Two governors, both known nationally as champions of their party and for their presidential aspirations, will be featured speakers at Michigan State University’s Michigan Political Leadership Program events in March, program officials announced today.
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will headline MPLP’s 19th annual dinner on March 6 and MPLP’s 12th annual breakfast on March 7.
“We are excited to welcome Govs. Pawlenty and Richardson to MPLP,” said Douglas B. Roberts, director of MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research where MPLP makes its campus home. “Both are excellent speakers. Both can share inside stories from the campaign trail. Both can share insight into coming elections.”
The MPLP dinner is set for March 6 with a reception at 5 p.m. at Laurel Manor and Banquet Center in Livonia. Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. on March 7 with an afterglow to follow from 9-10 a.m. at JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids.
Tickets and more information are available here.
Pawlenty is a two-term governor of Minnesota and a candidate for the 2012 Republican nomination for president. Currently, he’s chief executive officer of the Financial Services Roundtable, a trade association representing 100 of the country’s largest financial services companies.
Richardson served two terms as governor of New Mexico and is a former congressman from the state. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. He sought the Democratic nomination for president in 2008. Currently, he’s chairman of communications consultant APCO Worldwide’s executive advisory service Global Political Strategies.
MPLP is known as the nation’s premier political leadership training program. It annually selects 24 men and women to take part in 10 months of weekend training. The program’s fast-paced course includes presentations from some of Michigan’s top political thinkers, hands-on activities, business and community tours and training in personal leadership, practical governing, campaign finance and media relations.
“This program is bipartisan. It is rigorous. It is demanding. MPLP's continuing goal is to produce leaders who can seek and reach agreements in the spirit of sound public policymaking and effective governance,” said MPLP Co-Director Anne Mervenne.
She is a former executive in the administration of Gov. John Engler and currently is chief executive officer of Mervenne & Co., a governmental relations consulting firm.
“MPLP is an investment in good leadership and good government,” said MPLP Co-Director Steve Tobocman, a former House Majority Floor Leader who is currently managing partner of New Solutions Group LLC, a community development consultant. “MPLP’s relevance has grown as we’ve seen partisan divides widen on virtually every level of government.”
MPLP annually invites candidates for the program to submit applications in late spring. Interviews follow in the fall with an announcement of new fellows in winter.