. That’s a big part of why I’m pro-Life.

Yet, a recent proposal would start encouraging the Legislature not to listen.

You may have heard of it: Reform Michigan Government Now! There’s a lot in it that should trouble conservatives and Republicans. One of its central proposals is to reconfigure (and shrink) the Michigan State House from 110 seats to 82 new super-districts.

Fewer and larger districts means there are fewer people in the State House who have direct experience with farmers and those involved agriculture. Even though they’re the second or third largest industry in the State (statistics! depends on who’s counting), they lose an important connection. Michigan will be better when it has legislators who have a real connection with our farmers.

But there’s another group that loses out: our racial minorities. When we expand our districts, we pack minorities in some districts, leaving others with maybe one in 10 if that. And if we are going to rebuild our State we will need to hear everyone.

Diluting the voice of our neighbors doesn’t make us stronger. Only deaf.

Trying to Make it Better

Last week during the Kentwood parade, I met a woman who was amazed that I was on the school board. I could understand, the folks in Kentwood don’t pay attention to what happens in Caledonia. But it wasn’t that. She was amazed that I was serving on a school board at all.

Amazed about the Caledonia school board? Honestly, I thought I was just stepping up to a task.

Eight years ago when I first began thinking about the school board, I began with a simple notion: how can I make this community better? After all, I grew up here. This is my home. I had the opportunity to help, so I took it.

That was what also had motivated me to serve on committees with the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association. I wanted to share the gifts I’ve received. And this idea that we are to be a blessing to others also lies at the heart of my campaign for the State House.

And that’s one of the big differences in this campaign. Over the years, I’ve lead real organizations, shared my time and talent with others, shouldered the responsibility, and sought to improve our life together. That’s a record of public service very different from some who run for office with little record of leading or taking responsibility in their community.

It’s a hands-on public service. In Lansing, I’ll bring that same commitment to my tasks in the Legislature to make things better for our community and for our State.

Michigan Does the Right Thing

Used with permission. © Adam Hart-Davis

In Michigan, we take access to water as a given.

That’s why I was so glad that Michigan finally got on board with the Great Lakes Water Compact. Thursday’s signing is a milestone for our State. Together with the new water use laws, this solves one of the critical issues for Michigan’s economic future.

After all, our growing suburbs depend on clean water. Our industries count on water. And we can’t imagine a summer without time on the water.

But for farmers here in Kent County, the new water use rules are critical for our farmers. The new groundwater safeguards assure they can access the water they need.

Legislation like this takes a lot of work. Fortunately we had able Republicans to lead the way: Senator Patricia Birkholz, and Rep. Dave Robertson. Working with the Governor, they were able to forge the compromise. In our press release, Protecting Michigan’s Water we applaud their hard work.

Legislation like this is part of a bigger task: rebuilding the trust between our communities and Lansing. In the coming term, we will not only need to stand for our principles, we will need to forge effective working relationships with one another. And in our campaign we have a term for it: West Michigan Values

How to keep up with Lansing

If you are ever wondering about just what’s going on in Lansing, you can check up on line. If you haven’t discovered Michigan Votes, you owe it to yourself. On the site you can find the voting record of every legislator, plus a record of every vote cast. This is an incredible tool for citizen participation, and not surprising it is sponsored by the Mackinac Center.

Accountability and participation: these are core values for our campaign, the values that will help us re-shape Michigan.