Mike Cox Renews Transparency Challenge One Week Before “Tax Day” to Attract Job Makers, Expose Potential Conflicts of Interest

LIVONIA, MI— Mike Cox today renewed his challenge to every other 2010 candidate for Governor to immediately disclose their personal financial data and that of their spouse for the last four years, including tax returns, side jobs and a complete list of holdings and investments, to make Michigan voters aware of any potential conflicts of interest.  A letter detailing the challenge was sent last month by Cox to each candidate’s campaign.

Mike Cox is Michigan’s leading advocate for a more transparent government.  Though no state law currently mandates disclosure, Cox put his money where his mouth is in mid-March, releasing his family’s personal tax returns and other financial and investment data for the second consecutive year.  Cox’s filings for the last four years are now available online at www.Michigan.gov/TrackYourTaxes.

“Voters and job providers across the State deserve financial disclosure from Michigan’s next CEO, but all they’ve gotten from many of my opponents thus far are stall tactics and a refusal to open their books,” said Cox.  “For years I have disclosed my personal finances and tax returns.  Each of the other candidates for governor and their spouses should disclose any side jobs and their personal finances for the last four years before April 15^th to let taxpayers and job makers know up front about where they make their money, any boards they serve on and to let the sun shine in on any potential conflicts of interest.”

In addition to releasing his personal financial data, Cox recently created and unveiled a first-in-the-nation model ethics ordinance to help municipal governments attract jobs by setting new standards for openness and transparency.  Other recent transparency initiatives undertaken by Cox include:

• Legislation requiring state and local elected officials making more than $65,000 per year, candidates for those offices, and immediate family to give an annual reporting of gifts and reimbursements from lobbyists.
• Legislation requiring lawmakers to abstain from voting when they have a conflict of interest. 
• Pushing to place state spending online in a searchable database, allowing taxpayers to see how their money is spent.  Cox was the first statewide official to place his departmental spending online in 2008

The Center for Public Integrity recently ranked Michigan dead last nationally on public financial disclosure.   47 other states and Congress require financial disclosure.

“If other candidates for governor are serious about attracting job makers and families to Michigan they should stop stalling and disclose their families finances, their investment history and any potential conflicts of interest,” said Cox.

For more information on Mike Cox’s campaign for Governor, please visit www.mikecox2010.com or call the campaign office today at (734) 525-5035.

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