Monday, Jan. 14, 2013
Contact: Ted O'Neil
Media Relations Manager
989-698-1914

MIDLAND — The Mackinac Center Board of Directors has chosen former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Clifford W. Taylor as its new chairman, according to Mackinac Center President Joseph G. Lehman. Taylor replaces D. Joseph Olson, a founding member of the Center who has served as chairman for most of the Center’s history and will remain on the board.

“Joe Olson’s leadership kept us true to the principles of liberty and free markets through four governors’ terms, during which scores of our ideas were signed into law,” Lehman said. “Now, Cliff Taylor takes the helm as Michigan becomes a right-to-work state, a major milestone our founders only dreamed of 25 years ago.”

Taylor, a former Navy officer, joined the board in May of 2012. He served on the state Supreme Court from 1997 to 2008 and the Michigan Court of Appeals from 1992 to 1997.

“The Mackinac Center for the last quarter century has been at the forefront in promoting free-market policies and fighting against government overreach,” Taylor said. “I look forward to helping strengthen those tools as the Center begins its next 25 years of service to the people of Michigan.”

Olson said he thinks Taylor will be an ideal chairman.

“His philosophy is consistent with the Center’s goal of promoting limited government and free markets and his legal career reflects that.”

Olson also said he considers his involvement with the founding of the Mackinac Center and the time he spent as chairman to be one of his “proudest achievements.”

Olson reflected on the early days of the Center, when it was located in a small office behind a pizza parlor, with just two employees and a budget of less than $100,000.

“It has moved from an idea that used to get a little attention, in a relative few years, to now when the Mackinac Center speaks, Michigan listens.”

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a research and educational institute headquartered in Midland, Mich. The largest state-based free-market think tank in the country celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

#####