The Michigan Messenger

RightMichigan.com posted an interview with Calhoun County Clerk and Register of Deeds Anne Norlander on her planned bid to replace current Republican Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land in 2010. Norlander is a Republican who has served in her elected post for 20 years, and as one of three state wide elected Republicans to win election in Calhoun county in November.
 
During the interview, Norlander cites her Kindergarten evaluation as her basis for public and community service.

[RIGHT MICHIGAN:]And I think those numbers really speak to your broader appeal. You’re a Republican but more than that, you deliver. What inspired you to get involved with public service in the first place?

[NORLANDER:] Public Service has always been a part of my heritage. My maternal grandfather was the Sixth District Republican Chair in Minnesota. In 1924 he was chosen as a delegate to attend the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, and took part in the nomination of Calvin Coolidge as President of the United States. My father was a Municipal and District Court Judge. My husband is a former Calhoun County Prosecutor. I have always been involved in my community. I served as a County Commissioner from 1984-1988 and have chaired numerous Presidential and Gubernatorial campaigns. I am the 7th District Vice-Chair, a former State Committee Member, Budget Committee Member, and introduced the Optical Scan Voting Method now used for voting at State Conventions.

Believe it or not, I still have my original Kindergarten Report Card. My teacher, “Miss Barbara” wrote: Anne associates with others in a pleasant manner. She is concerned about the welfare of others – always willing to help. Anne is responsible, likes change and variety and is always anxious to try something new. Anne is a leader.

As the saying goes, “All you need to know, you learned in Kindergarten”. I would like to take the skills I learned in Kindergarten to Lansing. It is vitally important we elect leaders who “work and play well with others”!

Norlander also said in the interview she intended to build on the experiences of Land and previous Republican Secretary of State and now Congresswoman Candice Miller.

Building on the successes of Candice Miller and Terri Lynn Land, I intend to continue to improve customer service, maintain election integrity and enforce campaign finance laws, by making wise use of technology to improve the voting process and increase efficiency in branch offices. Government at all levels will continue to face tight budgets. I will continue to find innovative ways to reduce expenses while maintaining a high level of customer service. We’ve succeeded in Calhoun County, I can hardly wait to “Make Government Work” in Lansing.

She also said, she has had her eyes on the SOS office for eight years.

I have the vision and the drive to change how government works. My goal was to be Secretary of State eight years ago, however, life sometimes gets in the way of your dreams.. Sometimes candidates choose their time to run, and at other times, time chooses the candidate. It’s my time. My administrative experience as a County Clerk and Register of Deeds and my twenty year involvement with our Republican State party are a perfect recipe for success in 2010. The 2010 election must be about electability and experience. The citizens of Michigan deserve no less from their executive officers.

Norlander has a website up.