After 12 years of Gov. John Engler’s often iron-fisted rule, it is time Michigan changed direction. The innovative and constructive plans of Jennifer Granholm will help set the state on the right course.

If elected as the state’s first female governor, the attorney general, who is relatively new to politics, will bring a new perspective to the position. Granholm is a uniter.

Although Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus has the experience of helping head Michigan politics for more than a decade, the Engler era needs to come to an end for the state to move full-steam into the future.

Granholm is a strong supporter of programs that will benefit youth and the environment; she brings innovative ideas for advancing education and protecting social rights.

Granholm is opposed to Proposal 4, although she does support spending more of the tobacco settlement money on health care. She is in favor of keeping the $2,500 Michigan Merit Award scholarship for students who pass four out of five portions of the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test, but she wants to add a need-based component to it.

The Northville Democrat empathizes with the financial struggles that students face in paying for their education, and she wants to ease that burden by forcing universities to “tighten their belts” and look into budget cuts, while not raising tuition beyond inflation. Granholm has plans for new scholarships and wants to expand tuition-savings plans, such as the Michigan Education Trust, to further this goal to keep education affordable.

Another one of Granholm’s goals is to help increase the number of families who can afford to send children to college. She encourages community and parent involvement in the education of youth, meaning more children will benefit from development programs from an early age, giving them a greater chance for success.

It seems Posthumus’ plans will only help further the bleeding of inner city public schools the way the Engler administration has. Although he has backed down from his previous stance, Posthumus has been a strong supporter for state required tuition caps - such plans would be devastating to university’s that face decreases in state funding levels.

Granholm is an advocate of affirmative action, and believes it is necessary for a well-rounded education. She also wants to see that state civil rights law are expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity, pass hate-crime laws to help protect all Michigan’s citizens, and supports same-sex domestic-partner benefits.

Posthumus, presents the standard conservative view for all of these issues, and would continue Engler’s ideals. Posthumus says he believes all people should be treated equally under the law, but does not want to expand a state civil rights act to ensure it happens. He believes people should get into school because of their academic qualifications, regardless of diversity issues.

Posthumus’ Michigan is a state of the past. Granholm will lead the state to the 21st century.

And then there is money. Granholm says face the state’s budget difficulties head on, auditing state’s finances to avoid tax increases and decide where to make appropriate cuts. She is in favor of creating technology corridors, which she says create high-wage jobs.

She wants to expand state’s economy by attracting businesses through Michigan’s new technology enterprises, such as the Life Sciences Corridor and potential homeland security technologies.

Granholm understands she cannot raise taxes to solve Michigan’s money problems.

Posthumus’ plans, on the other hand, will only help Michigan finances continue in a backward direction. Unlike Granholm, he is committed to continuing where Engler will leave off, by continuing to cut taxes and reduce state revenues when the Michigan finances are so in the hole.

And while both candidates say they are protective of Michigan’s most valuable natural resources, Granholm seems more committed.

Posthumus couldn’t even manage to get Engler to sign on with him against slant-drilling in the Great Lakes.

Granholm also wants require out-of-state trash imports to comply with Michigan’s recycling and compost laws. She wants to require Great Lakes boats to take greater precautions against bringing exotic species to the area. Posthumus says he does too, but he hasn’t made much progress as Engler’s right-hand man in that are either.

Posthumus says he wants to create an extensive plan for preserving and protecting water, but how committed can voters actually depend on him to be.

The only thing voters can count on Posthumus for is to keep Michigan stagnant. When the dust clears, Granholm is the best bet to guide the state in the right direction.

Green Party candidate Douglas Campbell and U.S. Taxpayer Joseph M. Pilchak also are vying to become Michigan’s next governor.