Candidate for Governor, Virg Bernero

myFOXDetroit.com - Why are you running for office?

Citizens across Michigan have told me they need a dramatically different kind of leadership at the State Capitol. They think their state government is broken and so do I. Our current leaders have delivered little more than the same old partisan bickering, presiding over budget debacles and state government shutdowns in two of the last three years. I've had it with our Michigan being redlined, our businesses cut off from credit, our families evicted from their homes. It’s time to put the public interest ahead of the personal and private interests of paid lobbyists. It’s time to shake things up in Lansing and make Michigan work for US again.

My experience and successful record as the Mayor and CEO of the City of Lansing qualifies me to tackle the historic challenges facing our state. As Mayor, I balanced five straight budgets, on time, without raising taxes and without draining all of our reserves. By making the tough choices to force government to live within its means, we reduced the size of government by nearly 20%, yet we didn't lay off a single employee. Because we kept our fiscal house in order, we still have our double-A-plus credit rating.

Because we left no stone unturned in our pursuit of new job-creating investments, we landed new development projects worth more than $500 million. As a result, our economic output grew faster than all but one other region in the State of Michigan and thousands of new jobs are being created to replace those lost in the automotive restructuring. We created public-private partnerships that work, and we continue to diversify our economy into high technology, advanced manufacturing and bioscience. We did it by leveraging the incredible assets of our world-class research university and we did it WITHOUT waving the white flag over our world-class manufacturing facilities.

We’ve done it in the City of Lansing and now we will do it for the state of Michigan.

What is the biggest problem facing Michigan residents today and how would you solve it?

Jobs. As Governor my top priority will be to reverse the bleak jobs situation that is affecting so many families across our state. We can and will make Michigan the #1 place in the country to do business ’ because that means JOBS. Small business especially must be promoted and nurtured as this is where the bulk of new jobs will be created.

To create new jobs in Michigan, we must build upon our advanced manufacturing capabilities by investing in them, instead of abandoning them. That’s because, as a state, we cannot just consume greatly, we have to produce greatly. We have to make the products of the future for export to the world. Retaining and strengthening our state’s advanced manufacturing capabilities across diverse sectors of the new global economy while also investing in our human infrastructure can and will be the backbone of our state's economic comeback.

What's a better solution: finding revenue or cutting costs to meet Michigan's public education budget? How would you do it?

A balance of both. As Governor, my administration will conduct a top-to-bottom performance review and forensic audit of all units of state government to identify inefficiencies and ways to save taxpayer dollars. In the City of Lansing we have implemented a systematic program of tracking performance-related data in all areas of city government to learn how to improve processes and deliver quality services at the lowest possible cost. I will take the same approach as Governor. I do not support balancing the budget on the backs of state employees. Instead, we will work in good faith at the bargaining table to negotiate fair compensation and benefits that help us bring state expenses in line with revenues.

Our tax system must be fair to working families. I am willing to consider proposals to lower the state sales tax while increasing its base to include some services, as well as eliminating the exemption for some non-food items like soda pop and other beverages with little or no nutritional value. Making soda pop subject to sales tax, for example, would generate more than $100 million annually. We must also continue to pressure Congress to enact changes in federal law that allow states to capture sales tax revenues lost to Internet commerce, estimated at more than $300 million annually in Michigan.

What's the best way to create jobs for Michigan residents?

To get Michigan's economy back on track and get our citizens back to work, my Michigan Main Street Agenda includes creating a state bank to open up credit opportunities for small businesses and export-oriented manufacturing, establishing Green Manufacturing Zones at former automotive plant sites and setting up Michigan International Business Investment Zones (MIBIZ) to attract new foreign investment that will create jobs.

We have to create the most attractive business climate in America to get Michigan back on track. Tax reform that results in fair