Members of the Grand Blanc area were given an opportunity to meet the man who hopes to be Michigan’s next governor, Rick Snyder, last Monday night. Snyder’s team sponsored a meet-and-greet event at Brickstreet Grill on Grand Blanc Road. The event was free and gave local citizens an opportunity to hear Snyder’s pitch and ask him questions.

Snyder started the event by talking about his “10-point plan” to reinvent Michigan, which basically consisted of creating jobs and fixing the “broken government” in Lansing.

Goodrich senior Tyler Owen attended the event and said, “I agree with his politics and I think he could be good for the state.”
Snyder’s “10-point plan” also includes reforming Michigan’s health care and educational systems, protecting the environment, controlling urban sprawl, and a strategy to keep Michigan’s youth from seeking job opportunities in other states. All these aim to create what Snyder has termed “Michigan 3.0,” the “era of innovation” that will improve Michigan’s national image.

Snyder completed college at the University of Michigan, and received his MBA and law degree by the time he was 23. With the experience of serving as CEO and Chairman of Gateway, Snyder is promoting a reputation as an entrepreneur capable of fixing Michigan’s economy and creating jobs as “one tough nerd.”

Snyder has been running a 60-second commercial proclaiming that what Michigan needs is a nerd. However GBHS junior Shantrice Woollolk said, “Calling himself a nerd doesn’t seem very smart, that word just has a negative connotation.”

The other talking point that was heavily pushed at the event is the fact that Snyder is not a “career politician.” Snyder has extensive experience in the business world as a venture capitalist and has never run for office before.

“Michigan needs someone who knows how to create jobs and will rise above partisanship and political bickering to focus on the public good,” said State Representative Paul Scott. “Rick is that man.”

With Representative Scott’s endorsement, Snyder joins Attorney General Mike Cox, Congressmen Pete Hoekstra, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, and State Senator Tom George in the 2010 race for the Republican Gubernatorial nomination.