LANSING, Mich. — Michigan gubernatorial candidate Donna Brandenburg says she wants to dramatically reduce the size of state government, eliminate property and income taxes and give residents greater access to government spending records.
Brandenburg, who is running under the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan banner, outlined her priorities during an interview with independent journalist Dave Bondy. The party is the Michigan affiliate of the national Constitution Party.
Brandenburg, a business owner who previously ran for governor in 2022, said her campaign is focused on government accountability, constitutional rights and reducing what she believes is excessive government interference in people’s lives.
“Transparency, accountability and election integrity has to be at the top of the list,” Brandenburg said. “If we don’t have free and fair elections, we don’t have a country.”
Eliminating property and income taxes
One of Brandenburg’s most sweeping proposals involves eliminating property taxes, which she argues are unconstitutional.
She said the current system allows government to take property away from people who fail to pay taxes, undermining the concept of private ownership.
“If somebody can take away what you have through legislation, you’re a leaseholder, you’re not an owner,” Brandenburg said.
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She also called for eliminating state and federal income taxes.
Asked how government services would be funded without those revenues, Brandenburg said she believes exposing waste, fraud and unnecessary spending would substantially reduce the amount of money government needs.
Her proposal includes publishing detailed state spending records so residents can independently examine how taxpayer dollars are used.
“We need to publish every single penny that’s been spent by the state and let everybody, we the people, have access to all of it,” she said.
Brandenburg did not provide a detailed replacement revenue plan or specific calculations showing how essential services, including schools, roads and public safety, would be funded without those taxes.
Expanding Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act
Brandenburg also called for expanding government transparency by opening the governor’s office and state Legislature to public records requests.
Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act generally exempts the governor’s office and Legislature, an arrangement that has drawn criticism from government transparency advocates.
Brandenburg said she would make changing those exemptions an immediate priority.
“That needs to be ended day one,” she said.
She also criticized fees associated with obtaining public records, arguing that taxpayers should not have to pay additional money to access information produced by government agencies.
Opposition to surveillance cameras
Brandenburg expressed strong opposition to automated license plate readers, including cameras operated by Flock Safety that have become increasingly common in Michigan communities.
Supporters of the technology argue that the cameras help law enforcement identify stolen vehicles and investigate crimes. Critics have raised concerns about privacy and government surveillance.
Brandenburg said she believes the systems violate constitutional protections and should be eliminated.
“They need to be eliminated entirely,” she said.
She also alleged that government officials and law enforcement personnel could misuse the technology. The interview did not establish evidence supporting those allegations.
Election integrity concerns
Brandenburg questioned Michigan’s election procedures and repeated allegations involving voting equipment and election security.
She claimed that a cybersecurity team she worked with identified voting machines connecting to the internet at regular intervals.
The allegations were not independently verified during the interview, and Brandenburg did not provide documentation establishing that the alleged connections affected election results.
She also discussed disputes surrounding her unsuccessful 2022 campaign, alleging misconduct in efforts to remove her from the ballot.
Brandenburg said she believes Michigan’s political system favors the two major parties and makes it difficult for third-party candidates to receive equal attention.
Renewable energy and farmland
Brandenburg criticized the expansion of wind and solar energy projects in Michigan, particularly those built on agricultural land.
She said her business experience and research into renewable energy led her to question the environmental and economic benefits of some projects.
Brandenburg raised concerns about wind turbine maintenance, the cost of removing equipment and the potential long-term effects of solar developments on farmland.
“We should never be taking up farmland for solar, wind or data centers,” she said.
She made several technical claims about energy losses, equipment efficiency and possible soil contamination that were not independently verified during the interview.
Education and parental rights
On education, Brandenburg said she supports giving parents and teachers more control over schooling and reducing the influence of government and large education organizations.
She called for abolishing the National Education Association and another organization she identified during the interview, arguing that decisions about children’s education should rest primarily with families and educators.
Brandenburg did not outline a detailed school funding or school choice proposal during the discussion.
Reducing the size of state government
Brandenburg also suggested using the governor’s budget authority to reduce spending on state government operations.
She questioned the need for lawmakers to maintain offices in Lansing and suggested legislators could spend more time in their districts meeting with constituents.
“If the legislators go home and show up in Lansing a couple of times a year and have to face their constituents, I’m pretty sure we’re going to see a behavior change right there,” she said.
Such changes would raise questions about the governor’s legal authority over legislative operations and appropriations.
Business experience
Brandenburg, 63, said her experience owning multiple businesses, including a union pipeline construction company, has prepared her to work with people from different political and professional backgrounds.
She said successful leadership requires communication, cooperation and a willingness to consider different viewpoints.
Brandenburg said she was born and raised in Michigan and wants to address problems she believes are driving businesses and younger residents away from the state.
She also emphasized her willingness to communicate directly with voters, saying she personally responds to messages and phone calls.
Brandenburg encouraged residents to research candidates beyond the two major political parties before casting their ballots in the Nov. 3 election.
Her campaign information is available through the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan.