ANN ARBOR – Serial entrepreneur, technology investor and University of Michigan graduate Rick Snyder – the former President and COO of Gateway Computer – has formed an exploratory committee to evaluate a run for Michigan governor in 2010. He would run as a Republican.
“I will be spending the next several weeks crisscrossing the state, meeting with citizens and business leaders hearing firsthand the problems and issues that they face,” Snyder said in announcing the formation of the committee in a press release.
“Our economy is in shambles and there is no doubt we are heading in the wrong direction. The economic problems in this state started long before the economic meltdown hitting the rest of this country due, in large part, to the lack of leadership and vision of the professional politicians in Lansing.”
Snyder declined a request for an interview.
But in his press release, he said the No. 1 priority will be to provide a “vision to the people of this state that will give them hope and a clear road map back to sound economic principles and financial security. If I run, it will be to win the Republican nomination and the general election and do so in such a way that we end the politics as usual approach Michigan has grown so tired of. I am in the process of putting together the best team of advisors this state and country has to offer.”
Snyder is the co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Ardesta, one of the nation’s largest investment firms focused on micro and nanotechnology companies. He was also the former President and COO of Gateway. He has been an active advisor to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. as well, plus has been very active in helping other economic development groups across the state, as well as the Michigan Venture Capital Association.
Snyder and his wife Sue live in Ann Arbor and have three children.
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