Governor Rick Snyder

Governor Rick Snyder
Name	Richard D. Snyder
Office	48th Governor of Michigan
Term start	January 1, 2011
Term end	January 1, 2019
Predecessor	Jennifer Granholm
Successor	Gretchen Whitmer
Birth name	Richard Dale Snyder
Birth date	August 19, 1958
Birth place	Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.
Party	Republican
Spouse	Sue Snyder
Alma mater	University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Governor Rick Snyder Richard Dale Snyder (born August 19, 1958) is an American politician, businessman, and venture capitalist who served as the 48th Governor of Michigan from 2011 to 2019. A graduate of the University of Michigan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Snyder led corporate turnarounds at Gateway, Inc. and founded Arbortext before entering electoral politics, winning the 2010 gubernatorial election and overseeing policy debates on fiscal reform, regulatory change, and infrastructure. His administration became nationally prominent during the Flint water crisis, prompting multiple inquiries, legal actions, and debates among state and federal officials, journalists, and civic organizations.

Early life and education

Snyder was born in Battle Creek, Michigan and raised in St. Joseph, Michigan and Ann Arbor, Michigan, the son of parents who worked in local industry and small business. He attended Hillsdale College for preparatory studies before earning a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he studied under faculty connected to lean manufacturing and operations research influences such as collaborations with Toyota and General Motors. While at University of Michigan, he participated in campus organizations and internships that connected him to the Michigan business community and regional technology incubators.

Business career and private sector leadership

Snyder began his career in product development and operations at Ford Motor Company affiliates and later joined Gateway, Inc. as part of executive leadership, contributing to strategic initiatives in personal computing. He co-founded and led Arbortext, a technical publishing software company that attracted investment from Kleiner Perkins-style venture capital and engaged with clients including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics. After selling Arbortext, Snyder served as president and CEO of Gateway, Inc. during a period of restructuring, negotiating with boards, shareholders, and creditors alongside firms such as Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs-affiliated advisors. He later became involved with private equity and angel investing, serving on the boards of organizations including Kmart Corporation-linked entities and regional economic development groups like Business Leaders for Michigan and Ann Arbor SPARK.

Political career and 2010 gubernatorial campaign

Snyder emerged as a political candidate in the context of debates involving the Michigan Legislature, Democratic Party, and Republican Party state coalitions. Announcing a bid for governor in 2010, he ran a campaign emphasizing fiscal discipline, regulatory reform, and municipal reinvention, attracting endorsements from figures and organizations such as Mitt Romney, John Engler, Rick Perry, and business groups including Chamber of Commerce affiliates. His primary and general election efforts engaged electoral mechanisms tied to the Michigan Secretary of State and ballot operations in counties like Wayne County, Oakland County, and Macomb County. Snyder defeated Democratic nominee Dante Scala-style opponents and ultimately won against Democratic nominee Virg Bernero in the general election, benefiting from debates over the policies of outgoing Governor Jennifer Granholm and economic conditions in Detroit and Flint.

Governorship (2011–2019)

As governor, Snyder promoted policy initiatives involving state budget restructuring, tax incentives, and regulatory changes coordinated with the Michigan Legislature, including interactions with speakers such as Jase Bolger and leaders like Tonya Schuitmaker. He supported legislation on right-to-work style employment issues and backed incentives to attract automotive investment from companies such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler. Snyder appointed members to the Michigan Supreme Court and to state executive agencies, working with officials including Rick Snyder (same name banned), lieutenant governors, and cabinet secretaries from various administrations. His administration responded to municipal financial distress with emergency financial managers under laws such as the Emergency Manager Law, affecting municipalities including Detroit Public Schools and cities like Detroit and Flint. Snyder also engaged with federal programs administered by the United States Department of Transportation, EPA, and Department of Homeland Security on infrastructure and public safety initiatives.

Flint water crisis and investigations

During Snyder's second term, the Flint water crisis became a national controversy after a decision to switch the Flint, Michigan water supply to the Karegnondi Water Authority-linked sources led to lead contamination and elevated blood lead levels in children. State decisions involving the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and emergency management appointed under laws debated with advocates from ACLU of Michigan prompted investigations by the United States Department of Justice, the Michigan Attorney General's office, and the Congressional Research Service-informed hearings in the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate. Journalists from outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, ProPublica, and MLive documented timelines and memos linking actions by state officials to public-health outcomes, leading to criminal referrals, grand jury investigations, and civil lawsuits brought by families and municipalities. Independent review panels including experts from Harvard University, the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and national advisory committees examined public-health responses, regulatory failures, and recommendations for infrastructure investment approved by federal grants from agencies like the EPA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Post-gubernatorial activities and legacy

After leaving office, Snyder returned to roles in private-sector advisory work, corporate boards, and nonprofit initiatives focused on urban revitalization, infrastructure finance, and public policy, partnering with institutions such as Brookings Institution, Council on Foreign Relations-adjacent programs, and regional development organizations. His legacy remains debated: supporters credit his administration with attracting manufacturing investment and fiscal reforms tied to collaborations with Toyota Motor Corporation-linked supplier networks and employment initiatives in Detroit, while critics emphasize accountability debates stemming from the Flint crisis and policy disputes with advocacy groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council and civil-rights organizations. Snyder has delivered talks at venues like Civic Hall, participated in panels with former governors including John Engler and Jennifer Granholm, and faced continuing litigation and public scrutiny tied to decisions made during his tenure.

Category:Governors of Michigan Category:1958 births Category:Living people