By Gary Ridley
July 15, 2010

OWOSSO — A leading contender for the Republican nomination to be Michigan’s next governor held a brief town hall meeting with area residents Wednesday at Treasures Restaurant.

Rick Snyder, who polls show is holding steady with west Michigan congressman Pete Hoekstra and Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, met with community members to express his vision for the future of Michigan.

“Fixing Michigan is not good,” Snyder said to the standing-room only crowd. “We need to reinvent Michigan.”

Snyder, Cox, Hoekstra, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard and State Sen. Tom George all are running for the nomination on the GOP ticket. The primary election is Aug. 3.

Snyder briefly outlined his 10-point plan to reinvent Michigan. The plan covers subjects ranging from job creation and tax reform to environmental protection and combatting urban sprawl.

According to Snyder, Michigan is entering a new era, and it needs to shed its reliance on the industrial era that boomed in the 20th century.

“We got complacent. We got content,” Snyder said, adding that the state needs to enter into an “era of innovation.”

Snyder also touched on the redevelopment of Michigan’s central cities, such as Detroit, and the recent exodus of young, talented workers from the state.

“We’re losing our young people at a truly alarming rate,” Snyder said.

However, much of Snyder’s speech centered around the business climate in the state and the role of government.

“The role of government is not to create jobs, but make an environment where jobs can flourish,” Snyder said.

The gubernatorial hopeful, who was just recently endorsed by Arizona lawmaker and former presidential candidate John McCain, touted his experience as a business leader and venture capitalist.

Snyder highlighted his time as leader of computer company Gateway — noting the computer giant’s expansion from less than 1,000 employees to more than 10,000 during his time at the helm.

To improve the business climate in the state, Snyder proposed a 6 percent corporate income tax to replace Michigan’s current business tax. Snyder added that his proposal would be “simple, fair (and) efficient” for leaders looking to do business in the state.

Snyder said the current structure of state government would also see changes if he were to be “hired” as Michigan’s next governor.

“It’s time for bureaucracy to go away,” Snyder said, adding that he would propose a results-based budget that seeks to fund programs based on results rather than simply writing a check. “We have to show you value for money.”

He also defended his commitment to steer clear of political action committee and special interest money during his campaign.

“I believe the next governor in this state is going to have to do some really tough things,” said Snyder, adding that by refusing to partner with special interests it would cut down on the political baggage he would have to face when making those tough decisions.

Throughout the town hall meeting, Snyder pushed the idea that the culture and political system in Michigan is broken, and that he would work to redevelop the state with a “smaller, faster, better, cheaper government.”

“It’s time we stand up as Michiganders and say we deserve better,” Snyder said.

“This isn’t the old way of doing things. This is an effort to reinvent our state.”

The entire article is avaialble on the Argus-Press.com website, here.