Loading ...Submitted by Campaign Staff on Wed, 08/25/2010 – 5:23pm
In Calley, Snyder Sees ‘Partner’ Who Will Help Break Lansing’s Partisan Log Jam And Reinvent Michigan
Grand Rapids, MI. — Rick Snyder today sent a clear message that Michigan needs a fresh start by naming 33-year-old state Rep. Brian Calley as his pick for lieutenant governor during a town hall meeting at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Snyder said he was impressed by Calley’s grasp on the challenges facing the state and his experience working on tough issues.
“I was looking for a partner, not just a running mate. Brian Calley will help seize our one chance to Reinvent Michigan,” Snyder said. “He’s someone who shares my positive vision for Michigan’s future. He’s someone who can hit the ground running on Day One and help shoulder the load of working with the Legislature to reinvent our state.”
Calley, of Portland, is a relatively new face to the Michigan political scene, currently serving his second term in the state House. Well-respected and a proven conservative, he has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to work with both Republican and Democrat lawmakers to find common-sense solutions.
“With Rick Snyder, I think we have a real chance to finally break the partisan logjam in Lansing, and I want to be part of that,” Calley said. “Rick’s positive message is setting the right tone for getting things done. I am honored to be Rick Snyder’s partner in helping reinvent Michigan.”
Snyder said he knew Calley was the right person for the job after meeting with him.
“Brian is a family man and a man of integrity. He wants to make Michigan a place where his kids can grow up, get a good education and find a job instead of having to move to Chicago or Texas. He wants what all of us want – he wants Michigan to succeed,” Snyder said.
As a former banker and member of the House Tax Policy Committee, Calley has been involved in some of the most complex legislation lawmakers have worked on in recent years. He earned some name recognition statewide for leading the fight to prevent property taxes from going up when property values go down and holding meetings showing homeowners how to appeal their property taxes.
Calley made national news last year when he stood up to the government for a family accused of running an unlicensed, illegal day care because they babysat their neighbor’s children – without accepting payment – while they waited for the school bus in the morning.
Calley recently won a landslide victory in a hard-fought primary election in the highly-conservative 33rd Senate District, but he will have to forgo that campaign in order to run for lieutenant governor.
Calley is married to Julie Calley, who is an Ionia County Commissioner. They have three children. Calley is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in business administration and holds an MBA from Grand Valley State University.
Background on Brian Calley
State Rep. Brian Calley was elected to the Michigan Legislature in 2006 and was reelected in 2008. He currently serves as minority vice chair of the House Tax Policy Committee. Additionally, he serves on the health policy and banking and financial services committees.
Outside of the Legislature, Brian serves on the Red Cross Great Lakes Region Board of Directors and the Portland Economic Development Corporation Board.
Prior to his time in the state House, Brian spent 10 years as a community banker and small business lender. He was also elected to the Ionia County Board of Commissioners, serving from 2003 to 2006 as the vice chairman for all four years of his tenure there.
Since his teenage years, Brian has been involved in local, state and national Republican politics. Currently, he serves as chairman of the Ionia County Republican Committee.
In early 2009 Brian was named “2008 Outstanding Citizen of the Year” by the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce. He was also named “Legislator of the Year” for 2008 by the Small Business Association of Michigan.
Brian is a Graduate of Michigan State University (1998), with a BA in business administration and Grand Valley State University (2000) with an MBA in business administration.
Brian is an active member of Portland Baptist Church where he is a song leader and pianist as well as a past deacon, AWANA leader and Sunday school teacher. His wife Julie teaches Sunday school to middle school age children.
Brian is a member of Right to Life of Michigan, the Michigan Farm Bureau and the National Rifle Association.
Brian and Julie have been married for 14 years and live in Portland. They have a six-year-old son named Collin, a 3-year-old daughter named Reagan and a six-month-old daughter named Karagan.
