Hackel raises eyebrows, puts face on billboard (again)

Here’s a recap of Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel’s performance at the Mackinac Island policy conference:

In keeping with his flair for promotion, Hackel had two billboards erected on I-75 in full view of the Mackinac-goers that promote Macomb County.

On the island, Hackel was first out of the gate with news from Mackinac when he announced that the Snyder administration was awarding Macomb County with a $231,000 grant to help promote Michigan as the “Defense Capital of the Midwest.”

Hackel made some news and raised some eyebrows when he declined to support fellow Democrat Mark Schauer for governor, deciding to stay neutral in the 2014 contest with Gov. Snyder. Schauer, a former Battle Creek congressman may have the nomination nearly sewn up after announcing his candidacy just days ago, just before the start of the conference, but the Lansing press corps needs constant reminding that Macomb County is a political place all to its own.

A Macomb Township Democrat, Hackel has repeatedly butted heads with the Macomb County Democratic Party and he proudly declares himself a bipartisan operator. Tim Skubick, the dean of the Capitol press, had this to say about Macomb County’s top official:

“He's an important vote that goes beyond symbolism. Hackel has won a number of elections by asserting his independence and apparently the folks in Macomb like what they see. So if he is sitting this one out, maybe some (Democrats) will not break their necks getting in Mr. Schauer's corner.

(Hackel with Gov. and Mrs. Snyder)

“For the executive it's not about partisan politics. ‘I won't vote against somebody just because you may not like him,’ he said, referring to the Democratic story line that Mr. Snyder is a bad guy.

“Mr. Hackel figures if the GOP governor is willing to help the county, why should he fight to unseat him?”

And, finally, in an interview with WWJ-AM radio, Hackel used an interesting choice of words to describe the billboards:

(Hackel with Jeb Bush)

“Macomb is making it regional — and that’s what the second billboard was about. [We're] trying to let people know that I, as the figurehead — on behalf of Macomb County and Macomb County’s residents — support the regional assets that we have. We want to build up the region.”