A Question and Answer session with Mike McGonegal

This an advance copy of the questionnaire Mike submitted to Gannett for their voter’s guide that should be published in early October.

Q- What makes you the most qualified to hold this office.
I bring more than 28 years of business experience with Fortune 200 companies to the office. Working for key suppliers to the automotive market, I have in-depth, first hand insight and understanding of the problems facing this industry and our region.
I have negotiated complicated contracts, and I have demonstrated an ability to work well with people at all levels. This real-world experience will serve me well in Lansing in working with my colleagues across the aisle to find solutions to the structural problems facing our state. I also have public service experience, working in law enforcement before entering the private sector.

Q- If you had to choose between tax incentives to encourage Michigan’s auto-based manufacturing industry and emerging industries, what would you do?
We need to keep the current manufacturing base we have, while attracting high-tech, knowledge-based industries. I see tax incentives as a viable tool to meet that goal. We need to reward companies that create good-paying jobs and we need to strengthen the state’s job creation effort and bolster efforts to diversify our economy with advanced manufacturing, life sciences and research and development. I would support tax credits, eliminate personal property tax for emerging industries; and fully fund the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The most important thing we can do is to have a diverse, expanding economy of non-exportable high skilled, high wage jobs.

Q-The Single Business Tax is on the way out. Should a replacement business tax recover all of the $2 billion the SBT generates for the state, effectively shifting taxes from one business sector to another, or should there be a net tax cut for business?
We need to determine what portion of the tax burden business needs to carry. This needs to be done by interaction between the Legislature, the Executive and the private sector to avoid any unintended consequences that would be harmful to our economy. Any replacement tax should not generate more business tax revenue than business taxes being replaced, and tax compliance must be simplified. . We need to bring all of the players to the table in finding a solution that’s fair to the private sectors and keeps Michigan an attractive place to do business.

Q-Proposal A. of 1994 strictly limited school districts from seeking more taxes from voters. Districts say they’re hurting. Should the tax restrictive be lifted?
Proposal A was sold as a way to decrease property taxes and equalize funding of schools. However, it has only decreased a $6,000 per pupil difference between school districts by $1,000 per student. It took a static view of school districts. This doesn’t work for Livingston County that has become the highest median household income county in the state while simultaneously getting the lowest total funding of any county in Michigan. Moreover, some districts can still run millages for their district only while Livingston County Schools are not allowed to do this. This needs to be addressed.

Q -Will you vote for a state ballot proposal that would ban race and gender preference in university admissions hiring, promotions and contracting for the state, counties, cities, schools, community colleges and universities?
No. Like Gov. Granholm, Dick DeVos, both major political parties and more than 200 organizations around Michigan, I oppose Proposal 2 and the out-of-state interests using deceptive petition tactics to get it on the ballot. I am less concerned with state contracts and more concerned with education opportunities for women and minorities that would be adversely affected. Mr. DeVos said it best when he said, "we need to be looking to increase opportunities for people in Michigan, not decrease them." A close look at this type of legislation in other states demonstrates why there is such wide bipartisan opposition.

Q- Will you vote for a ballot proposal to mandate state funding for public
schools, community colleges and universities to be increased at least
the rate of inflation?
Yes. We need stable funding for schools not constant cutbacks. You name me one more important thing for our economy than a highly educated workforce. Bill Gates recently said, "Business and jobs of the future will settle in states with world-class universities and a highly educated workforce, not because of tax abatements and incentives." Proposal 5 holds the legislature accountable for all the "reforms" and reductions they’ve made to education over the last 12 years. No more shell games. You get what you pay for. Education is simply crucial to our state economy and the kind of jobs and companies we want to attract.

Q - How will you vote for a ballot proposal to amend the Michigan Constitution to define life as beginning at conception?
As a member of the Roman Catholic Church, I believe that life begins at conception. Within the church there is debate among theologians on this subject, but the church has long ago made peace with the secular state. I believe in the separation of Church and State, and I feel that this debate belongs in the church and not in the Legislature or in the halls of government. Therefore, I would vote no on this proposition should it ever be proposed and placed on the ballot.

Q - What type vehicles do you own.
A 2006 Ford 500 limited.
1999 Ford Taurus
1997 Ford Taurus

Q - What was the last book you read?
"The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century," by Thomas L. Friedman

Q - What is the best movie you’ve seen in the last 12 months?
Syriana