Former State Senate Leader
Vowing “It's Time For a Change,” Oakland Sheriff Bouchard
Carried His Campaign for Senate to ERC's February Forum
“It's time for drastic changes,” vowed Michael J. Bouchard, candidate for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, speaking to the ERC Forum on February 21.“The world isn't built on talk, but on action,” he told the audience in his remarks at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, adding, “It's time to have somebody in there to get things done!”
Bouchard said the key to a 2006 victory in Michigan would depend on balloting in Oakland, Macomb and out-county Wayne. In 2004, he explained, President Bush narrowly lost in Oakland County, while in his own race for reelection as county Sheriff he received 61% of the county vote.
Speaking of success at the ballot box, Bouchard said, “I have a base of support, and have won 14 elections.”
As to experience, Bouchard explained that he has served as majority floor leader in the Michigan Senate, and on the local level as Beverly Hills city council president, a position equivalent to mayor in some municipalities. Bouchard also served in the Michigan House of Representatives, and has served 18 years in law enforcement.
Serving as Sheriff of Oakland County, one of the nation's largest counties, Bouchard oversees 1,200 employees and manages an annual budget in excess of $119 million.
Of his motivation to seek the U.S. Senate seat currently held by freshman Debbie Stabenow, Bouchard said, “I got involved in this race to secure our future.” >>Bouchard for U.S. Senate.
For his campaign, Bouchard reported that he has assembled a first-class campaign team, including some who worked in John Thune's successful South Dakota campaign to oust incumbent Sen. Tom Daschle.
Jobs for Michigan Workers
Bouchard said that in this campaign for Senate, “The first three issues are jobs, jobs, and jobs.”
He said, “The incumbent is living not in the State of Michigan, but in the state of denial.” Bouchard cited the issue of international trade as one “jobs” problem requiring synergy between Washington and Michigan interests.
“We need to be vigorously involved in making `free' trade fair,” he said.
Bouchard said he worked with Debbie Stabenow in the Michigan Senate, and has found her to be a “nice” person. Yet, he said, “She's not an impact player.”
With jobs leaving Michigan, Bouchard said, “Look at her record: nine and one-half times out of 10 Debbie Stabenow voted against the manufacturing interests. How do you explain this?”
Promising a clean campaign, Bouchard said, “I will wage a positive campaign, but I expect to hear some negative messages.”
“I've been a guy not to back down from a fight,” he added.
Bouchard challenged the audience saying, “Examine my record!” He explained that he and Stabenow served together in the Michigan Senate so that a side-by-side comparison of the two voting records will reveal the contrast.
Pointing to his experience as legislator, “I wrote the sex offender registry legislation, and it was turned into law,” he said.
As a former small business owner, he says he understands Michigan's employment problem. “Healthy business is critical for jobs creation,” he said. As evidence of his understanding of business issues, Bouchard said he has received Michigan Chamber of Commerce backing in past elections.
Government Spending
Regarding taxes and government spending, Bouchard said, “The problem is not that we don't have enough money, but that we spend too much!”
One wasteful Federal spending measure Bouchard cited was the $450 million bill supported by Senators Levin and Stabenow to build the Alaskan “bridge to nowhere.” One of two bridges included in the measure would eliminate a seven-minute ferry ride between Ketchikan, population 8,000, and Gravina Island, population of 50.
Another expensive government project Bouchard cited was the $100 million Congress has promised merely to “study” feasibility of a new commuter rail connection between Detroit and Ann Arbor.
On the local level, he said common sense must also be applied to reduce costs to taxpayers. For example, he said Oakland County found it could save more than $1.5 million annually by feeding county inmates with meals purchased from and provided by private vendors.
Other Campaign Issues
In addition to jobs, Bouchard believes other key issues are homeland and border security, including immigration.
Bouchard told of his trip to ground zero in New York City following the terrorist attack on America and said, “We should never have to face that again on our soil.”
He said government programs are too often inefficient and lack common sense. Bouchard said bureaucratic red tape threatened to keep him and Oakland deputies from assisting fellow law enforcement officers in Katrina-torn and vandalized New Orleans. That's when a Louisiana official begged for immediate assistance and reminded Bouchard, “Before there was FEMA, there were sheriffs!”
The candidate said that today, government is intrusive in too many ways, including dictating the type of toilets offered for sale in the U.S., and the confiscation of private property for the use of others.
He stated his view that judges should interpret, not legislate from the bench.
Bouchard also said, “I support the 2nd amendment right to bear arms.”
In response to an audience question about Michigan's single business tax, Bouchard said, “The SBT needs to go.” He noted it discourages Michigan job creation, and is especially costly for small business as they struggle to start up with little or no initial profit.
On spending, he said his guide would be “conservative economic principles,” even if counter to Party leadership on any given issue.
Asked about the Civil Right Initiative expected to be on the Michigan ballot, he said, “I have always voted against preferences and set asides.” Yet he believes the measure should be defeated, because strict interpretation of its broad language could ban state funding for same-sex schools.
Bouchard Background
He is a 1979 graduate of Michigan State University, and a valedictorian graduate of the Mid-Michigan law enforcement center. In addition, Bouchard is a graduate of the National Sheriff's Institute, the Darden Program for emerging political leaders-University of Virginia, the FBI National Executive Institute for world law enforcement leaders, and is a Toll Fellow with the Council of State Governments/University of Kentucky.
Bouchard was born in Flint, and raised in Oakland County where he attended Birmingham Brother Rice high school. He and Pam, his wife of 17 years, live in Birmingham with their daughter and two sons.
The Eastside Republican Club Forum is held on the third Tuesday of the month from September through June. Admission is free and the public is always welcome.
