Mike Bouchard
Encyclopedia
Michael J."Mike" Bouchard (born April 12, 1956, in Flint, Michigan
) was a Republican candidate for governor of Michigan
and is the sheriff
of Oakland County. Before becoming sheriff, he served in the Michigan
state Senate (1991–1999) and worked as a police officer and small business owner.
Bouchard is the recipient of numerous honors and awards. Most recently, he was inducted into the Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice Wall of Fame (2010) and also, he received the Michigan Earth Day Fest Earth Day Hero Award for his implementation of the Operation Medicine Cabinet (OMC) program at the Sheriff's Office. He also received the National Association of Counties (NACO) Award for Innovative Programs for OMC.
In 2007, Bouchard endorsed former Massachusetts
Governor Mitt Romney
in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries. Romney went on to win the primary vote in Oakland County.
Bouchard ran for a U.S. Senate seat in 2006. He won the Republican
nomination with 60 percent of the vote, but then lost to Debbie Stabenow
, the incumbent Democratic
senator.
During his political career, Bouchard has focused on job creation, preventing crime and supporting small government
principles.
, Congressman Peter Hoekstra and Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox
as Republican candidates.
In September 2009, Bouchard announced the selection of his lieutenant governor
running mate, Michigan Secretary of State
Terri Lynn Land
.
Bouchard finished fourth out of five candidates in the primary, receiving 127,350 votes, or approximately 12% of the 1,044,925 votes cast.
and attended high school at the exclusive private Brother Rice High School
. He and Pam, his wife of 19 years, live in Birmingham, Michigan
with their daughter and two sons.
Bouchard is a 1979 graduate of Michigan State University
, where he majored in criminal justice and police administration.
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
) was a Republican candidate for governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
and is the sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Oakland County. Before becoming sheriff, he served in the 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"....
state Senate (1991–1999) and worked as a police officer and small business owner.
Careers
As Oakland County sheriff, Bouchard leads one of the nation’s largest sheriff’s departments with 1,200 personnel. In 2008, he was elected president of the Major County Sheriffs’ Association, a group of sheriffs who serve counties or parishes with a population of 500,000 or more.Bouchard is the recipient of numerous honors and awards. Most recently, he was inducted into the Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice Wall of Fame (2010) and also, he received the Michigan Earth Day Fest Earth Day Hero Award for his implementation of the Operation Medicine Cabinet (OMC) program at the Sheriff's Office. He also received the National Association of Counties (NACO) Award for Innovative Programs for OMC.
In 2007, Bouchard endorsed former Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Governor Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries. Romney went on to win the primary vote in Oakland County.
Bouchard ran for a U.S. Senate seat in 2006. He won the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination with 60 percent of the vote, but then lost to Debbie Stabenow
Debbie Stabenow
Deborah Ann Greer "Debbie" Stabenow is the junior United States Senator from Michigan and a member of the Democratic Party. Before her election to the U.S. Senate, she was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Michigan's 8th congressional district from 1997 to 2001...
, the incumbent Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
senator.
During his political career, Bouchard has focused on job creation, preventing crime and supporting small government
Small government
A Small government is one which minimizes its own activities. It is a concept important to classical liberalism and libertarianism.-In Hong Kong:...
principles.
2010 Gubernatorial Race
Bouchard joined business person Rick Snyder, state Senator Tom GeorgeTom George
Thomas "Tom" George was a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. As a member of the Michigan State Senate, he represented Kalamazoo County as well as an eastern portion of Van Buren County...
, Congressman Peter Hoekstra and Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox
Mike Cox
Mike Cox was Michigan's 52nd Attorney General; the first Republican to hold that office since 1955. Cox took office in 2003 and won re-election in 2006. Michigan Governor Jennifer M...
as Republican candidates.
In September 2009, Bouchard announced the selection of his lieutenant governor
Lieutenant 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"...
running mate, Michigan Secretary of State
Michigan Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is the third-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan and one of four great offices of state. As the name implies, the officeholder was originally responsible for much of state government, but now the duties are similar to those of the other 47 secretaries of states...
Terri Lynn Land
Terri Lynn Land
Terri Lynn Land was the 41st secretary of the State of Michigan. Land graduated from Grandville High School, and later received a bachelor of arts in political science from Hope College in Holland, Michigan...
.
Bouchard finished fourth out of five candidates in the primary, receiving 127,350 votes, or approximately 12% of the 1,044,925 votes cast.
Personal
Bouchard was raised in Oakland CountyOakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
and attended high school at the exclusive private Brother Rice High School
Brother Rice High School (Michigan)
Brother Rice High School is a Roman Catholic all-boys non-residential college prep school with approximately 700 students located in Bloomfield Township, Michigan . Until 1993 its address was in neighboring Birmingham, Michigan's postal district. In 1993 the U.S...
. He and Pam, his wife of 19 years, live in Birmingham, Michigan
Birmingham, Michigan
Birmingham is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan and an affluent suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,103...
with their daughter and two sons.
Bouchard is a 1979 graduate of Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, where he majored in criminal justice and police administration.
Electoral history
- Michigan U.S. Senate election, 2006
- Mike Bouchard (R), 41%
- Debbie StabenowDebbie StabenowDeborah Ann Greer "Debbie" Stabenow is the junior United States Senator from Michigan and a member of the Democratic Party. Before her election to the U.S. Senate, she was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Michigan's 8th congressional district from 1997 to 2001...
(D) (inc.), 57%
- 2006 election for U.S. Senate - Republican Primary
- Mike Bouchard (R), 60%
- Keith Butler (R), 40%