Republican gubenatorial candidate Bouchard visits MSU

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Editor’s note: This story was corrected to reflect the accurate spelling of Mitchell Rivard’s name.

When Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard came to the semester’s first meeting of the MSU College Republicans Wednesday, he delivered the message that creating jobs for students will be a focus of his campaign to become Michigan’s governor.

The meeting was held at 8 p.m. at Wonder’s Hall Kiva. Bouchard is a candidate for Michigan’s 2010 gubernatorial race.

“I’m concerned that people your age won’t have a future in this state,” said Bouchard. “I want every person … to know, that is my complete focus … that students here have a chance to have their future here.”

Criminal Justice and Political Science senior and Vice Chairwoman of the MSU Republicans Ashley Towner said the group plans to get involved with whichever candidate wins the Republican primaries, which will be held in August 2010.

Other Republican candidates include Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, state Sen. Tom George, state Rep. Pete Hoekstra and venture capitalist Rick Snyder.

“Right now, anyone who comes to us for help, we’re willing to help,” Towner said.
As officials announce their run for governor, students can find a way to become involved with the campaigns, Bouchard said.

Student involvement in the campaigns varies from working personal time on the weekends to earning up to 12 credits for working on the campaigns, depending on the programs the student is involved in, he said.

“I think they’re huge ­— I’m a big believer in having young people involved in campaigns,” he said.
While addressing the students, Bouchard also spoke about his goals for turning around the nation’s economy.

“(I want) to create a system where anyone can succeed in business in terms of having low tax rates, predictable and reasonable legislation, and for any man and woman to be able to start a business,” he said.

The MSU College Democrats will have their first meeting 8 p.m. Thursday in room B106 of Wells Hall. Several government officials will be there to talk with students, though none have been confirmed as nominees for the 2010 gubernatorial race. Elizabeth Battiste, communications director for the MSU Democrats, said the group will not support a speaker running for the governor office until after the primaries when the Democratic party announces its candidate.

“We’re certainly planning on supporting whoever our nominee is to the fullest extent,” said Mitchell Rivard, president of the MSU College Democrats.

Possible Democratic candidates include Lt. Gov. John Cherry, state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith and MSU Trustee George Perles.

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