Patrick Colbeck

Patrick J. Colbeck is an aerospace engineer, author, former elected official, and former candidate for governor in Michigan. He was born October 7, 1965, in Dearborn, Michigan. He is perhaps best known for his service as a Republican two-term member of the Michigan Senate, representing the northwestern portion of Wayne County. Colbeck ran for the Republican nomination for Michigan governor in 2018 but finished well out of the running, receiving only 13% of the vote in the four-way race.[1] His conservative views differ greatly from his regional constituency and have even alienated people from his own party.[2]

Patrick Colbeck
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 7th district
In office
January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2019
Preceded byBruce Patterson
Succeeded byDayna Polehanki
Personal details
Born (1965-10-07) October 7, 1965
Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Angie Colbeck
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BS, MS)
WebsitePolicy Website

Early life

Colbeck is a graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School. He later graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a Bachelors of Science in Engineering for Aerospace in 1987 and a Masters of Science in Engineering for Aerospace in 1988.[3] He went on to study Life Sciences for a summer at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France.

Colbeck was employed by Boeing as a Senior Design Engineer responsible for components of the Environmental Control and Life Support System and Quest Airlock module for International Space Station. He later provided contract systems engineering services to the Department of Defense for work on advanced simulation system for training military forces.[4] Colbeck then served as a Management Consultant and President of Perspective Shifts, LLC. He launched Tek Made Easy in 2007 to provide SharePoint-based web services for clients. In 2006, he published the book Information Technology Roadmap for Professional Service Firms.[5]

He is married to his wife Angie since 1995. They both are members of Northridge Church in Plymouth, Michigan, and call Canton, Michigan home.[6]

State senator

Senator Colbeck ran for office during the Tea Party wave of the 2010 elections. As a member of the Rattle With Us Tea Party in Plymouth, Michigan, he leveraged his retirement account to fund his campaign to become the first State Senator elected directly into the Michigan Senate without ever having served in public office in three decades. During his first term in the Michigan Senate, he served on the Senate Leadership Team as the Assistant Caucus Chair. He also served as the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and State Police budgets. During his second term, his outspoken opposition to Obamacare, tax increases, and Common Core Standards motivated the Republican Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof to make him the only returning Republican Senator to be denied any chairmanships.[7] He later had him removed from all committees after Colbeck attended a Right to Life Dinner in the Senate Majority Leader's district.[8]

In 2011–2012, Colbeck led the effort to make Michigan the 24th Right-to-Work state in the United States. Recognized as the "most vocal conservative in the Michigan Senate",[8] he led the unsuccessful effort to oppose state-based health exchanges in Michigan and Medicaid Expansion. He was successful regarding the state-based exchange effort but, despite a procedural move that temporarily blocked passage, he was ultimately unsuccessful in stopping Medicaid Expansion which is now referred to as the Healthy Michigan program. He was also responsible for the passage of legislation to expand school choice and he has been a vocal opponent of the Common Core Standards Initiative.

He is a co-Founder and Board Member for the Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center known as the Freedom Center.[9] He chronicled his time in the Michigan Senate in his book Wrestling Gators: An Outsider's Guide to Draining the Swamp.[10]

Healthcare

Colbeck was perhaps the most vocal critic of government-led healthcare expansion in the state of Michigan.[11] His articles entitled "Free Market Healthcare Revolution: Why and How" and "The Case for Medicaid Block Grants" outline his views on healthcare.

