It looks like there will be another name on the ballot for the governor’s race in 2002.
State Sen. John Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, announced Wednesday he plans to file papers to run for Michigan’s governor in the upcoming election in the next two weeks.
“I’ve always had an interest in running for governor,” Schwarz said. “Everything is converging for me politically in 2002.”
The decision makes Schwarz the second likely Republican candidate, pinning him against Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, who has not yet formally announced his candidacy but has an exploratory campaign staff in place.
Schwarz will be able to begin raising campaign funds for a 2002 run after officially filing the necessary paperwork.
Schwarz and Posthumus are similar in political ideology in a number of ways, leading some to wonder about a choice for voters.
Democratic voters already have a number of candidates to choose from - former Gov. James Blanchard, state Attorney General Jennifer Granholm and state Sens. Alma Wheeler Smith of Salem Township, and Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township have all filed to run. U.S. Rep. David Bonior of Mount Clemens, also is expected to enter the race.
Michigan Democratic Party spokesman Dennis Denno said the decision of Schwarz to run must signal a sort of difference between the two.
“If they agree on most things, then why is he running?” Denno said. “It’s because they don’t agree. I think it shows that Republicans are not happy with the far-right politics of the lieutenant governor.”
Schwarz already is being discussed as a more moderate Republican than Posthumus. Having helped work on GOPArizona Sen. John McCain’s defeat of now-President Bush in the Michigan presidential primary, he saw the benefits of attracting moderates and even a few Democrats.
Both sides believe a primary would not turn bitter.
“They’ve both known each other for a long time and have always been friendly,” said Matt Resch, a spokesman for Posthumus.
Resch’s views were echoed by Republican Party spokesman Sage Eastman, who said the party looks strong for the 2002 run either way.
“Things look good,” Eastman said. “This would mean two strong candidates who agree on 99 percent of the issues. On the rest of the issues, it should be a good debate.”
In the meantime, Schwarz plans to continue his work in the Senate. Although he recognizes he is the lesser known of the likely GOP candidates, he thinks too much politics may tire out Michigan voters.
“There’s no hurry,” Schwarz said. “People are still getting over being swamped with politics last year.”
