Mike Cox Runs for Governor

Attorney General Cox joins field for governor

The field for the 2010 governor's race continues to take shape, as Attorney General Mike Cox officially jumped into the fray on Wednesday, saying, "I'm mad as hell about what's happening to Michigan."

While it's still early, political pundits say the GOP primary is boiling down to Cox against U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland, who announced his entry into the contest in March.

"No one other than Cox and Hoekstra appear to be really serious about this," said Bill Ballenger, editor of the Inside Michigan Politics newsletter.

Ann Arbor businessmen Rick Snyder and David Brandon could be factors if they're willing to spend millions of dollars building up name identification. It's highly unlikely both would get in.

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, who is running third among Republicans in the polls, also could be a formidable candidate. She has formed an exploratory committee but has not committed to run, and some doubt she will partly because she and Hoekstra would be fighting over the same west Michigan base.

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In the Republican primary, Hoekstra leads Cox by a point, 27 percent to 26 percent, and Land is running third at 19 percent in the News poll of 400 voters taken May 18-21 by EPIC/MRA. No one else cracks 2 percent.

Mike Cox joins governor's race saying he plans to cut $2 billion in taxes

Attorney General Mike Cox has a simple formula for fixing Michigan: Cut, then cut some more.

In announcing his candidacy for governor in 2010 Wednesday, Cox underlined his plan to cut $2 billion in taxes, including $1.3 billion from the Michigan Business Tax and repeal of $700 million in personal income tax increases approved in 2007.

Cox insisted that increased revenues stimulated by the tax cuts would help Michigan close a projected 2010 budget deficit of $1.6 billion.

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In an exclusive interview with The Press, Cox:

• Rejected Granholm's proposal to change Michigan's flat 19-cent levy on each gallon of gas to a fixed percentage of the wholesale price. It would raise more money as gas prices rise.

"I wouldn't do that," Cox said.

Cox proposed that part of Michigan's 6 percent tax on gasoline be allocated for roads instead.

• Pushed for more nuclear and coal plants.

"I think we ought to aim to be the energy capital of America," Cox said.

"Nuclear is one way we could be more competitive in the long run. In the long run, that's a way to diversify our economy."

He noted he backs a $2 billion, 800 megawatt Consumers Energy "clean coal" operation in Essexville.