Having worked in and around the Michigan Capitol in various capacities for over 40 years, I was afforded a front-row seat to not only the best and the brightest, but also the dregs of politics. Sadly, when it comes to telling the story of elected officials, hard work and independence are rarely feted. Apparently “Legislator Helps Secure Widow’s Pension” does not sell newspapers.
Conversely, far too often the unseemly actions of a few drive the headlines and paint the image of all politicians. Perhaps it is the inevitable byproduct of a profession comprised of individuals who make thousands of decisions every year that impact our lives. Regaled by some, reviled by others, they hold forth in an environment of continual controversy. Their presence is one of high visibility. Consequently, there will always be those who take delight in toppling the mighty. Despite the fact they receive scant attention, the dedicated far outnumber and triumph convincingly over the charlatans.
The vast majority of elected officials are hard-working. Unlike the small percentage of publicized philanderers, they genuinely care about their families. Unlike the small percentage who seek to lever public service as a means to increase their personal wealth, they genuinely care about the disposition of tax dollars. And unlike those who weigh each and every vote as a means to reward the check-writing moneyed interests, they vote their conscience and their districts.
And given that being quick on your feet is an essential ingredient for survival in public office, taken collectively they are blessed with a lively, if not slightly irreverent, sense of humor.
Public service is a noble endeavor. I am grateful for the opportunities afforded me in a varied and rewarding career in the political arena. My first foray into politics was managing the campaign of another political neophyte from Clio named Gary Corbin, who was seeking a seat on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners. Gary won that race; and after serving two terms as a county commissioner, he decided to run for an open seat in the Michigan Senate. I also managed that successful campaign. We worked well together, and he asked me to head up his state Senate staff.
Gary was a great mentor and friend. Working with him on a daily basis, I learned a great deal about politics and people. Two things still resonate today: 1) your word is your bond; you are judged by your willingness to stand behind it, and 2) it is through compromise that progress is achieved.
I also was fortunate to work with other outstanding Michigan legislators including Bobby Crim, Bill Faust, David Holmes, Dave Plawecki, Carl Pursell, Danny Cooper, Gary Owen, Dominic Jacobetti, Curtis Hertel, Paul Hillegonds, Charlie Harrison, and Bob VanderLaan. All were legislative giants who knew how to move the sometimes-sluggish wheels of the legislature to action in a way that advanced the state of Michigan.
When a seat opened up in the Michigan House of Representatives in 1982, I ran and served two terms. When Gary decided not to seek re-election, I ran for his Senate seat, ultimately serving four terms, the last one as minority leader. I rounded out my political career serving two terms as Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s lieutenant governor. In all, including time as a staffer, I served over 40 years in various capacities.
I take pride in the fact that I often stepped across the aisle to work with dedicated Republican legislators who weighed proposals on their merit, not the party from whence they came. As minority leader, I urged my Democratic colleagues to do likewise. Together, we accomplished much on behalf of the people of Michigan.
Today, cooperation between the parties is rare, given way to partisan bickering. Yet, despite the venom that has seeped into today’s political environment, I am optimistic for the future.
I am optimistic because young people across the globe are coming forward and assuming leadership roles. Sweden’s 19-year-old Greta Thunberg risked ridicule and worse with her blunt criticism of those who refuse to acknowledge the world environmental crisis. From the Arab Spring to Black Lives Matter, the involvement of young people across the globe is making a difference. The unforgettable photo of a young man standing off a line of tanks during a protest of economic conditions in China, delivered a compelling message that today’s youth is not lacking in courage or resolve. Armed with a working knowledge of social media, they are taking an active role in shaping the world they are about to inherit. It is heartening to see young people assuming responsibility and running for seats on city councils, school boards, county commissions and state legislatures.
I am optimistic because the politics of divisiveness are increasingly being rejected. Negative campaigning, baseless charges, and childish name calling, are giving way to “Tell me what you’re for, not what you are against.” Reasoned discourse is replacing invective. There is a growing demand for substance from those seeking public office. And there is a growing skepticism over the undue influence of money in politics.
I am optimistic because there is an increased demand for transparency. Voters are viewing the legislative process with far more scrutiny, matching legislative voting records with campaign contributions, and drawing appropriate conclusions. Moreover, voter suppression efforts that masquerade as good public policy, especially in areas with a high concentration of minorities, are being called out – and challenged.
I am optimistic because the contributions of true statesmen like Harry Truman and Arthur Vandenberg are being resurrected to serve as guides. Long ago they cast partisanship aside and worked together on a special committee created to investigate military contracts during World War II. Their effort was responsible for saving millions of dollars.
I am optimistic when I review the contributions to this website and the MI Good Government project, whose stories are intended to become a book. Dan Loepp’s excellent piece on the two years of shared power in the Michigan House of Representatives is testimony that bipartisanship can work. He reinforces the notion that cooperation between the two parties is a noble and realistic goal. As Dan points out, during the two years of shared power the intensity of the debate did not suffer, but the focus of that debate was on substance not partisanship.
I am optimistic when I consider that the original premise of this website and book was a lighthearted romp through the history of the Michigan Capitol in search of humorous quips and anecdotes. Eventually this project but took on a life of its own and transformed into a treatise that invoked a time when elected officials worked together for the good of the state.
I am optimistic because over the years, many good people from both parties checked partisanship at the door to forge an environment of political cooperation that truly served the citizenry of Michigan.
Upon reflection, former state Sen. Bill Faust, a Democrat from Westland, was not only an exceptional leader but also a wise man. He insisted on accuracy; from legislators, from staff, from secretaries – from everyone. He realized the work that was being done would serve as a blueprint for generations to come. Historical records demand accuracy.
Those who currently reside on the battlefield we once inhabited resist our insights, and understandably so. One generation cannot dictate an agenda to the next. However, one generation can take responsibility for delivering an accurate record for the next to digest as they wish.
The notion “that every generation must learn it all again” is an admonition to those who have newly arrived on the scene and look to history for guidance. But it is also an admonition to those of us who have left some breadcrumbs to nourish those who followed.
All major issues float back to shore at some point in time. The answer resides in preparing an accurate historical record and letting the generations that follow choose for themselves what to retain and what to abandon. Philosophers gave it a fancy name, “the dialectical method.” Every compromise contains within itself the seeds of its own destruction. The answer resides in making sure that groups like the Michigan Political History Society have strong and powerful legs.
And, if I might add a non-political personal note, I am optimistic because I still get a special feeling when the marching band plays the National Anthem before a high school football game and men remove their hats while veterans proudly and solemnly render the military salute.