Michigan Politics
First Gentleman Talks Leadership to Governors
By George Weeks

Dan Mulhern, husband of Governor Jennifer Granholm, is a unique figure in Michigan politics, and not just because he is the state's first "First Gentleman."

Beyond that, he is the most influential gubernatorial spouse on political and policy matters in the 170-year history of the Michigan governorship. That's not some "guy thing," but is based on research in the course of writing a book on stewards of the state going back to statehood in 1837.

(Stevens T. Mason, who at age 24 became Michigan's first elected governor and was 25 when he presided over admission to statehood, was single. His sister was dubbed our first first lady.)

Granholm is one of nine female governors, including Arizona's Janet Napolitano, outgoing chair of the National Governors Association (NGA). Being single, she asked Mulhern to assume the role of chairmanship of the NGA Spouse's Leadership Council usually filled by the spouse of the NGA chair.

That has given Mulhern an enhanced role at the NGA's 99th annual conference this past weekend near Traverse City, beyond being spouse of the host governor.

One of his projects was to assemble the gubernatorial families for Sunday's Habitat for Humanity building of a house for a low-income family. No heavy lifting for the guvs. They'll put in a ceremonial hour, but Mulhern and others will keep working.

On Saturday, Mulhern, who leads a mentoring project for Michigan, said: "We have many new governors and, therefore, new spouses. This conference offers a wonderful opportunity to help them with the tremendous opportunities to serve and also to help manage the extraordinary challenges of life in state leadership. It's been cool to hear first-time visitors talk about how gorgeous Michigan is. And then there are those who had childhood connections to Michigan, and it's still totally in their blood, and they get emotional talking about how they love this state. This place is special - period."

When Mulhern talked Saturday of "extraordinary challenges of life in state leadership," he spoke with the authority of one in a leadership teaching profession before his wife became governor, and as author of a book recently published by the University of Michigan Press, "Everyday Leadership: Getting Results in Business, Politics, and Life."

The book is no yawner. In asserting "how your authority can attack you from within," Mulhern cites lapses of such public figures as ex-President Bill Clinton, "who had his infamous affair(s). They are, of course, a thimbleful in an ocean of public figures whose personal behavioral storms left a wake of hurt, confusion, and pain."

Since writing the book, Mulhern has said that Clinton would be a great asset back in the White House if his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, wins her presidential bid. Does that mean Mulhern supports her bid? He responded: "I likely will follow my wife's lead." She has yet to tip her hand.

There are those who contend Granholm follows Mulhern's lead in Lansing. Not so. He does have extraordinary influence; occasionally speaks out at cabinet meetings, and gets the last word with the decider.

To a Granholm supporter who blamed "her circle of advisers" for an adverse decision by her on his environmental interest group, I suggested that on that issue, it was a circle of one.

There's hope that Granholm will be stronger on environmental issues in her second term than she was in her first.

There was an interesting exchange Saturday at the NGA opening conference between Napolitano of the thirsty West and Granholm of the Great Lakes.

Chair Napolitano: "We're looking at new ways of conservation that does not mean taking (water) from the Great Lakes."

Host Granholm: "Amen, sister."

At Saturday's opening NGA session devoted to "Fostering Innovation," Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that while those in the audience may have "come to Traverse City on the highway… while you are here you have access to the whole world" via the Internet highway.

Amen, brother.

Because of all of the shackles on the media imposed by the NGA, I found it easier to get a small portion of the above information from trusted sources through the Internet rather than, for one event, spending an extra two hours that would have involved being screened to assure that I did not have explosives in my pen and then being herded to and from the event on a NGA-chartered bus.

George Weeks retired last

year after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features.