Veteran services

In 2011, Senator Colbeck co-founded the MI Freedom Center (aka Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center) to serve military personnel, veterans and their families. As the chair of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs budget, he implemented performance-based budgets that helped improve Michigan veteran services from among the worst in the nation to #2 in the nation.[12]

Roads

In 2015, during the middle of an intense debate over how to fix Michigan's roads, Senator Colbeck challenged his colleagues to a debate over whether or not it was necessary to increase taxes to fix the roads.[13] Senator Curtis Hertel accepted the challenge. The ensuing debate was moderated by Kyle Melinn of MIRS News Service. [14]

Environment

Colbeck has publicly stated that it is his opinion that wireless technology represents the #1 environmental issue of our day.[15] In December 2018, he hosted a forum in Lansing to discuss the benefits and risks of wireless technology such as smart meters, cell phones and 5G networks.[16] During his tenure, he introduced legislation which he claimed would empower consumers with increased choice as to the source of their electricity.[17]

Controversy

He has been widely criticized for his remarks at a public forum featuring former member of the Muslim Brotherhood Kamal Saleem and former counter-terrorism expert with the Department of Homeland Security Phil Haney. During the forum, he reviewed a document entered as evidence in the federal trial U.S. vs Holy Land Foundation called the “Explanatory Memorandum”. The Explanatory Memorandum contains the Muslim Brotherhood's plan for what they refer to as “civilization jihad” in America. It cites organizations such as the Muslim Students Association as means to that end.[18] Colbeck made a point of highlighting that Abdul El-Sayed, one of his Democratic Party opponents, was Vice President of the Muslim Students Association at the University of Michigan, making unsubstantiated claims that El-Sayed has "affiliations" with the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Students Association is not affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. At a May 10, 2018 gubernatorial candidate forum hosted by the Michigan Press Association, Colbeck reiterated his unfounded claims. Abdul El-Sayed responded to Colbeck's remarks, calling for the GOP Field to condemn Islamophobia and racism, and to Colbeck, "You may not hate Muslims, but Muslims definitely hate you."[19]

During a public forum where he discussed belief in not utilizing tax increases, the Senator referred to his 72k salary as 'fixed income' since it remained constant throughout his 8 years of public service. Critics took issue with him calling a $72,000 per year salary a 'fixed income', many viewing the statement as insensitive to people of lower income levels.[20] “I often use the term ‘fixed’ to describe variables that are constant,” Colbeck claimed in a statement. “For example, I regularly refer to ‘fixed’ and ‘variable’ costs in financial discussions. Plus, I like to fix things and we have many problems in state government that can benefit from this attitude.”[21]

Colbeck called for the repeal of the Michigan Business Tax as a freshman state senator, claiming this and other cuts could save the state of Michigan $5.7 billion annually.[22] When this became a House Bill and it was time to vote on the repeal, he voted "No" citing issues with the legislation increasing taxes on seniors and property.[23]

2018 gubernatorial campaign

On May 31, 2017, Colbeck filed to run for Michigan governor to replace then Republican governor Rick Snyder, whose second and final term expired in January 2019.[24][25] Colbeck was widely recognized as the most conservative candidate for governor in the 2018 gubernatorial race.[26]

Colbeck ran on what he called "Principled Solutions," asserting that the "solutions to the issues we face as a state are driven by guiding principles, not the whims of powerful special interests." His "principled solutions" are: job growth, excellence in education, no state income tax, budgets driven by priorities of the citizens of the state, better roads, quality and affordable healthcare, affordable auto insurance, defending your rights and supporting those who secure your rights.[27]

In August 2018, Colbeck lost the Republican primary to Attorney General Bill Schuette. He received 13% of the Republican primary vote in a 4-way primary race.[1]

Post-political career

In November 2020, Colbeck appeared at the 2020 Michigan State Board of Canvassers Certification meeting, where he pushed substantiated claims that the Michigan election had been rigged, despite Joe Biden leading by more than 150,000 votes statewide.[28] An affidavit filed by Colbeck claims that the computers used by election officials were connected to the Internet, which "opens the door" to possible vote manipulation.[29] However, chief judge Timothy Kenny found that there was "No evidence" to support these claims.[30]

