Gregory Creswell
Encyclopedia
Gregory “Greg” Creswell is a Libertarian
politician from Michigan
. He made the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
the centerpiece of his 2006 campaign for governor. The measure passed, by a 16% margin, even though it was opposed by Creswell's gubernatorial rivals and a conglomerate of groups called “One United Michigan”. Creswell placed third, with less than 1% of the vote, behind incumbent
Governor Jennifer Granholm
, Democratic, and Dick Devos
, the Republican candidate, but ahead of Douglas Campbell
, the Green Party
Candidate.
in 1975 and Wayne County Community College District student. He has been married for over 20 years and is the father of two.
, including work at its headquarters. Creswell was a vocal representative of the petition drive to put the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
on the ballot.
convention in Chelsea, Michigan
. His campaign raised over $16,000 in donations. which was dwarfed by the Granholm and Devos campaigns, but in excess of that raised by Douglas Campbell
, or that raised by Bhagwan Dashairya both of whom qualified for a reporting waivers (only available to campaigns with budgets under $1,000). The Creswell campaign spent over $10,000 on radio advertising. The largest investment was made in advertisements on Detroit AM Radio stations WJR
and WXYT. These commercials specifically targeted Devos and Granholm by referring to them as candidates of “the two old parties,” and berating them for supporting state-supported preferences based on race and sex.
candidate Scotty Boman. Boman was Chair
of the Libertarian Party of Michigan at the time. Boman, a college professor, had run for a variety of offices as a Libertarian
. He had also been a member of the Wayne State University
Student Council
, had run for the Detroit City Council
, and had run for State Board of Education.
.
, and he defended the validity of the associated petition effort. His position statements referred to Affirmative Action
as “state-sponsored discrimination
,” when it set different standards based on a person’s race or gender. He claimed this was the position of the Libertarian Party of Michigan
which addresses this topic in its platform.
was based on the belief that people should be free to engage in any “peaceful and honest” activity. He claimed he would protect civil liberties by supporting equal rights
for gay couples, medical marijuana
, and “the right to keep and bear arms
.” He also claimed there was a link between civil liberties and fiscal responsibility. He also opposed restrictions and taxes on internet
transactions.
,” and expressed the belief that what he called a “free-market economy
” would create jobs, lower costs, and improve the standard of living. He supported changing government policies by letting the single business tax expire (without replacing it), cutting the budget, ending what he called “corporate welfare” and lifting regulations which he claimed were “burdensome,” on small businesses. He also opposed restrictions and taxes on internet
transactions.
He claimed that politicians didn’t created jobs but, “…only shifted jobs from the private sector to government employment.” He accuse them of rewarding “mismanagement and irresponsibility” with “taxpayer funded bailouts.”
While opposing mandatory taxes, Creswell supported what he called a “Tax me more fund,” so those who supported higher taxes could pay them.
In his position statements, he advocated the removal of taxes on private property, fuel and the internet. He also supported the privatizing licensing. He claimed that many licensing laws were “designed to entrap people.” He argued that people should not have to “…spend more on permits than materials to improve their homes.” He called for an end to what he called the “abuse of fines and forfeitures.”
.” In his published statements, he accused politicians of keeping people in prison who were no threat to the public. He argued that it was too expensive to use prisons in this manner when people had what he called “real expenses.” He articulated the belief that prisons existed to protect citizens from what he called, “brutal criminals who would not hesitate to prey on others,” and said it was a “waste” of money and “immoral” to imprison people for what he termed, “unhealthy alternative lifestyles, seeking non-traditional medicine for terminal illness, or trying to relieve the suffering of others.
If elected, he vowed to pardon “people imprisoned for medical marijuana, physician assisted suicide
, non-payment of taxes, and substance related charges.” He supported what he called, “penalties that result in restitution
to the victims and the taxpayers” for what he referred to as “non-violent property offenses.” He also spoke in favor of diverting more money to arresting those he called “violent offenders,” and “enforcing laws against theft and fraud."
