Lansing Mayor Bernero might run for governor

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A familiar face to Lansing-area residents said he might throw his hat into the 2010 Michigan gubernatorial ring.

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero said he is considering a run for governor and will make a decision about his candidacy within a month.

“I hear from people around the state that they are concerned we don’t have a viable candidate,” Bernero said.

Bernero, a 45-year-old Pontiac native, was re-elected Lansing mayor in November. He said his experience in Lansing and knowledge of Michigan would allow him to initiate new plans for the state.

“I’m dealing with cuts to vital services as mayor,” Bernero said. “There doesn’t seem to be a strategy to help cities succeed.”

Bernero said he will focus on the growth of metropolitan areas as part of a long-term plan to improve Michigan’s economy.

Steve Mitchell, president of East Lansing-based Mitchell Research and Communications Inc., said the mayor and governor have similar roles.

“As a mayor, you have the same type of relationship with the City Council that the governor has with the Legislature,” Mitchell said.

Lt. Gov. John Cherry currently is the leading democratic candidate for the nomination, and it might be difficult for Bernero to gain enough support to beat Cherry, Mitchell said.

“Cherry has a lot of support,” Mitchell said. “Bernero is going to have to try to cut into that … because his name identity outside the Lansing area is not going to be very high.”

Other Democrats interested in primary candidacy include state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, of Salem, former Flint Mayor Don Williamson and former state Rep. John Freeman, of Madison Heights. Possible Republican candidates include Attorney General Mike Cox, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, of Holland, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard and state Sen. Tom George, of Kalamazoo, according to EPIC-MRA, a public policy polling group in Lansing.

Lansing City Councilmember Carol Wood was a mayoral candidate in this year’s election and lost to Bernero.

“My concern is the fact that it has not even been one month since the election, and he has looked at job hopping to another position,” Wood said. “I expect that an elected person would fulfill their commitment.”

If Bernero resigned, the mayoral position would be offered to Lansing City Council President Derrick Quinney.

Alan Fox, a political consultant with East Lansing-based Practical Political Consulting Inc., said if Bernero does choose to run, he might be starting too late to gain sufficient support.

“My suspicion is he’ll decide against it,” Fox said. “The other people running having been … preparing for a year or two.”

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