State political veterans were among those chosen to represent the two major parties in the Nov. 5 statewide elections.
State Sens. John Cherry, D-Clio, and Loren Bennett, R-Canton, were chosen this past week as candidates to replace Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick Posthumus as lieutenant governor.
Cherry, 51, is Senate minority leader and will run alongside Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Jennifer Granholm. Cherry promises to focus on issues that, he said, haven’t been tackled by Republican leaders, such as family, education, road conditions and water conservation.
“Change is in the air and that change comes none too soon,” he said. “Our environmental heritage has been squandered. We have mortgaged our future with nothing to show for it. Michigan can’t afford the kind of financial management of the Engler administration.”
Before receiving the Republican nomination to run alongside Posthumus on the ballot, Bennett, 51, had been running for secretary of state race. Before serving in the Senate for eight years, he held office in Canton Township.
Sage Eastman, Posthumus’ spokesman, said Bennett was chosen for his local and state government experience. A challenge for Republicans in Michigan races is gaining support from the county that encompasses Detroit.
“Clearly it’s some sort of geographical balance,” Eastman said of the decision. “It wasn’t the overriding factor - really the factor was experience. There are other bonuses, and being from southeastern Michigan’s one of them.”
The Republican Party’s candidate for attorney general is Wayne County assistant prosecutor Michael Cox, who boasts a 90 percent conviction record.
State Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, who served in the military, is the Democratic nomination to replace Granholm as attorney general.
“One of the greatest responsibilities given is standing watch,” he said. “As attorney general, I will stand watch for the people of Michigan.”
Peters said he will focus on ending hate crimes, telemarketing schemes targeted at the elderly, and he will fight for gun control.
State Sen. Melvin “Butch” Hollowell, D-Detroit, is running for secretary of state. Among his most pressing interests is promoting government concern and action among young people.
“I want teens across this state to become part of our government,” he said. “I’m going out to visit high schools.”
Running as the candidate for secretary of state on the Republican ticket will be former Kent County Clerk Terri Lynn Land.
“Terri is a tough, bold leader who gets things done,” Posthumus said in a statement. “Michigan has come to expect results from their leaders and that’s exactly what they will get out of the Secretary of State’s office with Terri Lynn Land in charge.”
