Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon discusses his decision to run for governor of Michigan on Monday at the West Campus of Lansing Community College. Dillon formally announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination Sunday in Redford.
Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford, who announced Sunday he will seek the Democratic nod for governor, made a stop in Lansing on Monday to discuss his candidacy.
Dillon, a six-year veteran in the Michigan House, is known at the Capitol as a moderate, pro-life Democrat quick to compromise with Gov. Jennifer Granholm, experts said.
Speaking at Lansing Community College’s West Campus, 5708 Cornerstone Drive, Dillon said Michigan needs “transformational changes.”
“I’ve demonstrated in Lansing that I will reach across the aisle,” he said. “I’m not afraid to introduce changes that are necessary, whether it is a Republican idea or a Democratic idea. If it is a good idea for Michigan, I am all for it.”
The 48-year-old attorney said his experience in the private sector will help with more than job creation. Dillon, a former president of Detroit Steel Co. and former vice-president of GE Capital, said he wants to change how the public and private sectors do business together in the state.
Dillon joins a growing list of Democratic candidates, including Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, D-Salem Township, and former Genesee County Treasurer Dan Kildee.
In a poll published last week by Lansing-based polling group EPIC-MRA, 66 percent of 600 survey respondents didn’t recognize Dillon’s name.
Dillon still had higher name recognition than his Democratic opponents. Kildee trailed Dillon with 72 percent of respondents not recognizing his name and 82 percent of respondents didn’t recognize Bernero’s name. About 86 percent of respondents were unfamiliar with Wheeler-Smith.
Dillon’s name recognition still is low statewide, said EPIC-MRA President Bernie Porn. But he is well-known in his home area of Southeast Michigan, which will help him in the August primary.
“Others don’t compare as well as Speaker Dillon coming from Western Wayne, Southeast Michigan — where there are a lot more Democratic primary voters that are in his reach,” Porn said.
Dillon’s opposition to embryonic stem cell research and abortion could turn off Democratic primary voters, said Steve Mitchell, president of East Lansing-based Mitchell Research and Communications Inc.
“But on the other hand, he has more money than everybody else, which is a great equalizer,” he said. “Also on the other hand being a moderate will help in the general election.”
Dillon might have the money to gain name recognition, but he will have a tough time gaining support of union leaders, who have publicly expressed disdain for the speaker, Mitchell said.
Many union leaders disagree with Dillon’s proposal last year for a statewide health care plan for all public employees, he said.
Michigan Republican Party spokeswoman Jennifer Hoff said Dillon cannot provide the change needed in Michigan and any Republican candidate would be better than Dillon.
Republicans seeking candidacy are Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, state Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland and Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder.
“Dillon will continue to expand the size of state government, taking money away from Michigan families and taxing what little they do have,” Hoff said. “It’s just the continuation of the Granholm era.”
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