An open seat for the top spot in Michigan government has 19 candidates in the race for governor.
Following an Aug. 7 primary, voters will elect the next governor in the Nov. 6 general election.
The governor serves a four-year term and is paid $159,300 a year, plus a $54,000 expense allowance.
REPUBLICANS (7)
Brian Calley
Background: Calley, 40, of Portland has been the lieutenant governor of Michigan since 2011. He earlier served two terms in the state House and two terms with the Ionia County Board of Commissioners.
Lt. Gov. Brian Calley (Photo: Detroit Free Press)
In 2017, Calley spearheaded a ballot initiative — which is still pending — to make Michigan's Legislature part-time. A former banker, Calley has also touted his work with Gov. Rick Snyder on corporate tax cuts and other policies he says have propelled "an incredible Michigan comeback."
Calley has a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University, a master's of business administration from Grand Valley State University, and a master's in public administration from Harvard University.
"The 2018 election will be decided on who has the best plan to bring Michigan to the next level," Calley said in announcing his candidacy in November.
Calley is married with three children.
Website:www.briancalley.com
Patrick Colbeck
Background: Colbeck, 52, has been a state senator since 2011. He is an aerospace engineer who touts his work on making Michigan a right-to-work state and his plans to build longer-lasting roads, reduce health care costs and eliminate the state personal income tax. He has clashed with GOP Senate leadership, which removed his committee assignments in October.
Patrick Colbeck (Photo: Detroit Free Press)
Colbeck holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan.
In June, Colbeck described as "utterly disgraceful" Snyder's veto of a bill he sponsored to create a "Choose Life" license plate to support a fund controlled by Right to Life of Michigan.
Colbeck is married and lives in Canton.
Website:www.colbeckforgovernor.com
Joseph DeRose
Background: DeRose, 57, a Williamston insurance agent, wants to implement pro-business policies, including elimination of the state's 6% corporate income tax.
DeRose has a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in management, both from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.
"We need new leadership in this state," said DeRose. "The leadership we have in this state is terrible."
DeRose is married with one child.
Website: none.
Dr. Jim Hines
Background: Hines, 62, of Saginaw Township is a medical doctor who has delivered thousands of babies and is making his first run for political office. The first candidate for governor to file his nominating signatures, Hines worked four years as a missionary in the Central African Republic, running hospitals and urgent care centers. He wants to improve Michigan's job climate, protect the environment and improve infrastructure.
Dr. Jim Hines (Photo: Luke Freeman)
Hines has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and biology and a medical degree, both from Indiana University.
"Providing a good education to every child in Michigan is the most important thing that can be done for the future of Michigan," Hines said.
Hines is married with seven children.
Website:www.hines4michigan.com
Earl Lackie
Background: Lackie, 58, of Royal Oak is a retired General Motors employee who has also worked in the oil industry and at a marina. He has owned two small businesses and served as a volunteer firefighter in Oxford Township. Lackie opposes the common core educational standards.
Earl Lackie (Photo: handout photo)
Lackie has a degree in automotive and diesel mechanics from Lincoln Technical Institute in Indianapolis.
"We need to reduce our taxes and stop the waste," Lackie said on his campaign website.
Lackie is divorced and has two children.
Website:www.lackieforgovernor.com
Bill Schuette
Background: Schuette, 64, of Midland has served as Michigan attorney general since 2011. He is a former judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals, state senator, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, and member of Congress. He has pledged to cut Michigan income taxes and bring the state more and better-paying jobs.
Attorney General Bill Schuette (Photo: Ryan Garza/Detroit Free Press)
Schuette has a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from the University of San Francisco.
"Michigan needs leaders who are laser-focused on jobs," Schuette said in announcing his candidacy in September. "More jobs, more paychecks, and more people."
Schuette is married with two children.
Website:www.billschuette.com
Evan Space
Background: Space, 37, of Lansing owns a window washing company and has served eight years in the Michigan National Guard, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He stands apart from other Republican gubernatorial candidates by advocating for legalization of marijuana, which he would regulate like alcohol.
Evan Space (Photo: Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press)
Space is studying political science at Grand Valley State University.
"I want to see a better economy for the state of Michigan," Space said.
He is single with no children.
Website: www.evanspaceforgovernor.com
Democrats (4)
William Cobbs
Background: Cobbs, 64, of Farmington Hills is a U.S, Navy veteran and retired Xerox executive who wants to focus on improving K-12 education and improving the state's infrastructure.
Bill Cobbs (Photo: handout photo)
Cobbs has a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from U-M and a law degree from Wayne State University.
"Trust in our government has eroded, along with our water, highways, bridges, and schools," Cobbs said on his campaign website. "Too many Michiganders have been left without clean water and our state is now at the bottom of the country in ethics and transparency.
Cobbs is married with two children.
Website: www.billcobbs.com
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed
Background: El-Sayed, 33, of Shelby Township is a medical doctor and former director of the Detroit Health Department. He is a Rhodes Scholar and former public health professor who says state government has failed to make needed investments in the environment, education and the economy.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (Photo: Regina H. Boone, Detroit Free Press)
El-Sayed has a bachelor's of science from U-M, a master's and doctoral degree in public health from Oxford, and a medical degree from Columbia University.
"Gridlock, unimaginative leadership, and a callous disregard for our most vulnerable have left us with government we cannot trust," El-Sayed said on his campaign website.
El-Sayed is married with one child.
