Michigan Gubernatorial Candidates Virg Bernero and Rick Snyder Choose Running Mates

With just a little more than two months until Michigan's 2010 Gubernatorial Election, the race is heating up. On Wednesday, August 25, Rick Snyder announced his choice of Michigan House Representative Brian Calley as his running mate. Calley, 33, has represented Michigan's 87th District since 2006. On August 27, Virg Bernero chose Southfield Mayer Brenda Lawrence as his running mate. Lawrence, 53, has been the Mayor of Southfield since 2001.

Brian Calley earned a Business Administration degree from Michigan State University, followed by an MBA from Grand Valley State University. After graduating from Grand Valley, Calley started working in the banking industry and served as Vice President of Irwin Union Bank of Lansing. He also served four years on the Ionia County Board of Commissioners until his election to the State House. Rick Snyder, 52, earned his bachelors degree, MBA, and J.D. all from the University of Michigan. Snyder began work for Gateway in 1991 as an Executive Vice President and later CEO, and he helped turn the company into a major competitor in the home and business computing industry. He also founded investing companies Avalon and Ardesta. Snyder has previously been elected to any political institution.

Brenda Lawrence earned a degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. She went on to become a member of Southfield Public Schools Board of Education, and later served on the Southfield City Council as Council President. In 2001, she became the city's first African American and first female Mayor. Virg Bernero, 46, earned a degree in Political Science from Adrian College and went on to serve in the Michigan House of Representatives in 2000. He was elected to the State Senate in 2002 and became the Mayor of Lansing in 2005.

Bernero's campaign is advertising its two mayor's consistent balanced budgets in their respective cities. Bernero brought 6,000 jobs to Lansing, and decreased the city's budget deficit by $40 million without increasing taxes. Rick Snyder has helped create over 10,000 jobs for Americans through Gateway and his investment companies.

If elected Governor, Bernero's main economic goals would be creating new jobs in Michigan and helping small businesses. Bernero also has a strong focus on green efforts and renewable energy, along with bringing reform to Michigan's education system. He is a strong proponent of Obama's health care bill. Virg has also taken a strong stance on promoting equality for women in the workplace and for LGBT rights.

Rick Snyder's main economic goals would be creating jobs and lowering taxes across the board. He would also work to create green energy initiatives and decrease health care costs. Snyder also wants to bring major reform to Michigan's educational system. He would like to create a competitive, merit based system allowing for schools of choice and cost cutting.

Current polls show Snyder with approximately a 10% lead over Bernero. The Election is on November 2.

http://www.rickformichigan.com/

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