"I owe it to myself to really think about it," he told the Detroit Free Press. "It's not that time yet, but I certainly haven't taken it off the table."
So, after Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan made it emphatically
clear at the (relatively inconsequential) Mackinac Policy Conference that he
will not be a candidate for governor in 2018 – “don't ask me again” – the Lansing
press corps quickly turned to the next question:
Who rises to the top of the list?
Well, as could be expected, moderate Democrat Mark
Hackel, the Macomb County executive, may emerge as the very-early frontrunner in the race to replace
term-limited Gov. Rick Snyder.
The always-astute Zach Gorchow of Gongwer News Service
(subscription required) sorted through the possibilities:
“After Mr. Duggan, the following names will get a long
look: Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, Oakland County Treasurer Andy
Meisner, former Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer and … that’s probably
it as far as candidates with a credible path to victory. Other than Ms.
Whitmer, anyone not from Macomb, Oakland or Wayne counties need not apply.
“… Mr. Hackel clearly seems interested, and toyed with the
idea in 2014. There would be a couple complications, however. One, Mr. Hackel
would have to give up the county executive post, which also is up for election
in 2018. And his independent brand of politics that has seen him clash with
some key Democratic interests could prove problematic in a Democratic primary.
Still, he is hugely popular in a critical county and could have general election
appeal to independents, who went heavily for Gov. Rick Snyder in 2014.
“Mr. Meisner could be in an interesting spot. Clearly a
rising star in the party, holding a countywide office in the most politically
important county in the state, having come up through the Levin machine, a
former legislator and having strong fundraising ability, Mr. Meisner could be a
player. But he will first have to make a decision about what to do in 2016.
"The
county executive post will be up for election, and retirement speculation is
running high on Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. If elected county
executive, Mr. Meisner would face a difficult decision about a 2018
gubernatorial bid. It would require him to spend most of his first two years as
executive campaigning for governor. And if Republicans move the date of the
next county executive election up to 2018 from 2020, he would have to give up
the job to run for governor.”
As for Whitmer, at the risk of sounding sexist, she is viewed
as a combination of smart and beautiful – and that’s probably all you need to know
right now.
Meanwhile, Hackel has engaged recently in another period
of low-profile tactics, which has to be creating ulcers for the media-loving county CEO.
He did this back in 2013 and again over the past several
months as political advisers, I suspect, warned him to avoid putting his face
in front of a TV news camera at every opportunity, for risk of wearing out his
welcome.
Yet,
Hackel continued his tradition this year of posting pro-Macomb billboards on
northern I-75, the road traveled by many a big-wig to the Mackinac Conference.
This year,
Hackel's image in a "heavenly pose" – the priceless
description offered by Crain’s Detroit Business -- beamed down upon “northbound
mortals” en route to the Detroit
Regional Chamber's Mackinac gathering.
The executive's billboards this year promoted a “Mobilize Macomb” hike/bike trail
initiative (with statewide implications) of the Macomb County Department of Planning and
Economic Development in collaboration with Grand Rapids-based LSL Planning.
Fired by the Macomb Daily and your hatred for Hackel still resonates. Unemployed, self proclaimed moderate. Great resume Chad.
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