West Side Story

Last Thursday the trail led us to Grand Rapids for another debate.  This debate featured only the boys from the Grand Old Party (minus Rick Snyder, of course, as he dropped out of all of the debates).  It was a fun ride over with Momma Bouchard as we rocked out to Queen (see this week's Trail Mix!) and sipped on McD’s Sweet Teas. After a 2 1/2 hour drive we got to the beautiful G. Rap campus of Grand Valley. Such a lovely school! As much as I love to brag about my Spartans, seeing other campuses around the state like GVSU, U of M, Hillsdale, OU, LSSU, Wayne State...(the list goes on!) makes me think how lucky we are to have such awesome higher ed schools right here in Michigan. Besides in-state tuition, who doesn’t love being able to come home to do laundry and eat a well-rounded meal every few weekends!

So back to the debate! We got there about an hour before show time to wish my dad a quick “good luck!”  We found him in true Mike Bouchard form, reviewing a few notes, looking as cool as a cucumber, while listening to Sly and the Family Stone “I Wanna Take You Higher” as a pregame warm-up. When we finally took our seats we realized that the staging of the debate was not conducive to quality sightlines for everyone in the audience (says the theatre major in me). In order to film the debate, they had the candidates stand on angle so they only faced half the audience but allowed for stronger camera shots. Sitting front row in the ‘I-can-hear-more-than-I-can-see’ section was a minor bummer but quickly revealed its perks as I met and struck up a conversation with Lauren George, Tom George’s daughter. I knew we would have a lot in common when she mentioned her love for all things vintage, but was very delighted to discover our mutual passion for the theatre! She just finished studying costume design at NYU, how cool! Every good actor knows, the designers are important to keep happy or you may walk onstage wearing some dreadful duds versus gorgeous garb! As Mrs. George remarked—how amazing would it be to one day work on the same project?! It was wonderful to talk to her.  Even though we are in different camps, we have a lot in common, most specifically that we want to get involved and make a difference in the future of our state!

The debate itself, broadcasted on WOOD TV, lasted an hour with continuous involvement from an online audience asking questions via facebook and twitter. At first, I thought it would be an interesting forum with some pretty original questions. As it went on, however, it became apparent the questions were too similar yielding a conversation that lacked as much diversity as I think voters unfamiliar with the candidates would have liked.  Overall though, I thought it was a decent debate, certainly more on topic than the last and without the attacks and fireworks. Who claimed the win? I would say my dad. That probably sounds predictable but I truly thought his answers were more substantive, to the point, and better articulated than the rest. My favorite moments happened during the mic test before the debate officially began and the cameras were rolling. The levels on my dad’s microphone needed the most adjustment and the unsuspecting audience soon witnessed some free standup comedy as he cracked jokes and lightened the mood before the heavy policy talk began. One woman mentioned how she loved to see that he had a good sense of humor to go along with his serious diplomatic side. I agree—I think that the next Governor needs to be someone that the people not only respect but also like. Michigan has endured political scandals for too long, as my dad would say, “it’s time for a Sheriff to clean things up!” 

Ciao Bella!

And the Pulitzer goes to....

Kristin Longley of the Flint Journal! 

...well that hasn't happened quite yet; but, Kristin did write a fabulous, in-depth profile on my dad that hit news stands Father's Day! Her inside perspective includes some adventures from the road, a huge collection of photos (three of which I posted), and a pancake breakfast at the Bouchard house with my mom and I. Read the article HERE! Don't you agree that Kristin should get a prize and my dad should get your vote?!  



Ps. Gubernatorial debate in Grand Rapids this Thursday on Wood TV. Tune in and cheer on!

Policy with a side of Personality

            A week in the office! That means lots of phone time and fundraising. I must say that my least favorite thing about campaigning is raising money. I’m the girl that hated asking people for rides to soccer practice, let alone calling up someone and asking them to donate their hard earned money. Sadly, it is a completely necessary thing when running for office, especially statewide (if you want to help out and donate anything from $10 to $10,000, I would love it!! Click here!). The thing that makes it tolerable, however, is being at the headquarters with our campaign team. It’s a blast. The energy of our crew is totally fresh, intelligent, vibrant and motivated!

