A Governor's Story

Wake Up Call

Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm says the old theory that government can cut taxes and businesses will use the savings to create jobs in the United States no longer applies. "America has to wake up. The old strategies are not doing us any favors in a new global economy," she told a crowd of about 400 people gathered Tuesday night inside the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. The event marked the first stop Granholm and husband Dan Mulhern are making as part of a national tour to promote the couple's new book, "A Governor’s Story: The Fight for Jobs and America’s Economic Future," which went on sale this past week. Read the story.

Michigan Capitol

Hello, Governor

Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder was sworn in as Michigan's 48th governor today, signaling the start of what he says will be a new era of innovation and entrepreneurship. The former president of Gateway Computers used his 15-minute inaugural address to lay out a vision for an improved Michigan, calling for setting aside political and geographic divisions. Read the story here.

Last Words

Jennifer Granholm told a crowd of Washtenaw County Democrats Saturday night it hasn't been easy being Michigan's governor during one of the most tumultuous periods of economic change and struggle in the state's history. But she says she has no regrets about it. "It has been a challenge being governor during this period of time," she said. "But I don't think that I would have wanted to be governor during any other period of time because it's this moment that your decisions make a difference. I wouldn't have wanted to have somebody else whose values I disagree with making decisions at this time." Click here to read the story.

Michigan Democratic Party Endorsement Convention

The Michigan Democratic Party today held a first-of-its-kind endorsement convention at Cobo Hall in Detroit. I was there as a journalist, but not covering the event. Instead, I was shadowing state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, who is running for governor of Michigan. I'm writing an in-depth candidate profile on Smith, who lives just outside Ann Arbor, leading up to the election. Until then, here are some sights from today.