Libertarian Party of Michigan
The Libertarian Party of Michigan was founded in Taylor, Michigan in 1972 and remains on the ballot; as Michigan’s third oldest active political party...
politician from Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He made the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative , or Proposal 2 , was a ballot initiative in the U.S. state of Michigan that passed into Michigan Constitutional law by a 58% to 42% margin on November 7, 2006, according to results officially certified by the Michigan Secretary of State. By Michigan law, the...
the centerpiece of his 2006 campaign for governor. The measure passed, by a 16% margin, even though it was opposed by Creswell's gubernatorial rivals and a conglomerate of groups called “One United Michigan”. Creswell placed third, with less than 1% of the vote, behind incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Governor Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...
, Democratic, and Dick Devos
Dick DeVos
Dick DeVos is a businessman and Republican politician from Michigan. The son of billionaire Amway co-founder Richard DeVos, he served as CEO of the multi-level marketing consumer goods distribution company from 1993–2002...
, the Republican candidate, but ahead of Douglas Campbell
Douglas Campbell (Michigan politician)
Douglas Campbell is a two-time Green Party Candidate for Governor of Michigan and a 2008 candidate for the United States House of Representatives. In 2002 Campbell received 25,236 votes...
, the Green Party
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
Candidate.
Early life
Creswell was born in Detroit in 1957. He was a graduate of Chadsey High SchoolDetroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools is a school district that covers all of the city of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The student population of the Detroit Public Schools is about 65,971 , which is down about 9.7% from the previous school year. Detroit Public Charter Schools educate an additional 56,000...
in 1975 and Wayne County Community College District student. He has been married for over 20 years and is the father of two.
Political activities prior to 2006
Creswell claims to have donated his time, skills and earnings to charities and social causes such as his church and the pro-gun organization, Brass Roots. Creswell continued doing volunteer work for the Libertarian Party of MichiganLibertarian Party of Michigan
The Libertarian Party of Michigan was founded in Taylor, Michigan in 1972 and remains on the ballot; as Michigan’s third oldest active political party...
, including work at its headquarters. Creswell was a vocal representative of the petition drive to put the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative , or Proposal 2 , was a ballot initiative in the U.S. state of Michigan that passed into Michigan Constitutional law by a 58% to 42% margin on November 7, 2006, according to results officially certified by the Michigan Secretary of State. By Michigan law, the...
on the ballot.
2006 gubernatorial campaign
Creswell was nominated on May 13 at the 2006 Libertarian Party of MichiganLibertarian Party of Michigan
The Libertarian Party of Michigan was founded in Taylor, Michigan in 1972 and remains on the ballot; as Michigan’s third oldest active political party...
convention in Chelsea, Michigan
Chelsea, Michigan
Chelsea is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,398 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a village....
. His campaign raised over $16,000 in donations. which was dwarfed by the Granholm and Devos campaigns, but in excess of that raised by Douglas Campbell
Douglas Campbell (Michigan politician)
Douglas Campbell is a two-time Green Party Candidate for Governor of Michigan and a 2008 candidate for the United States House of Representatives. In 2002 Campbell received 25,236 votes...
, or that raised by Bhagwan Dashairya both of whom qualified for a reporting waivers (only available to campaigns with budgets under $1,000). The Creswell campaign spent over $10,000 on radio advertising. The largest investment was made in advertisements on Detroit AM Radio stations WJR
WJR
WJR is a radio station in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It broadcasts a news/talk format. It is a class A clear channel station whose broadcasts can be heard throughout most of the Midwest, eastern United States and Canada at night, making it one of the most powerful radio stations in the...
and WXYT. These commercials specifically targeted Devos and Granholm by referring to them as candidates of “the two old parties,” and berating them for supporting state-supported preferences based on race and sex.
Running-mate
Creswell's campaign was shared with his Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
candidate Scotty Boman. Boman was Chair
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the Libertarian Party of Michigan at the time. Boman, a college professor, had run for a variety of offices as a Libertarian
Libertarian Party of Michigan
The Libertarian Party of Michigan was founded in Taylor, Michigan in 1972 and remains on the ballot; as Michigan’s third oldest active political party...
. He had also been a member of the Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
Student Council
Student council
Student council is a curricular or extra-curricular activity for students within elementary and secondary schools around the world. Present in most public and private K-12 school systems across the United States, Canada and Australia these bodies are alternatively entitled student council, student...
, had run for the Detroit City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, and had run for State Board of Education.
Spokesperson of Liberty
On November 19, 2006, Creswell received The Libertarian Party of Michigan’s Spokesperson on Liberty Award at their annual Liberty Fest in Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
.
