Republican Cox Poised for Governor Run, But Manoogian Mansion Scandal Looms

Leading Dem, Lt. Gov. John Cherry Seen Weak Against Most GOP Contenders

September 26, 2009
By: Dave Rogers

When will the other shoe drop?

That's the question one Republican hopeful for Michigan governor would like to know.

Mike Cox, the Michigan attorney general, leads all Republican potential candidates for governor in a recent poll.

However, should Cox get the nomination, fallout from the Kwame Kilpatrick scandal in Detroit may be a high hurdle for him to overcome.

The scandal broke when reporters obtained salacious text messages from Kilpatrick revealing a steamy on-going love affair with his chief deputy Christine Beatty.

Cox showed considerable political aplomb in a speaking visit to the Bay City Rotary Club last year and has made several moves calculated to boost his populist credentials.

With 27 percent of voters polled declaring support for Cox, he leads U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland with 23 percent, Mike Bouchard, Oakland County Sheriff, at 15 percent and business executive Rick Snyder and State Senator Tom George tied at 2 percent.

Critics charge Cox failed to investigate the rumored murder of a dancer after a reported wild party by Kilpatrick groupies in 2002. The bash was said to have featured a violent scene involving the mayor's former wife Carlita at the mayoral home, Manoogian Mansion, on the Detroit River.

Tamara Greene, a dancer known as Strawberry, was killed in a drive-by shooting months after the party. The slaying, some believe, was to keep Strawberry from talking about the party.

Kilpatrick says the party never occurred and Cox reportedly has termed the brawl "an urban legend." But allegations still linger and certainly would be raised in a gubernatorial campaign to Cox's detriment.

Whistleblowing police who claim they were ordered off the case to protect Kilpatrick have filed lawsuits and other nasty residue of the Kilpatrick era may continue to wash up. After spending about three months in jail for corruption, the former mayor is hiding out in Texas while the scandal still brews in Motown.

Then again, Cox could seize the brass ring by using his power as the state's chief law enforcement official and bringing the slayer of Greene to justice. He could sweep into the governor's office as a crime buster.

The poll, by the newsletter Inside Michigan Politics (IMP), published by former legislator Bill Ballenger, and the Marketing Resource Group (MRG) of Lansing, shows Lt. Gov. John Cherry weak against most GOP hopefuls.

The poll of 600 likely voters in the 2010 election was taken Sept. 12-20.

"Cherry clearly has trouble," said MRG President Tom Shields. "In a state that has been trending Democrat in recent elections, Cherry is trailing every credible Republican candidate."

Spoiler may be House Speaker Andy Dillon, a rising Democratic star who has angered unions and traditional powers by adopting GOP-style positions on insurance for state workers and other issues.

There is talk of an independent run by Dillon and Ballenger opines that the speaker is a long shot who would cut into the Democratic totals more than the Republicans.

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