It's time to hand the reins of state government over to the next generation and the best qualified person to take charge is Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, said Gov. Rick Snyder in making his endorsement official.
"I’m proud of the eight years I’ve had as governor, but the way I would describe it, it’s not the finish of something. I view it as a milestone, to say it’s an opportunity to pass the baton on to leadership who can take it to an even higher level," Snyder said during a press conference at the headquarters of Barton Malow construction company in Southfield. "We have the best leader possible to do that standing next to me."
It's a day that Snyder said he's been looking forward to since the day in 2010 when he asked Calley, a Portland Republican running for governor, to be his running mate.
"He has shown great success leading us from the business side to the people side of our state. He’s been a full partner in this. This has not been a ceremonial role. This man been working hard," Snyder said. "He deserves the rein to run our state in my view."
Calley said it's been an honor to serve and be mentored by Snyder and that he looks forward to continuing on the successes achieved during Snyder's two terms as governor.
"We can bring it all to the next level and keep this comeback going. None of this would have happened without the vision and leadership of Gov. Rick Snyder," Calley said. "He was exactly the right person at the right time. It’s been an honor to work alongside of him and to be mentored by him to be a part of this American comeback state that Michigan is."
The endorsement came as Calley's name identification is low and he's been running a distant second to Attorney General Bill Schuette, a Midland Republican, who announced his gubernatorial candidacy last August. Other Republicans in the race are: state Sen. Patrick Colbeck of Canton, Saginaw Township physician Jim Hines, retired Royal Oak businessman Earl Lackie.
Barton Malow president and CEO Ryan Maibach, who has been a donor to Calley's campaign, introduced Calley at the Wednesday afternoon event.
Calley, a former state representative and banker, had an awkward start to his campaign by leading a problem-plagued ballot initiative to move Michigan to a part-time Legislature from a full-time one.
If history is any guide, Calley also faces a challenge as a lieutenant governor seeking to follow his governor into the top office. Former Lt. Gov. John Cherry tried to succeed Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, but dropped out of the race early. Former Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus tried to succeed Republican Gov. John Engler and came up short.
The last Michigan lieutenant governor to become governor was Republican William Milliken in 1969, but that was because Gov. George Romney resigned from office to join the cabinet of President Richard Nixon.
Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.
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