The hours that a campaign demands can get very long-g-g, indeed. You eat lots of chicken dinners, shake more hands than you can count, and knock on more doors than a deliveryman. There are some days that I’d like nothing more than to just lay in bed watching Carey Grant films. But the issues facing this election cycle and the policies in our platform motivate us all to push forward. This campaign has been different from any that I have ever worked on. I think that can be attributed to the cohesiveness of the group as a whole. The sarcastic humor thrown back and forth, the nicknames that have somehow stuck (“captain absentee”), and the games that spur competition while we work (“office challenge”) all help keep energy high as we move through the frenetic pace of a campaign day. For some, this is the first campaign they have worked on and they are eagerly learning the process. Others, are seasoned pros. At the end of the day, I leave the office thinking that our campaign team has morphed into a pretty cool family. We all have very different personalities and are talented in our own ways, but it makes for a perfect chemistry as we work towards a common goal.

From the beginning, my dad has said that the reason he is running for Governor is for Michigan families. It makes sense then that our campaign starts and ends with family! Family is the reason we got in this and family is the reason we are going to win this. How timely that Sunday is a day to celebrate our dads! Papa Bouchard will probably just request a relaxed day of grilling out and a movie (Braveheart, Dad?).  It should be the perfect way to recharge for busy, back-in-the-mix Monday with a wild week to follow. However you celebrate with your family, I wish you a wonderful and restful day!

xoxo

Frequent Highway Miles

         Last Tuesday morning brought another road trip for the Bouchards and I have quickly made the realization that I will be living out of a suitcase for the next couple months. For a person who has never packed light, I have a new appreciation for traveling businesswomen, like my mom, who always look so chic with a light bag in tow. It must be a magic, endless duffle because I don’t know where they keep everything! I need to learn some tricks of the trade because my dad just rolls his eyes when he spots my stuffed bag as I attempt to covertly pile it in the trunk.

            When we finally hit the highway we are greeted by a barrage of orange in the form of construction barrels and detour signs. Our tax dollars hard at work. Two seconds of policy—under the current administration, transportation funds have not been spent in the most efficient fashion which leads us to the poor condition of our bridges and roads that must constantly be worked on. Those funds should have been used in transportation to patch holes in our roads, not re-routed to patch holes in the budget.

            As we drive past a closed rest stop, it brings up an idea of my dad’s to save a little more money and maybe lead to a future latte stop instead! He proposes that the state competitively bids rest stops for men and women to run as a small business. That piece of pretty prime property on the side of the road could be leased for easily $100,000 a year and they could expand the services. So instead of just a broken vending machine and restrooms, they could add gas and food (i.e. lattes!). That one idea alone could amount in about $8 million of revenue to the state totaling a $20 million swing from what they are currently costing the state. Yes, please!

            The next couple of days were full of town halls and productive meetings. One of my favorite moments came during the Jackson County town hall came when my dad stopped in the middle of his answer and asked that we set out more chairs! I love to see a full house of excited people anxious to ask the tough questions and get some real answers. On Saturday, I attended The Garden Party at the Academy of the Sacred Heart. It is by far, one of my new favorite annual events! The fundraiser donates its earnings to the Oakland University Culinary Studies Institute and the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan (a cause very near and dear to my heart). From the age of two, I was part of a local charity, the Fairfax Players, comprised of children between the ages of 2 and 18 that put on a play and penny carnival every summer raising money for the Beaumont Hospital Children’s Leukemia Fund. Being apart of the effort to fight this horrible disease is such an important cause and definitely changed my life. I couldn’t have been happier to attend The Garden Party donned in garden fashion and ready to sample some exquisite cuisine! A big thanks to The Garden Party Foundation originators Sydney and Elizabeth Ross for such a great event!

            This week is more than thrilling because the first absentee ballots are already out! This means outreach. If you like what you hear from the Bouchard for Governor campaign, I encourage you to get involved! Volunteer on our website to make calls, knock on doors, or simply open up your email address book and send a message to all of your family and friends. When it comes from you, someone they know and trust, it means more. Tell them you are voting for Mike Bouchard and want them to consider it as well. It will have a much higher impact than any brochure or piece of mail we could send and you will have been an important part of Team Bouchard to Fix Lansing and get Michigan back to work! Check back in soon and ta-ta for now!

All Hands on Deck

Happy Monday everyone! Since my last post the campaign has been absolutely a buzz with Town Halls all over the state, continued conversations on the Blueprint for Prosperity, and the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Conference on Mackinac Island including a gubernatorial debate with all seven candidates.
         Wednesday morning began with an early 4:45 am wakeup call as about 20 volunteers met and boarded a bus to Mackinac Island. The ride was about 5 hours to Mackinac City, the majority of which I spent learning how to play Euchre. Even now I can’t tell you all the rules of the game but we had a lot of laughs as my partner and I were still able to somehow pull out a win!

