State Sen. Hansen Clarke tossed his hat in the race for the Democratic nomination for governor Tuesday, only hours after Lt. Gov. John Cherry withdrew from the race, vowing “no more excuses and no more passing the buck.”

hansen clarkeThe 52-year-old Detroit Democrat, who joins an increasingly crowded primary field, discussed his candidacy with Michigan Messenger in an interview Tuesday afternoon.

“I am not for all the interest group lobbying here in Michigan, but in for the people struggling here,” he said. In laying out his plans to help Michigan families and residents Clarke said it was about helping people, not politics.

“I don’t care about the political ramifications,” he said.

To address the state’s ongoing budget crisis, Clarke said he would make government at all levels look at new ways of functioning.

“I am going to encourage, or if I have to, mandate, school consolidation and restructuring,” Clarke said. And he would do the same for local units of government. He noted that some counties in the state have as many as 25 separate school districts operating. Meaning 25 elections, 25 superintendents salaries, at least 25 bargaining agreements with teacher’s unions, and so on. Those costs, he said, were such that the state could “not afford them anymore.”

He also said he would push for citizens to support reforming Michigan’s insurance laws, which could save residents as much as 20 percent on their home and auto insurance. That plan has been introduced as a potential statewide ballot measure but requires the approval of both chambers of the state legislature to go on the ballot. Clarke hopes it will be on the Nov. 2 ballot along with his name, he said.

The other immediate way Clarke said he wants to address quality-of-life-issues for Michigan residents is to stop “thousands of high-paying jobs” from leaving the state.

“I want to see how we can immediately train Michigan residents for those jobs and how we can provide incentives to keep those jobs in Michigan,” he said.

Clarke served in the Michigan House from 1991-1992, then served that chamber again from 1999-2002. He has served in the Senate since 2003 and due to term limits, cannot seek re-election to that seat, which spans much of Detroit’s east side and downtown.

As for the crowded Democratic primary field, Clarke said he has no concerns.

“My opponent is this political system here in Lansing,” Clarke said. “That is what we have to defeat. That is my focus. I am not concerned about the other political dynamics.”

Clarke joins State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith of Salem Township, and former State Rep. John Freeman in the Democratic primary. Lansing Mayor Virgil Bernero has not formally confirmed his candidacy, but sources close to his campaign told Michigan Messenger Tuesday he will run. Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon of Redford Township is expected to declare he is running for governor in the coming weeks as well. And former Michigan State University football coach and current MSU Trustee George Perles has said he is considering a run as well.

On the GOP side, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Attorney General Mike Cox, Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland, State Sen. Tom George of Texas Township and Huron County Commissioner Tim Rujan are battling for their party’s nomination.