A recent poll out by the Midwest Democracy Network shows that just 11% of Michigan residents feel that the legislature is on the right track, though a majority feel they have faith in the future as long as the right change comes along.

This follows the candidate forum Wednesday night when one of my Republican opponents, Mike McManus, indicated he felt the public perception of Lansing was just fine. While Mike McManus might think Lansing is doing a good job, given the McManus family’s close ties with the Lansing establishment, the voters of Michigan have clearly had enough. This election represents a fundamental choice of change versus more of the same. And I’m the only candidate that can bring real change to Lansing.

The poll also shows that most Michigan residents want an end to the political games that characterize so much of what goes on in Lansing. Ending these games and building a broad bi-partisan common-sense agenda for Michigan’s future is the central element of what I do as a founding champion of the Center for Michigan’s “Michigan’s Defining Moment” campaign. Indeed, I am the only candidate for state house, from either party, to serve as a founding champion for this effort. It is going to take this type of common-sense leadership, and not simply more of the same of Lansing’s petty partisan games to get Michigan pointed in the right direction and I’m running because it’s time to get Michigan moving again.

By the way, you can check out a video of my intro from Wednesday’s forum here:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WFj4TNsXkM[/youtube]