While many have been focused on GOP gubernatorial hopefuls like Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and state Attorney General Mike Cox, blogs and media missed the announcement by Kalamazoo area state senator Tom George that he is exploring a run for Gov. I ran into Sen. George on Friday night and he gave me his George for Governor card.  

George is a doctor who lives in Texas Township, a small township just northwest of Kalamazoo. According to his website, he has authored 43 public acts in his time in the legislature.

Tom has authored forty three public acts including “Kevin’s Law” which facilitates outpatient treatment for the mentally ill and laws reducing taxes on businesses providing health insurance benefits, allowing insurance companies to give discounts for healthy behavior, requiring the collection of DNA from convicted felons, and creating incentives for healthy behavior among Medicaid recipients.

While George may be exploring a run, the noise around more prominent choices was overwhelming at the convention this weekend- at least from outside the convention hall. Cox and Land had parties, and made appearances at various breakfasts. And while not a declared candidate, signs for Congressman Pete Hoektra were posted all over the Radisson Hotel, the Lansing Center and the pedestrian walkway between the two sites.