Is Mark Hackel now the ’18 Dem frontrunner for governor?

UPDATE: Mitchell Rivard, deputy chief of staff for Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee of Flint, contacted me to say that his boss will take a look at the 2018 gubernatorial race when the time is appropriate.
"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.

Meisner

“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.”

Whitmer

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.