Why I think Mark Schauer should be our next Governor

by Rick Thompson

January 31, 2014

FLINT- Last night, before speeding to metro Detroit to broadcast the 185th episode of the Planet Green Trees Internet radio show, several colleagues and I attended a fundraiser to benefit the gubernatorial campaign of Mark Schauer.

The event was held in downtown Flint. Schauer is a Democrat, and Flint typically votes to support the Dems, but even I was surprised to see the number of people that crammed themselves into the White Horse Tavern. Standing Room Only. Senator Jim Ananich didn't sit down once; Flint's Mayor, Dayne Walling, didn't get a chair while I was there, either. "It took me ten minutes to find a parking spot," said 3rd Coast Compassion Center's Jamie Lowell. "I had to park two blocks away at a coney island restaurant."

Both the Mayor and the Senator took time out to speak to myself and fellow attendee Eric Gunnels, himself a Trustee in Genesee County's Thetford Township. The Senator and I are well known to each other but it was the first time I'd met the Mayor. Both men were approachable and open, although time and circumstance prevented us from deep conversation.

When Schauer arrived he shook hands for a few minutes before being introduced to the crowd by Doug Norton. Norton had a bit of difficulty controlling crowd noise in the cramped quarters, but when Mark took the stage everyone fell silent- except for the cheering.

The event was co-sponsored by the Michigan Education Authority; Schauer gave them praise and asked how many current and retired teachers there were in the room. A raucous round of applause and whistles erupted. Schauer recognized the other event sponsor, the Citizens Against Government Overreach, which created another round of hoots and clapping.

Then Schauer got down to business.

"I am a card-carrying and dues-paying union member," he told the crowd. Stories of his father, a Grand Blanc teacher who commuted every day from Howell and still managed to arrive an hour before school began to ensure his laboratories were ready for the students, and other members of the teaching profession were liberally sprinkled into the oratory. Each tale was genuine.

Schauer talked about Snyder. "One-term nerd!" was shouted by the crowd at the candidate, and he just smiled. While citing the failings of the Snyder administration- taxes on retirees, $500 + per pupil school funding lost, tax breaks to corporations- Schauer refused to attack the man himself. He kept focus on the issues, even when it may have pleased the crowd to hear him call the Governor a liar.

Every politician can shake hands and play to the crowd. Some can even fake integrity. I got the impression that Schauer wasn't faking. Lowell and Gunnels agreed.

A conversation I had with a friend this morning convinced me that Schauer is the real deal.

Several years ago, Ci Ci Taylor was working with then-US House Representative Mark Schauer. "When the pipeline burst in Battle Creek, Governor Granholm only flew over it in a helicopter. He actually put a HazMat suit on and picked up the dead animals," Taylor said.  "He really cares about the people."

A roll-up the sleeves guy who gets involved. I like it. Add to the mix that he's been a Michigan Representative, a Senator, and served in the Congress. If I remember correctly, this nerdy guy's first public office was... the top office in the state.

Taylor said one more thing that made me think. "You know why he came out of retirement?" she asked.

"He went to the right to work rally, and got maced by Michigan State Police officers." That rally made national news as the police shut down the Capitol Building and used mounted troops to control the attendees. Some were maced; some were forcibly removed from the premises. Schauer wasn't in office then, he was a private citizen expressing his opinion at the house of government. I can relate to that.