Perry Johnson Vows to Cut Income Tax, Slash Spending in Michigan Governor Bid

GOP candidate says business experience and efficiency focus would “revamp the state” and return nearly $5,000 a year to Michigan families

Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson says his life story is rooted in middle class values, business discipline and a belief that Michigan can reclaim its reputation as a national economic powerhouse.

In an interview, Johnson detailed his upbringing, business background and plans if elected governor.

Johnson said he grew up in Dalton, Illinois, on the south side of Chicago, in what he described as a middle class household.

“My dad was a pilot in World War II. My mom was a nurse in the Army WACs, and they loved this country,” Johnson said. “From the time I was raised, they always told me America is unlike any country on this planet. And in America, you can do anything, be anything.”

He attended a small Catholic school and became an Eagle Scout in eighth grade. Johnson said his early ambition was to be “the first American pope,” but later chose a different path.

“I very much believe in Jesus Christ,” he said. “I believe the most important thing in the world is to be able to make the world a better place because of you, and to treat other people the way you want to be treated.”

Johnson said his parents did not have the money to send him to college. He earned a degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois and later came to Michigan for graduate school. His career took off in the auto industry in the 1980s, where he worked for BorgWarner and focused on improving quality control.

“I ended up convincing the whole group there that what they needed to do was to implement statistical process control throughout their supply base,” he said.

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Johnson later started his own company training manufacturers in quality systems and eventually founded Perry Johnson Registrars, which he said became “the largest registrar for ISO 9000 in the United States.” He said his businesses now operate in dozens of countries.

“I spent my entire life bringing quality and efficiency to companies. That’s all I’ve done,” Johnson said. “I’m literally the expert in this.”

He said he wants to apply that business background to state government.

“My goal right now is to get rid of all of this excess spending, which is ridiculous. I want to trim the fat,” he said.

Johnson is calling for the elimination of Michigan’s state income tax. He claimed doing so would return “$4,747 every year to every family in Michigan” based on median income figures.

“When you get that money back, you now have an extra almost $5,000 in your pocket, tax free,” he said.

On business policy, Johnson criticized the repeal of right to work and what he described as burdensome regulations.

“When you have a great environment for business, you have a great environment for people and they want to move here,” he said. “So we can’t have a situation like that and then have an expectation that Michigan’s going to boom.”

He also pointed to what he called excessive state spending, citing billions in unemployment and Medicaid overpayments and increased state budgets in recent years.

“We started out with a $56 billion budget when Gretchen took office. Now we’re up to $88 billion,” Johnson said. “And yet all we’ve had is a decline in every area.”

On education, Johnson said Michigan has fallen behind despite high per pupil spending.

“We’re number five in the country in spend,” he said. “And yet in the last eight years, all we’ve done is gone downhill. We’re now 44th in the country.”

He called for a stronger focus on early literacy and phonics based instruction.

“You have to start teaching people to read and write at an early stage,” Johnson said. “We know now we have less than 29 percent proficiency in reading and writing in fourth grade.”

Johnson said he supports school choice.

“Why would we not create the best possible environment for learning?” he said. “Why would we not encourage people to go to the school that is going to give them a better education?”

On energy policy, Johnson criticized efforts to expand wind and solar power in Michigan.

“It may be the single stupidest thing that I’ve ever heard of,” he said of efforts to rely primarily on wind and solar. “Solar in Michigan, three or four months of the year we don’t even have any solar.”

Johnson acknowledged he faces an uphill battle in the Republican primary, where other candidates have received more early media attention. But he predicted momentum would shift.

“I entered the race about a month ago. Let’s take a look at where the polls are in three weeks,” he said. “I will be shocked if people don’t write about where I am, how I’m boosting in the polls.”

Johnson said he believes voters want an outsider with business experience.

“I’m not a politician,” he said. “If you want to have a politician, then you have to vote for one of the other guys.”

While acknowledging his wealth, Johnson said his success reflects opportunity rather than privilege.

“I’m not going to argue the fact that I’m a very wealthy man,” he said. “But it’s really the land of opportunity. I don’t know that there’s anything wrong in America if you work hard and you succeed.”

Johnson said his campaign message is centered on efficiency, fiscal restraint and restoring Michigan’s economic strength.

“Let’s revamp the state and let’s make the state the greatest state in the union again,” he said.