GOV. JENNIFER GRANHOLM — D was elected to office in 2002, leaving her former position as the state's attorney general. Originally from Canada, Granholm moved to California when she was 4 years old and later obtained degrees in political science and French from the University of California-Berkeley. She attended Harvard Law School and worked extensively with law up until her appointment to Michigan government. The following questions were answered in an e-mail.
If there were one cartoon you could spend the day in, what would it be?
"Mulan."
What's your favorite midnight snack?
"Kellogg's Corn Flakes with brown sugar."
What is in your CD player or iPod?
"Hits by the Black Eyed Peas, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, among others."
Who's your favorite Tiger?
"Brandon Inge, (but) with renewed fondness for Kenny Rogers."
What TV show can't you miss?
"Countdown on MSNBC."
What is your favorite alcoholic drink?
"A glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or Bell's beer."
What kind of car do you drive?
"Ford Focus."
DICK DEVOS — R was formerly CEO of Amway Corp., which is now Alticor. DeVos graduated from what is now Northwood University and went on to work at all levels of his company (manufacturing, accounting, etc.). After leaving the company in 1989, DeVos founded and ran other businesses. He's now running for office against Gov. Jennifer Granholm. He answered the following questions in an e-mail.
If there were one cartoon you could spend the day in, what would it be?
(Taken from an Oct. 26 phone interview) "I'd like to be in Doonesbury so I could get in there and tell them that that is not exactly how things work."
What's your favorite midnight snack?
"Cereal with milk."
What's in your CD player or iPod?
"The Eagles' 'Hell Freezes Over.'"
Who's your favorite Tiger?
"Jim Leyland, because he's a leader who leads by example and accepts responsibility. Favorite player — Justin Verlander."
What TV show can't you miss?
"Monday Night Football."
What is your favorite alcoholic drink?
"Honey Brown Lager."
What kind of car do you drive?
"Lincoln Navigator and a Harley(-Davidson)."
Two MSU alumni are fighting head-to-head to get into the U.S. Senate this midterm election. While Sen. Debbie Stabenow has been in the position for nearly a decade, Republican challenger Mike Bouchard is now vying for the position after serving as a state politician and Oakland County Sheriff.
STABENOW
If you weren't a politician, what would you be?
"I would be very interested in doing something in medicine. I never went in that direction, but I would be interested in being a physician."
What television show can't you miss?
"I'm a big movie person. I watch the news and movies."
If someone were to play you in the movie of your life, who would it be?
"How about Susan Sarandon?"
What is your fondest college memory?
"When I was in Hubbard Hall for three years, we used to get everybody together in the lounge and people would bring out their guitars and just get together and sing and play music. Another thing this time of year was walking by the Red Cedar River."
BOUCHARD
If you weren't a politician, what would you be?
"I would be a law enforcement official. If I wasn't a law enforcement official, I would be a small business owner again."
What television show can't you miss?
"I certainly like to watch Jack Bauer on '24.' He's always entertaining."
If someone were to play you in the movie of your life, who would it be?
"For some reason, my wife thinks I look like Alec Baldwin."
What is your fondest college memory?
"I had a great group of roommates when I lived in Akers (Hall). I enjoyed those kinds of opportunities to hang out and not be focused on tomorrow, but just have a little bit of fun after you finish your studies."
Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer of East Lansing and Republican challenger Frank Lambert of Haslett will face off Tuesday for the 23rd District Michigan Senate seat. Whitmer was elected to the seat during a special election in March. Lambert is a line worker at the General Motors Corp. Grand River assembly plant in Lansing.
WHITMER
If you could spend a day in any cartoon, what would it be?
"'Dora the Explorer' because it's my daughters' favorite cartoon. And then I would be warm in Mexico."
What is your favorite midnight snack?
"Pretzels and cheese."
What is in your CD player right now?
"The Dixie Chicks."
What kind of car do you drive?
"A Saturn Vue."
What time do you wake up?
"About 6 a.m."
LAMBERT
If you could spend a day in any cartoon, what would it be?
"I don't watch cartoons."
What is your favorite midnight snack?
"I don't have one. I work afternoons, so I'm working then."
What kind of car do you drive?
"A (Chevrolet) Colorado and a motorcycle."
What time do you wake up?
"About noon."
Democrat Mark Meadows and Republican John Knowles are running to fill the 69th District seat in the state House of Representatives. Meadows is the former mayor of East Lansing and a nearly 11-year veteran of the East Lansing City Council. A recent graduate of the MSU College of Law, Knowles was a member of the University Student Commission, in which he helped give city officials input on issues such as noise violations and police relations.
MEADOWS
Are you in favor of 8 a.m. classes?
"I have never been in favor of 8 a.m. classes. I can say that emphatically. I always tried to get my classes started at 10 a.m. I did have a P.E. class at 7:30 a.m. at one point; that was a horrible experience."
Who is the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby?
"You mean the most recent baby? It's like a trick question. I have no idea."
What's your favorite alcoholic drink?
"I really like Oberon. It's a wheat beer."
Who would play you in a biographical movie on Lifetime?
"I have to think of someone my age now. Probably Kevin Costner."
Who makes the best burrito in town?
"Panchero's (Mexican Grill) — it's just the best burrito."
KNOWLES
Are you in favor of 8 a.m. classes?
"That is probably earlier than I would like. I oppose 8 a.m. classes."
Who is the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby?
"I have no idea. I don't even know who Anna Nicole is."
What's your favorite alcoholic drink?
"Scotch."
Who would play you in a biographical movie on Lifetime?
"Probably William Shatner."
Who makes the best burrito in town?
"Big Ten Burrito (BTB)."
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, is running for re-election in Michigan's 8th District after serving in office since 2000, but Democratic challenger Jim Marcinkowski hopes to take the office for himself. The 8th District includes Ingham County.
Rogers has served as an FBI agent, a U.S. Army officer and a Michigan senator. Marcinkowski, an MSU graduate, spent more than 30 years in government service, including tenures in the FBI, CIA and Navy.
ROGERS
If someone played you in the movie of your life, who would it be?
"If they try to get a look-alike, it would be Danny DeVito. One of my favorite fun actors is Harrison Ford. I'm not sure he would be very interested in playing in my movie."
What is your fondest college memory?
"Graduation day. My favorite memory is being able to hold onto friends for all these years. It's not one single incident in college that made that happen — it's the accumulation of all those things that made that happen."
What song would be the theme to your life?
"How does one song sum up your life? I'm a very eclectic music lover. I like everything from the Barenaked Ladies to John Mayer. I listen to some country. I love Gretchen Wilson. I love blues. I love jazz."
MARCINKOWSKI
What TV show can you not go without?
"The Colbert Report and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."
If someone played you in the movie of your life, who would it be?
"Robin Williams. He was great in 'Man of the Year.'"
What is your fondest college memory?
"Football games on Saturday."
