August 3 Primary Provides Opportunity
for Real Change — Don’t Sit It Out

Guest Column
by David Joos and Michael Jandernoa

July 30, 2010

The August 3rd primary election presents the first and most critical opportunity for Michigan voters to chart a new course for our state. Many voters perceive the general election as the time when they should vote. The primary election is really where changes can be made.

Why is the primary election so important?

First, more than 80 percent of all races are decided in the primary. Consider that the entire state Senate is up for election this year. Due to term limits, three-fourths of the Senate will be newcomers. Applying the 80-percent rule means more than half of all the new senators will be decided in the primary.

In the House, almost half the seats are up, meaning over one-third of the new members will be decided in the primary.

Second, our state is in crisis. During the past decade, Michigan’s per capita income has plummeted, population growth has been stagnant, and revenues have declined some 30 percent. We continue to be plagued by staggering budget deficits, high unemployment, and our tax system is uncompetitive for attracting and retaining jobs.

We must elect leaders who fully grasp the realities of Michigan’s plight, and who have a clear, comprehensive vision for moving Michigan forward. They need to be willing to work across party lines to address Michigan’s fiscal, budget, and tax challenges. Setting priorities for investments, economic development, and job growth needs to be addressed.

The good news is that Michigan citizens seem acutely aware of this. Surveys conducted of Michigan voters by Business Leaders for Michigan found that Michiganders clearly understand the circumstances of the state and that only a comprehensive plan will set Michigan on a new track toward being competitive, financially well-managed, and a place where people want to live, work and raise their families.

Modest progress has occurred this year. Legislators enacted a teacher retirement bill that may save the state $3 billion over the next 10 years. The governor and legislature reached an agreement to pass the K-12 education budget in a timely manner. It’s important to note that these are encouraging signs.

Both are examples of progress that can be made when partisanship is set aside and the good of the state and its citizens is put first.

We now have the opportunity to build momentum going into 2011 by electing new leadership. Voters who participate in the primary election have a major say in determining our next governor and the composition of the House and Senate.

The people of Michigan who want to make a difference and believe we must chart a new course cannot afford to sit this primary election out. The primary is where Michigan’s future will be decided. It’s where change will be made. Voters: make it count.

At www.MichiganTurnaroundPlan.com, voters will find a list of “10 questions” they should ask candidates to help them determine which candidates are willing to lead Michigan in the right direction. Voters will also learn the positions candidates have taken on key issues and how to get more engaged in the Michigan Turnaround Plan effort.

David Joos is chairman of the board of directors, CMS Energy Group. Michael Jandernoa is on the board of directors for Perrigo Company. Both are Business Leaders for Michigan board members.