Racial preferences
Creswell’s position statements focussed on what he called, “racial preferences.” On his campaign’s site he claimed to be the only gubernatorial candidate supporting the Michigan Civil Rights InitiativeMichigan Civil Rights Initiative
The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative , or Proposal 2 , was a ballot initiative in the U.S. state of Michigan that passed into Michigan Constitutional law by a 58% to 42% margin on November 7, 2006, according to results officially certified by the Michigan Secretary of State. By Michigan law, the...
, and he defended the validity of the associated petition effort. His position statements referred to Affirmative Action
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
as “state-sponsored discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
,” when it set different standards based on a person’s race or gender. He claimed this was the position of the Libertarian Party of Michigan
Libertarian Party of Michigan
The Libertarian Party of Michigan was founded in Taylor, Michigan in 1972 and remains on the ballot; as Michigan’s third oldest active political party...
which addresses this topic in its platform.
Civil liberties
In his position statements, Creswell said his approach to civil libertiesCivil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
was based on the belief that people should be free to engage in any “peaceful and honest” activity. He claimed he would protect civil liberties by supporting equal rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
for gay couples, medical marijuana
Medical cannabis
Medical cannabis refers to the use of parts of the herb cannabis as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy, or to synthetic forms of specific cannabinoids such as THC as a physician-recommended form of medicine...
, and “the right to keep and bear arms
Right to bear arms
The right to keep and bear arms is the assertion that people have a personal right to firearms for individual use, or a collective right to bear arms in a militia, or both....
.” He also claimed there was a link between civil liberties and fiscal responsibility. He also opposed restrictions and taxes on internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
transactions.
Economy
Creswell rejected “government planningPlanned economy
A planned economy is an economic system in which decisions regarding production and investment are embodied in a plan formulated by a central authority, usually by a government agency...
,” and expressed the belief that what he called a “free-market economy
Market economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
” would create jobs, lower costs, and improve the standard of living. He supported changing government policies by letting the single business tax expire (without replacing it), cutting the budget, ending what he called “corporate welfare” and lifting regulations which he claimed were “burdensome,” on small businesses. He also opposed restrictions and taxes on internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
transactions.
He claimed that politicians didn’t created jobs but, “…only shifted jobs from the private sector to government employment.” He accuse them of rewarding “mismanagement and irresponsibility” with “taxpayer funded bailouts.”
While opposing mandatory taxes, Creswell supported what he called a “Tax me more fund,” so those who supported higher taxes could pay them.
In his position statements, he advocated the removal of taxes on private property, fuel and the internet. He also supported the privatizing licensing. He claimed that many licensing laws were “designed to entrap people.” He argued that people should not have to “…spend more on permits than materials to improve their homes.” He called for an end to what he called the “abuse of fines and forfeitures.”
Law enforcement
Creswell said politicians should stop "wasting money" on what he called “non-violent crimeVictimless crime (political philosophy)
A victimless crime is a term used to refer to actions that have been ruled illegal but do not directly violate or threaten the rights of another individual. It often involves consensual acts in which two or more persons agree to commit a criminal offence in which no other person is involved...
.” In his published statements, he accused politicians of keeping people in prison who were no threat to the public. He argued that it was too expensive to use prisons in this manner when people had what he called “real expenses.” He articulated the belief that prisons existed to protect citizens from what he called, “brutal criminals who would not hesitate to prey on others,” and said it was a “waste” of money and “immoral” to imprison people for what he termed, “unhealthy alternative lifestyles, seeking non-traditional medicine for terminal illness, or trying to relieve the suffering of others.
If elected, he vowed to pardon “people imprisoned for medical marijuana, physician assisted suicide
Assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...
, non-payment of taxes, and substance related charges.” He supported what he called, “penalties that result in restitution
Restitution
The law of restitution is the law of gains-based recovery. It is to be contrasted with the law of compensation, which is the law of loss-based recovery. Obligations to make restitution and obligations to pay compensation are each a type of legal response to events in the real world. When a court...
to the victims and the taxpayers” for what he referred to as “non-violent property offenses.” He also spoke in favor of diverting more money to arresting those he called “violent offenders,” and “enforcing laws against theft and fraud."