Ionia - Gov. John Engler used the 75th annual Governor’s Day Luncheon at the Greater Ionia Fair to stump for Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus’ gubernatorial campaign and call for less restrictive term limits.
In his 12 years as governor, Engler has been to 10 of the 12 luncheons in his honor. Wednesday marked the first time the governor and lieutenant governor both appeared at the luncheon.
Engler campaigned for Posthumus, touting his “experience and he went to the Harvard of the Midwest - Michigan State.
Posthumus graduated from MSU.
“He will be a very fine candidate and a very good governor,” Engler said.
Posthumus will take on Sen. John “Joe” Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, in the Republican gubernatorial primary election Aug. 6.
Former Gov. James Blanchard, Congressman David Bonior and Attorney General Jennifer Granholm are running for the Democratic nomination.
Engler’s claim of Posthumus’ experience is “way out there,” Schwarz campaign spokesman Gary Haulmark said.
“Joe Schwarz has been in the Senate as long as Dick Posthumus,” Haulmark said. “The depth and breadth he brings to this campaign are virtually untouchable by any other candidate.”
But the annual event has more purpose than political campaigns.
The fair was started in 1915 by then-Gov. Fred Green, a former mayor of Ionia. In 1927, Green began Governor’s Day during which he would give a speech at the fair describing the status of the state.
Governor’s Day was taken up by Green’s successors and evolved into a yearly event of speeches and meeting of political leaders from throughout the state.
Prominent GOP candidates such as U.S. Senate hopeful Andrew “Rocky” Raczkowski and Secretary of State aspirant Terri Lynn Land also attended the lunch.
Ionia Mayor Dan Belice, who emceed the event, said he was told the luncheon was not meant to be political.
“Forget the fact that you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a senator, the governor, a political aspirant, a judge, or a mayor and remember, this is a nonpolitical event,” he said.
Engler arrived at the Ionia Fairgrounds around 1 p.m. as everyone finished their lunch.
“He was up very late last night attending the Nelly concert,” Belice joked of the governor’s whereabouts. “He’s a big rap fan.”
When Engler took the podium, he turned the focus back to some issues he felt needed his attention before handing over his title in January.
“Term limits are too tight,” the term-limited governor said. “There will be over 500 years of experience leaving the Senate this year.”
Engler also alluded to the three Nov. 5 ballot proposals.
He spoke at length about the measure pushing treatment for drug offenders as opposed to jail time.
“Crime rates are at a 40-year low,” Engler said. “In this state, if you do the crime, you’ll serve the time - and you’re going to serve it all.”
Engler said he was proud of the state’s ability to over come budget woes.
“We’re lucky to have a $1.3 billion ‘rainy day’ fund in place for these kinds of situations,” he said.
The governor will sign several budget bills at a press conference at today 1 p.m. to satisfy the state constitutional requirement of a balanced budget.
Engler described his final Governor’s Day as “bittersweet.”
“I don’t get to come anymore, but I don’t have to listen to Dan speak anymore either,” Engler said of the comedic mayor.
