Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero to Seek Democratic Nomination for Governor of Michigan

Calling Michigan's state government broken and mired in partisan bickering, obstructionism and gridlock, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero today announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Michigan.

Surrounded by Michigan residents who want to see bold new leadership in the state's top public office, Bernero said, "We are in a crisis and it's about time that our government acted with the urgency and innovation required to tackle the enormous problems facing Michigan's working families."

"Who I stand with today is who this campaign is really about - regular, hard working people who love this state as I do," Mayor Bernero said. "Like me, they believe that state government is broken, and that our current leaders have only delivered budget debacles, state government shutdowns and a state that tops the list of unemployment and foreclosure. I stand with Michigan residents who know that we are in the fight of our lives to take back our state."

Mayor Bernero began his three-city announcement in Detroit, with stops in Grand Rapids and Lansing, vowing to put Michigan back on track, and back to work. To do this, he said, it is essential that Michigan's next governor be committed to a complete overhaul of Michigan state government.

Bernero said as governor he would take immediate action to spark new job creation and ease the burden on beleaguered Michigan businesses and families by:

• Leading the restructuring of Michigan's tax code to make our state becomes a magnet for new investment and job creation.
• Demanding that the Michigan Legislature pass a two-year moratorium on mortgage foreclosures.
• Leveraging every available resource at the state and federal levels to force credit card companies to stop charging outrageous interest rates.

"During the course of this campaign, I will be proposing ideas that often upset those in power, but my message to those defending the status quo is simple, 'Get out of the way or get run over,'" Bernero said. "The people's agenda is coming though and it's time to make the business of making Michigan work again our only priority."

Pointing to his record of accomplishment as Mayor of Lansing, Bernero said he was prepared to lead Michigan as he has already done for the City of Lansing. As Mayor of Lansing, Bernero's innovative economic development strategies have resulted in over a half-billion dollars in new investment that will create and retain over 6,000 jobs. These were accomplished all while preserving the city's reserve funds and holding the line on taxes. Under Bernero's leadership, Lansing is a statewide leader in new job creation and expanded gross domestic product, and is one of just a handful of cities in Michigan with an AA+ credit rating.

"I want to take our bold approach from the city of Lansing to the State Capitol," Benero said. "I believe we can retool our state into a place where our children want to raise their children, and I am committed to doing just that."

Bernero has been the state's most vocal critic for outsourcing manufacturing jobs overseas, as well as a strong advocate for continued support of advanced manufacturing. Monday, he made his announcement at Detroit Chassis, an advanced manufacturing automotive supplier plant on the city's east side. With a 100 percent union workforce, Detroit Chassis was awarded the Ford Class-A motor home assembly business which was resourced from Mexico to Detroit in a brand new facility built for the purpose.

"In a city with over 30 percent unemployment, 95 percent of Detroit Chassis is supporting more than 200 families with a competitive wage, excellent benefits, and a nation's-best one percent absentee rate," he said. "Instead of outsourcing these jobs, Detroit Chassis is providing a better product, faster and less expensive than in Mexico … and that is what we should be about here in Michigan."

Bernero showed disdain for some party insiders who seem to be searching for a rich, so-called "self-funder" to run for Governor, who apparently believe that "being rich is the most important qualification for standing up and fighting for hard-working Michigan folk."

"If you are looking for someone who is rich and out of touch with the concerns of ordinary citizens who struggle every day to make ends meet, then I'm not your candidate," Bernero said. "But if you are looking for someone who will take the bull by the horns; who won't back down from a challenge; and who will make the tough decisions to get this state back on track without blinking, then I'm your candidate."

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