Website:www.abdulformichigan.com
Shri Thanedar
Background: Thanedar, 62, of Ann Arbor is a businessman and entrepreneur who has owned and managed several companies in the chemical and pharmaceutical testing field. The political newcomer has contributed close to $6 million of his own money to his campaign for governor. He wants to end corporate welfare for big corporations and help small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Shri Thanedar (Photo: Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)
Thanedar has a master's degree from the University of Bombay and a doctorate in polymer chemistry from the University of Akron.
"Together, we will bring a new governing culture to Lansing," Thanedar said on his website. "We will require ethics and transparency and fight back against the influence of billionaires."
Thanedar is married with two children.
Website:www.shri2018.com
Gretchen Whitmer
Background: Whitmer, 46, of East Lansing is an attorney and former minority leader in the Michigan Senate and state representative. She served as Ingham County Prosecutor for the last six months of 2016 after the resignation of Stuart Dunnings III. She says she is running to protect children and workers' rights, level the playing field, and hold government accountable.
Gretchen Whitmer (Photo: handout photo)
Whitmer has a bachelor's degree in education and a law degree from Michigan State University.
"A good education is the foundation for growing the economy and I will fight for our students to get the education they need to compete in a global economy," Whitmer said on her campaign website.
Whitmer is married with five children.
Website: www.gretchenwhitmer.com
Other (8)
Keith Butkovich (Natural Law Party)
Background: Butkovich, 33, of Wayne, a manager in a retail store, said government is overbearing and spending and taxes are too high. He ran unsuccessfully for the Wayne County Commission in 2012, Wayne County Executive in 2014, and for Congress in the 4th District in 2016.
Keith Butkovitch (Photo: handout photo)
Butkovich graduated from Lamphere High School in Madison Heights.
"I know I'm the long shot, but like in horse racing, when the long shot pays off, it pays of big," Butkovich said.
Butkovich is single and has no children.
Website: none
Ryan Henry Cox (no party affiliation)
Background: Cox, 30, of Clawson is an education consultant and freelance writer who has developed a teaching system and contracts with a learning company based in Troy. Cox said he is running to educate and challenge the two-party system and will be releasing a series of policy essays on topics such as education, the economy, marijuana, prisons, and health care.
Ryan Henry Cox (Photo: handout photo)
Cox has a bachelor's degree from Wayne State University.
"I have no traditional advisers," Cox said. "I just listen to every citizen who has something to say. Armchair politicians often have great ideas."
Cox is single and has one child.
Website: www.migov2018.com
Bill Gelineau (Libertarian)
Background: Gelineau, 58, of Lowell, who owns a title insurance company in Grand Rapids wants voters to "get past the notion that there is this binary choice" between the two major parties when voting for governor. A former chairman of the Libertarian Pary in Michigan, Gelineau favors a system of "ranked voting," where voters can select multiple candidates on their ballots, in order of preference.
Bill Gelineau (Photo: handout photo)
Gelineau graduated from Riverview Community High School in Wayne County. He studied at U-M and Wayne State University, but did not get a degree.
"Electing a Libertarian would shock the world," Gelineau said.
Gelineau is married with six children.
Website:www.ComeTogetherMichigan.org
Larry Hutchinson (no party affiliation)
Background: Hutchinson, 45, a Lansing writer, is running as a write-in candidate. He has been a frequent but unsuccessful candidate for City Council and other elected posts in the Lansing area. He said he is campaigning to return government to the people.
Hutchinson attended high school in Flint and studied at U-M Flint but has not earned a degree.
"I think all elections should be publicly funded — the money should be taken out of politics," Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson is divorced with three children.
Website: none
Jennifer Kurland (Green Party)
Background: Kurland, 36, of Redford is president of the Redford Union School Board and has worked in banking and as a field manager for Clean Water Action. She considers herself a democratic socialist and hosts a radio show, The Offensive Feminist with Jenny K, on Cave Radio Broadcasting.
Jennifer Kurland (Photo: handout photo)
Kurland has a bachelor's degree in political science and public affairs from Wayne State University.
"Flint must be made whole," after the lead contamination of the city's drinking water, Kurland said on her website. "The people of Flint have waited for far too long for a resolution to this crisis."
Kurland is single with no children.
Website:www.kurland4michigan.com
Todd Schleiger (no party affiliation)
Background: Schleiger, 51, of Lake Orion is a dispatcher for a trucking company who has worked 35 years in the transportation industry. He believes the two-party system is broken. He wants to significantly increase spending on K-12 education and make college more affordable for state residents.
Todd Schleiger (Photo: handout photo)
Schleiger graduated from Davison High School near Flint.
"What I will bring to Michigan will be accountability, equality and integrity," Schleiger said in a campaign policy statement.
Scheiger is married with seven children.
Website:www.schleigerforgovernor2018.com
John Tatar (Libertarian)
Background: Tatar, 69, of Redford owns a construction company and is a former high school teacher who reached the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. He believes the people should be in charge of Michigan and state employees, including the governor, should be servants working for them.
John Tatar (Photo: handout photo)
Tatar has bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Wayne State University.
"I've had it with those that are running," Tatar said. "There isn't a person in the group that knows the republic, knows their duty, knows their job."
Tatar is divorced with two children.
Website: www.johnjtatar.com
Jeff Wood (Libertarian)
Background: Wood, 32, of Howell is an unemployed computer software specialist who says he is running to get people more excited about the Libertarian Party. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in the 8th District in 2016 and for the state Senate in 2014.
Jeff Wood (Photo: handout photo)
Wood has an associate's degree from Oakland Community College and has studied astrophysics at MSU.
"If I can inspire 2% of the crowd to become hardcore lifelong libertarians, I don’t mind if I offend the other 98%," Wood said in a campaign essay.
Wood is single with no children.
Website: none.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.
