Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop
Standing in the state Senate chamber with family and friends, taking the oath of office and promising to faithfully exercise the duties of the office was among the most rewarding experiences in my political life. No words can adequately express my thanks for the great honor the people of the 12th state Senate district have bestowed upon me. I will do my utmost to be deserving of that trust.
Emerging victorious in the contest of opinions was just the beginning of this four-year odyssey. As the focus from campaigning shifts to serving, I am mindful that the goals and principles outlined at forums and in editorial boards must now be translated into policies and legislation.
Although our state faces an economic challenge that forecasts a cloudy and gray future, it must be realized that we possess the ingenuity and resources to create a sunny tomorrow. We are not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. With all the innovative energy at our command, we have every right to dream heroic dreams.
Those who say that we live in a time when there are no heroes just don't know where to look. From Pontiac to Leonard, from Clarkston to Rochester, we all know individuals and families who by sight are regular people. People we see in the supermarket, driving down the street, coaching in Little League, and teaching in our schools. For this, they do not seek personal recognition. Yet, it is their constructive contributions to society that makes them worthy of praise. They are the ones whose voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art, and education. It is the daily practice of their values that sustains the quality of life in the community we call home.
To paraphrase Winston Churchill, I did not take the oath I have just taken with the intention of lying down in the face of challenge. As long as men and women are free to follow their dreams, there are no limits to growth and human progress. There is a spirit within this new generation of leaders that is hungry for purpose. Our charge is to produce the measures, create the structures, and design the systems that satisfy that hunger. Over the next four years, that is exactly what I intend to do.
Sincerely,
