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February 8th, 2010
10:00 AM ET
Mayor Bernero announces run for governor
Michigan is known as the home of the American auto industry and more recently as a state in despair, hit hard by the recession. It has had the highest unemployment rate in the nation for much of the last four years.
Lansing's Mayor Virg Bernero has been on the front lines of the economic battlefront. And believe it or not, he's itching for more.
Mayor Bernero announced his run for governor live from Detroit on Monday's American Morning.
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John,
You haven't watched him mud sling during mayoral debates, eh? He's definitely not an optimist. And, Lansing hasn't developed under Virg's watch...development in the capital started in the early 2000s.
Virg has been better then most, promoting business development and expansion in a state where jobs are sorely needed. In a state where a Democrat is probably going to win the race, why not promote one who is pro-business and not from the full blown tax and spend liberal platform.
Virg actually has repositioned Lansing as part of the new urbanism. There is still much to be done, but he got it moving in the right direction. His optimism alone is sorely needed in Michigan.
He's "one of them"... and I'm not referring to any political party...
Michigan is America's version of Cuba, a bombed out socialist nightmare. Bring back capitalism, free enterprise, look what it has done for other formerly failed economies, China, India, Brazil. But all Michigan can do is promote more failure, sad.
Purge Bernero (that's right, I said purge) thinks he can do some good as Governor of our State? Listen, Michigan is getting hit harder than any other state when it comes to job loss. Mr. Bernero hasn't done ONE SINGLE THING to help Lansing let alone Michigan as a whole.
As a State Employee we get updated regularly via e-mail about the status of Michigan's future, everything that I have heard about this Knucklehead isn't very flattering. But then again who said you have to give a **** about the people you govern? It would ONLY be the right thing to do, but again, who cares about doing the right thing, it's all about the money right? Right?
I'm a Lansing resident and my personal opinion of Virg Bernero is this, he sucks as mayor....... really...really.....sucks. Apparently I'm not the only one who believes this either. So here's an idea, how about we DON"T vote for him. He can run but he doesn't have to win. But this requires people to go out and vote , not stay at home and then complain about him winning.
"Live from Detroit"
That is the old FOX 47 set at WSYM. Lansing, Not Detroit.
But who cares.
And I agree about the monorail thing... thats the kind of idea that could put Lansing on the map!
Voting for another mainstream Democrat would be very irresponsible. Michigan needs to hope for someone like L. Brooks Patterson, and a change-of-mind in Dave Brandon to bring back Michigan. I urge anyone to look at the record of Patterson and what he has done at the county level. Michigan needs someone that can provide results in the hard times that still confront Michigan, and will continue to. We need leadership, not rhetoric.
Mayor Bernero has not done anything for Lansing. Lansing is America's Most Broke Down State Capital. The city or the state cannot even fix the roads which are horrible. Michigan needs a major fundamental change with its economic policies. So many industries in the state have left because of the policies and labor practices of the state. Insteading of taxing to death corporations and forcing laboring unions on them, they need to become competitive with other states such as Alabama and Georgia.
Please. After years of Dem legislatures, and a failed Dem guv, do not be fooled by another tax and spender. Hoekstra is probably the best shot for a guy who has common sense. And if voters in the Blue States likce Mich. would stop, stop voting for liberal Dems, perhaps the economic structure of Mich. may actually improve. Vote Dem, and Mich. like Ca. will simply collapse even more into debt and agony.
Any area that cotinually votes for one political party and sees their city/state/community continually fail needs to rethink their voting pattern. Michigan cannot let another governor come into office that continually does nothing. "Anything but Virg"
To all that think Virg sucks: was Tony Benevidas any better? no. Being the mayor of Lansing or the Governor of Michigan is not an easy job. We need tax breaks for companies to start up or relocate here. (Like the film program that IS working) The problem isn't the mayor, or the Governor. Its the bipartisanship in the state legislature that prevents anything from getting done. The way to bring the two sides together is with a monorail. Build a Monorail in Lansing! http://www.Lansingmonorailproject.com
This proud Lansing resident says "GO VIRG". He's done a lot for this city and will be a great governor.