On the island, Team Bouchard put up signs and welcomed conference goers with information about my dad while answering any questions they had. I was also proud to say that my dad won the Chamber's poll as the most electable candidate for governor in the general election. I have to give a shout out to Arnold Transit Co. and Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry. They were very kind in allowing us to post our signs and work the docks throughout the day, an important part of the democratic process to let us spread our message! While on the docks, I had a chance to chat with Detroit News writer Leonard Fleming who pointed out that we were the only campaign he saw working the island as he arrived. Seemed like he was pretty impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of our crew. You can read his blog post by clicking here.

After a long but successful day we boarded the ferry once again and headed back to the city. The next morning I met my dad in St. Ignace where he held a Town Hall answering any and all questions ranging from education to tax reform. That kind of open forum is so important during an election for voters to get a straight answer from the candidates and voice the issues on their mind. After the Town Hall we took the ferry over to the Island and headed up to the Grand Hotel for a gubernatorial debate with all the candidates. 

For those who saw it, they can attest to the fact that it was appropriate the debate was held in the theatre—it was full of drama. Being a theatre student myself, I love a good drama, but only when the plot challenges us to think about its message and contemplate whether or not we agree with it. Debates, however, should be about the issues and I was more than relieved when my dad asked if we could focus on the problems facing Michigan rather than continuing the fireworks. Off the Record correspondent, Tim Skubick, once said that my dad isn't a candidate that “turns on the fog.” I think a debate forum, especially this last one, proves just that. He will give you a straight answer, even if he thinks you may not agree. He gives his opinion honestly and audience members resonate with that. I was thrilled to hear many of the reactions to the debate, the resounding thought being that he walked away with it!

The next day we left Mackinac and headed to Traverse City for some press hits and then over to Grand Rapids for another packed Town Hall. I only have a couple pictures (see below) of the week as my camera broke (grr) but will hopefully have a replacement soon! Overall the trail kept us very busy last week so Sunday a few of the women of Team Bouchard--Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, Terri’s daughter Jessica, my mom and myself--took a couple hours to go see Phantom of the Opera at the Wharton Center in East Lansing! It was the perfect way to rejuvenate before another busy week that is already in motion. Check back again soon and I hope you are all enjoying a little of this sunshine!

Ps. If you want to watch the episode of Tim Skubick’s Off the Record that featured my dad, click here!

H-O-M-E-S

           Memorial Day weekend brings a certain amount of reflection to every American. The weekend full of parades, barbeques, family and friends and remembrance is watched over by the bright American flag as it sways in the summer breeze. The sacrifices made by men and women who proudly wore that same flag on their uniform as they fought and sacrificed for the American way of life, is something that one day of remembrance can hardly repay. Over the weekend, my family was in numerous parades across the state and as I passed veterans along the parade route (who all still look smashing in their uniforms!), I couldn’t be more thankful for their sacrifice to protect our homes and our way of life.

            The word “homes.” There is no more perfect topic for my first blog post. I have been told that a house becomes a home when it is full of life, memories, loved ones and good times like we all shared this past weekend. When I come home from college, I know my mom will greet me with the front door open and maybe my favorite flowers on my bedside; little things that put a smile on my face and are unique to home. “Homes” is also a word that is deeply apart of the Michigan way of life. Ever since I sat in my fourth grade class after learning the state motto and singing the Edmund Fitzgerald, I was so impressed that all I had to do to think of the Great Lakes was say “HOMES.” Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior! They are a resource and a lifeline that has made us the Great Lake State with pleasant peninsulas, four seasons, and generations of family history. 

            I believe that the job of a government is to provide security—physical and economic security. Every generation has a call to duty, our service men and women and our veterans answered their call as they donned a uniform and protected their homes abroad. Currently, a different danger is threatening our homes, economics. Every 12 minutes another family leaves the state, changing our way of life and putting a home on the market as a house.

            It is all too real to me. Last month I hugged my friends as they graduated college and made plans to move and start their careers—New York, Chicago, Austin, Washington DC, nowhere in Michigan. My friends are saying farewell to their families and homes to take their education, personality and potential to another state and city rather than continuing our Michigan way of life. I can think of no better reason to get involved now and I feel that just as our veterans answered their call, I have a duty to try and end this economic threat. I am doing so by getting involved and helping my dad in this election.

I can’t tell you how supportive the crowds were during the parades. One lady exclaimed from the sides “Mike we are proud of you! We are so proud of you!” right after that a man yelled, “Can’t wait to see you in the Governor’s office!” I know we are on the right track to win and he is the right guy. Later this week I will be talking about his major policy roll out, the Blueprint for Prosperity. For now, I encourage you to take a look at some pictures I have posted, visit his website BouchardforGovernor.com and check back in later! Happy Memorial Day and God Bless America!