New Governor's challenges in 2011 Facing the New Governor and Legtislature

Michigan's new governor must be ready on Day 1

By CHRIS CHRISTOFF
FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU CHIEF
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Michigan's new governor will take the wheel of a state that's speeding toward a $1.6-billion deficit with little room to maneuver.



He'll share the Capitol with perhaps the most inexperienced Legislature in modern times thanks to term limits, as well as a new secretary of state and attorney general.

He must hit the ground running with a team that will shape the way Lansing does business for the next four years.

Compared with eight years ago, when Jennifer Granholm swept into office on wings of hope and history as the first female governor, Michigan is shell-shocked by economic decline driven by the near-collapse of the U.S. automotive and financial sectors.

Republican Rick Snyder says he'll cut business taxes. Democrat Virg Bernero says he'll revive manufacturing. Either will tackle a government and tax system that can no longer coexist as they are.

"Without a doubt, the challenges facing the new governor are going to dwarf the problems any new governor confronted in the past," said Dennis Cawthorne, lobbyist, ex-legislator and Michigan devotee. "In the past, there have been nooks, crannies and cookie jars available to somehow fill the billion-dollar deficits.

"It truly appears this time we have run out of them."

Tough Tasks Await New Leader

A lot of big decisions await the next governor, starting the day after Tuesday's election.

He even should start planning his State of the State address in January, said Bill Rustem, president of Public Sector Consultants of Lansing.

"It's the articulation of a vision -- where does he want to take the state?" said Rustem, who was an adviser to former Gov. William Milliken.

"It's a brand-new Legislature. It's important setting the tone for the first 100 days, and for the administration beyond that."

But before the big speech, the next governor will have his hands full putting that administration together.

And scouting the Legislature, with whom he'll dicker and deal.

And making plans to tackle the worst financial picture in many decades.

The economy drowns out other issues that usually have more exposure in gubernatorial campaigns, such as the environment and funding for public schools, said Doug Roberts, a former state treasurer and now director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University.



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