Indian-born small businessman Shri Thanedar announced he is joining the race for governor of Michigan today in Detroit.
Thanedar is seeking the Democratic nomination. He's never held public office, but says he and his family will serve the state that helped him achieve success.
“We have done well for our family, but it is time now to try and help others in my state achieve their American dream. Within months, I sold my business, gave my staff a $1.5 million bonus, and decided to devote the rest of my life to public service,” Thanedar said.
Thanedar says he wants to start serving Michiganders by raising the minimum wage.
“If you work hard, you deserve dignity. That starts with a $15 minimum wage, indexed to inflation,” he said.
His campaign will also focus on public education reform, investing in infrastructure, and increasing government transparency.
Thanedar made several remarks to separate himself from current Governor Rick Snyder and the Republicans in Lansing and Washington. Most of those remarks are about his business background.
“I built small businesses from the ground up, rather than being handed billion-dollar corporations. I created jobs in America, in Michigan, and did not outsource jobs to foreign countries,” he said.
Thanedar says this state can no longer be run like a business.
“I don’t believe that you can govern by spreadsheets, and we all know that thinking like that leads to disasters like Flint,” he said.