Glenn,
You're wrong – Michigan's economy has been in the tank since 2000. As the auto industry failed, Michigan's politicians – regardless of their party – should have adapted quicker. For example, it wasn't until 2007/2008 when Granholm started welcoming/mentioning alternative energy jobs in Michigan. I expect state leaders to be visionaries not followers.
As a lansing resident also, I couldn't agree more with Lansing Mom!
"As a Lansing resident, I wouldn't vote for Bernero for dog catcher. Bernero is good at taking credit for things that were started before he arrived, he's good at yelling on tv about how unfair the trade industry is, however he has failed miserably on all his campaign promises and hasn't accomplished anything of his own here.
Bernero you haven't done anything for Lansing, what makes you think you'll do anything for our State?"
Who is being Mayor of Lansing while he's in Detroit announcing his run for governor ? Shouldn't this announcement come from Lansing where he's officially the mayor and from where he's expecting to lead this state? Lansing has the means to broadcast such an announcement and it should have come from here, but being who he is, it wouldn't have occurred to him. Having said all that, who is going to act as mayor while he's out campaigning? Are we expected to pay is salary while he's off trying to get another job. I'm sure he thinks so.
As a Michigan Democrat, anyone who thinks we can grow again through manufacturing will NOT get my vote. Manufacturing jobs aren't coming back, and they aren't in China, they're in computers.
I'm also a Lansing resident and I wouldn't vote for Bernero (aka King Virg) either. The only thing he's done for Lansing is to grant contracts (with huge tax breaks) to his buddies to build empty condos. He's done nothing for this city and the concept of city funds being spent on facilities and services for the residents has escaped him during his entire term as Mayor. I'll be one of those voters voting for "Anyone But Virg".
Its not any party's fault for the economic recession...the fall of the auto industry would ahve happened under any party. Just like if Posthumous would have won 8 years ago, he would have faced the same issues. If Mccain would ahve won last year, he would be facing the same issues. Some things are just a part of the chain of life and will happen regardless.
This guy is would be a disaster for the state or Michigan. He quite the State house of rep to run for mayor of Lansing and now wants to quite the Mayors job to run for governor. He has not done anything other than blame everyone else for what has happened to the city of Lansing. If he runs and wins he would more than likely quite to run for any other higher office the first chance.
I laughed out loud when I read this. He's helped run Lansing into the ground. Why would anyone trust him with even more authority?
Confusing how people who live outside the city of Lansing think that Mayor Bernero's big mouth qualifies him for governor! The people of Lansing are not thrilled with his performance! Does that not give you pause to think? Remember how the people of Arkansas did not think much of Mike Huckabee as governor, yet the christian conservatives lauded him as the "Second Coming"? Look at the fools supporting conservative Marco Rubio over Charlie Christ after Rubio could not answer ANY questions in a televised debate! And finally, who knows less than Sarah Palin, the Alaskan quitter? Yet she shines at the Tea Party show? Don't we want people who are well-read, can think, can analyze, can negotiate and can lead? I guess not.
Virg Bernero. Thank you for saying what the working people have been living for the past 20 years. Global free trade without consideration for fair trade has allowed global economies to strip-mine ours. It is time to move past blame, accept responsibility, and resolve this critical issue as a country.
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
He hasn't done anything meaningful as Lansing's mayor , so now he's fully prepared to do nothing meaningful as governor.
Why would anyone vote for 4 more years of democrat disaster for MI.
Good grief.
As a Lansing resident, I wouldn't vote for Bernero for dog catcher. Bernero is good at taking credit for things that were started before he arrived, he's good at yelling on tv about how unfair the trade industry is, however he has failed miserably on all his campaign promises and hasn't accomplished anything of his own here.
Bernero you haven't done anything for Lansing, what makes you think you'll do anything for our State?
Good for him! He has shown to always fight for us Michiganders. I can't think of another candidate that worked or fought hard for us blue collar working Americans. GO GET EM!!!!
Good! I hope Bernero wins, he is right jobs are the number one issue in this country. Our counry cannot move forward without good paying jobs!