Lieutenant Governor John Cherry came to the Orion Township Public Library last week and spoke with members of the public at the North Oakland Democratic Club’s regular meeting.
Prior to his speech, Club Chair Phil Reid said Cherry is likely the ‘frontrunner? for the governor’s position, up for election again in 2010.
Cherry outlined Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s plan for the next year, and then took questions from an audience of around 20 people.
Question topics ranged from gas prices and road conditions to tourism and the effectiveness of the Department of Natural Resources.
Cherry noted that the state is ‘about to spend a record amount of money to promote tourism in Michigan,? a campaign that will include actors Tim Allen and Jeff Daniels.
He said gas revenue is reduced at the state level, in spite of increased prices at the pump, because state revenues are based on gallons consumed (a number that has decreased with the climbing prices).
With regards to the state economy, Cherry said too many jobs are going to out-of-staters.
‘We want to make sure Michigan residents qualify for our jobs,? he said. ‘A young person today, when they graduate, will have to go on for at least two years of post-secondary schooling just to get a job.?
Cherry said Michigan must accept a culture change and prepare for a future where jobs we are used to, like those at assembly plants that so many residents relied on, are no longer viable.
‘The job loss in the automobile industry is so intense right now,? Cherry said. ‘Our challenge today is to get the state to face the future and that’s what the governor has focused on.?
He said most of today’s kindergarteners will someday have a job that doesn’t even exist in today’s world.
‘We have a goal to double our adult population with a college degree,? Cherry said, citing the state’s average of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree, which is below the national average.
He said one key is to increase expectations, which is one reason the ACT test replaced the MEAP test as a state standard in the past year.
In the face of loan reductions, Cherry said both universities and the state government must increase scholarship offers. The state currently offers the Michigan Promise (for a total of $4,000).
‘The jobs of the future are largely in the sciences, and that requires an investment in our college campuses,? he said.
Cherry added that the state’s natural resources are a draw that will help strengthen the economic base.
He cited some firms that have recently committed to remain in the state and said he expects to see job losses turned around by 2010.