It's an exciting year to be a Michigan Republican!
What a great honor it has been to serve as Senate Majority Leader at this pivotal time in our state's history. I am proud to lead a caucus that continues to fight for conservative principles like limited government, personal responsibility and the rights and personal liberty as guaranteed by our Constitution. Our caucus is purpose driven and while we bring responsible solutions to the table every day, we also have a fundamental duty to stop the never ending liberal agenda put forth by the Governor and state House of Representatives.
Over the years, I've been privileged to get to know and personally work with many of the GOP grassroots activists. In fact, it was the grassroots that secured the Senate Republican majority just two and a half years ago. At the time, I was traveling across the state working side-by-side with my fellow Republicans, putting everything I had into the campaign to retain a Republican majority. In the end, all of us learned that every vote truly does count as we were able to retain the majority by less than 1300 votes statewide. One could only imagine what this state would look like today if we lost our last remaining republican stronghold. We dodged a bullet, but proved that hard work and dedication really pays off!
Hard work and dedication are essential to every job and any important cause. With our state and our country at a crossroads, now more than ever we have a responsibility to lead with conviction. I didn't run for public office to sit back and feather my nest for my next public office, I ran to make a difference. And that's exactly what I will continue to do.
So today, I write to ask for your support in my bid to become your next Attorney General!
A lot goes into the decision to run for any public office. In this case, I made my decision because I honestly believe I'm the best candidate for the job.
I am proud to bring a unique perspective to this campaign. I've spent more of my professional career in the private sector than as a public servant. I worked through law school and after graduation I opened my own law firm. Over the years, I've established myself as tough advocate and an ethical professional. My career has even taken me to the highest court in the land where I was sworn in by Chief Justice Rehnquist to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
In my private law practice, I fought for my clients in court to protect their businesses and to protect their families. When MDOT came in and tried to take land away from the citizens of Almont, I represented the people and stopped the taking; when one of my client's had their identity stolen and was without any hope in straightening out his life, I came in and fought to clear his name and cleanse his credit history; as a local prosecutor, when people violated the law, whether it was drunk driving or domestic abuse, I was there to prosecute them and ensure justice.
Since being elected to public office, my top priority continues to be the protection of the people and the pursuit of justice. Among other legislative work, I have authored legislation to empower families to protect themselves from predatory internet solicitations and one of the most devastating crimes in the digital age, identity theft.
Although I'm proud of my resume, you should also know that I have experience winning on the convention floor. You may have been there in 1996 when I was honored by our party with the Republican nomination for the University of Michigan Board of Regents. I fought hard for the nomination and those that were there will recall that I ultimately had to stand up to my own party to ensure we nominated a candidate with strong conservative principles. I won the nomination, but was told by the party bosses that I would never hold public office just because I stood up for what was right. To this day, I'm proud to have stood firm and insist that the party stay true to its core principles and I look forward to doing it again.