References
  1. Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State (August 7, 2018). "2018 Michigan Election Results". State of Michigan. Retrieved November 29, 2020. Colbeck, Patrick 129,646 13.10%
  2. LeBlanc, Beth (June 6, 2018). "Faith, 'principled' conservatism drive GOP governor hopeful Colbeck". The Detroit News. Grand Rapids. Retrieved November 29, 2020. Colbeck opposed pension taxes, the Medicaid expansion, minimum wage increases and gasoline tax hikes to fund road repairs — at times alienating his own party ... Colbeck alienated colleagues by telling them how to get things done in the Senate even though he had little experience doing so himself, the Monroe Republican said.
  3. Colbeck, Patrick (2016-10-08). "LinkedIn Profile for Patrick Colbeck". LinkedIn Profile.
  4. "Gongwer News Service - Michigan". www.gongwer.com.
  5. "Amazon listing". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  6. "Principles Matter". Principles Matter. 2007-02-26. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  7. Livengood, Chad; Heinlein, Gary; Pardo, Steve; Burr, Richard; Shepardson, David (January 2, 2015). "Did veteran Michigan senator get snubbed?". The Detroit News. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  8. Gray, Kathleen (October 11, 2017). "GOP leadership kicks state Sen. Patrick Colbeck off 4 committees". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  9. "Board of Directors". MI Freedom Center. Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center, Inc. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  10. Colbeck, Patrick; Combs Jr., Ira (May 9, 2018). Wrestling Gators: An Outsider's Guide to Draining the Swamp. Illumify Media Group. ISBN 978-1947360136.
  11. Moy, Jonathan (August 21, 2015). "Michigan's Obamacare Medicaid Expansion". Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Retrieved November 29, 2020. State Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton) was perhaps the most vocal critic of Medicaid expansion in the state Senate.
  12. Based upon quarterly metrics reports filed by DMVA
  13. "Video". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  14. "Video". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  15. Colbeck, Patrick (December 4, 2018). "Wireless Technology Forum: Introduction". YouTube. Lansing. Retrieved November 29, 2020. [Wireless technology] is the number one environmental issue that we face in our times right now
  16. "Wireless Technology Forum". YouTube. Lansing. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  17. Colbeck, Patrick (November 10, 2016). "Senate Bill 1164 (2016)". Michigan Legislature. Michigan Legislative Service Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  18. Press, C. S. P. (May 25, 2013). "An Explanatory Memorandum: From the Archives of the Muslim Brotherhood in America". Center for Security Policy.
  19. Oosting, Jonathan. "'Islamophobia' charge rocks Michigan governor debate". The Detroit News.
  20. Zavala-Offman, Alysa. "Michigan senator calls his 72k salary a 'fixed income'". Detroit Metro Times.
  21. Herndon, Dave. "State senator prides himself on living on fixed income of over $70,000 a year". The News Herald. Media Newsgroup, Inc.
  22. Kelsey, Nancy. "Column From Sen. Colbeck: Michigan Business Tax Needs Repeal". Patch Media.
  23. "No. 41 STATE OF MICHIGAN Journal of the Senate 96th Legislature REGULAR SESSION OF 2011".
  24. Oosting, Jonathan (May 31, 2017). "Colbeck files to run for Michigan governor". The Detroit News. Mackinac Island. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  25. Egan, Paul (June 3, 2016). "2018 Michigan governor's election bubbles below surface at Mackinac". Detroit Free Press. Mackinac Island. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  26. Egan, Paul (May 11, 2018). "He's Michigan's most conservative Republican candidate for governor". Detroit Free Press. Canton. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  27. "Meet the Candidates: Patrick Colbeck (R) for Governor". WILX-TV. July 25, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  28. Boucher, Dave (November 23, 2020). "Michigan board votes to certify election results despite GOP calls to delay". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  29. Jones, Ross (November 17, 2020). "Claims of rampant voter fraud in Michigan don't hold up to scrutiny". WXYZ-TV. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  30. Kenny, Timothy (November 13, 2020). "Case No. 20-014780-AW" (PDF). Democracy Docket. State of Michigan in the Third Judicial Circuit Court for the County of Wayne. pp. 6–7. Retrieved November 29, 2020. No evidence supports Mr. Colbeck's position.
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