Says a Thousand Words

Election-eve. We have completed 80 stops in 8 days and ended with a rally where it all began, back at my dad's high school, Brother Rice. Here are some pictures from the event that speak volumes on their own. Shot by the acclaimed and talented, Jeff Bouchard.

The lovely Karen Newman singing the National Anthem!

The energy and excitement was overwhelming! 

Greeted by a thunder of applause! Along side running mate
Terri Lynn Land and L. Brooks Patterson.

Good mojo--In the same gym where the championship
banner from his high school basketball team is displayed.
Moving towards another victory.

A full house of Michiganders eager to Fix Lansing
and get Michigan back to work!

With Joe "the Plumber" Wurzelbacher

It is so important that you make it to the polls and vote Mike Bouchard for Governor. Every vote counts. You know him, you trust him. Now honor him with your vote so he can fix Lansing and get Michigan back to work. Our election night festivities will be held at the Somerset Inn, Troy. We hope to have you with us for this exciting evening that will change the course of Michigan's future.  

xoxo

Top Ten

Less than 36 hours before the polls open for the Primary election. With that in mind, here are the top ten reasons why I think you should vote Mike Bouchard for Governor.

10. He is seeking this office not for the power or prestige, but to change the direction of the state of Michigan. To restore the economic environment to one that gets government out of the way for businesses to succeed.

9. He is totally pro-life, a gun carrying Second Amendment advocate and stands up for freedom “of” religion not “from” religion. He wants to secure our borders and plans to use the Tenth Amendment to stop an overreaching federal government.

8. He is willing to be a one-term governor. He has said from the beginning his benchmark of success is if families in Michigan can continue to live and work here, not being popular. For him, this is about the “next generation, not the next election.”

7. He is a constitutionalist first and passionately safeguards those principles. No matter the party that is wasting your money or encroaching on your rights, he will not stand for it.

6. He is the ONLY candidate that has the successful legislative experience to train him to guide the legislature on an operational level. It taught him how to get the votes needed to move critical legislation and will be crucial knowledge when governing the process. Fun fact: On average, a legislator would get one bill to sign every year. He averaged TEN for NINE years!

5. He wants to make Michigan a part-time legislature, with part-time pay and no benefits. Adopt the budget by May 15^th, everyday after that the legislators and Governor lose a day’s pay.

4. He is the only gubernatorial candidate in Michigan history to come out in support of Right to Work. It may be a controversial issue (in fact, someone threw something threw my car window after the announcement) but it evidences that he is willing to address any issue to make Michigan more business friendly and get her citizens back to work.

3. He has the team to win and, more importantly, the team to govern. He announced early on that Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land would be his running mate; another proven leader that believes in government transparency and making the necessary tough choices.

2. He has had a well-rounded history that makes him uniquely qualified to be our next governor. Besides being in the legislature during the ‘90s, he has owned three small businesses and he has been the Sheriff of Oakland County for 11 years. He administrates a government organization that is a third of the Oakland County budget and employs about 1,200 people. He knows how to separate needs versus wants when obligated to reduce his budget. In fact, he is balanced three years from now due to the three year rolling budget he operates on (and plans to have the state move to a similar system).

1. He is an honest man that will look you straight in the eye and tell you how he feels even if you may not agree. His talk matches his walk. He lives by the principles of honor, integrity, duty, respect, courage and commitment. In this unpredictable and chaotic world, no matter the challenges that may face him, he is a steadfast leader. He served on the streets of New Orleans after Katrina and at Ground Zero after 9/11. If elected Governor, he will do anything he must to protect his state and his people. 


I hope your choice is an easy one on August 3rd...
God Bless

DAY 6

       Today was the point in the tour when I officially lost track of what day it was! Friday? Sunday? By the end of Saturday, however, as I type this sitting on my own bed (hooray!) with Bandit asleep at my feet, I have been returned to a state of total awareness. Awareness of the endurance that a campaign like this needs, and an awareness of the body and mind that can either push itself over the finish line or slow down with end in sight. Even while the Primary is just a step to ultimately getting my dad elected, this day has been the focus of so much planning and work that it demands every last drop of commitment only to be renewed and refocused for the General on August 4th (knock on wood!). Which means that my body and mind are concentrated on pushing through the line, not yielding.

            After a day of shaking hands in Macomb, Shelby, Romeo, Washington and Dearborn (let alone 6 days on the bus!) I was glad to get back in the campaign office for a “family” dinner in-between get out the vote (GOTV) calls. An important side note—local restaurants and individuals have been SO generous in donating food for our volunteers. We have so many people in the office making calls and volunteering that the donated food is vital to keeping everyone fueled and focused!

On the bus with my dad, brother, Grandma and Great Uncle KJ!

After the dinner ended, the family went home to spend some time with my Great Uncle KJ who is visiting from Texas. While we sat and talked with the news on in the back round, the seemingly looping political advertisements had me fidgeting to get back to work. My dad was busy finishing paperwork and I found myself on autopilot heading right back to the HQ to make GOTV calls. When the late hour ultimately came for us to hang up the phones, the mass of workers took to the parking lot for a dimly lit game of beanbags before we went in to tidy up the office in preparation for tomorrow’s similar whirlwind of a day. 

            Tonight I am saying my prayers in thanks. Thanks for the relentless campaign team that has not slept in days, but seems to eat and breath this campaign. Thanks for their constant restlessness to always find something to work toward and improve. Thanks to the people that give—their time, their talent, their treasure, their prayers, and their votes. Thanks to the people that support my father and my family in this endeavor. We still have a long road ahead but Tuesday’s Primary is an important mark along the trail that, I feel, demands some reflection. So, for now, thank you.

I hope to see you Monday night at the Election-eve Rally! Brother Rice High School on Lahser in Bloomfield Hills starting at 7:30 pm!