TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Leonard didn’t hold back when outlining changes he’d make if elected to be the next governor of Michigan. In an interview with Michigan News Source in Traverse City recently, Leonard vowed to replace Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Col. James Grady, citing what he described as a significant loss of confidence within the department.
Leonard, a former prosecutor and Speaker of the Michigan House, told Michigan News Source, “When I’m elected the state’s next governor, there will be a new state police colonel. When a leader has lost 98.5 percent of the people that they are supposed to lead, they may be the nicest person in the world, but they have to go.”
No more secret deals.
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Leonard also pledges to expand open-records laws to cover both the executive branch and the legislature, while banning non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) tied to corporate subsidies.
He took aim at NDAs used in economic development projects, calling them a barrier to transparency. Citing an upcoming accountability plan that he will be outlining, Leonard said, “I would be a big proponent of a law that would prevent or prohibit any state employee or state elected official from signing an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) for economic development projects. If subsidies are going to be spent – if you’re going to be using taxpayer dollars…the citizens of this state need to know…they should not be kept in the dark.”
Transparency and FOIA reform.
Leonard will unveil an ethics package on his website Sept. 3 addressing FOIA and NDA issues, building on his long record of championing government transparency. As Speaker of the Michigan House, he began publishing staff names, job titles, and salaries – updating the information monthly.
“I made very clear to them, when you work in the public sector, you work for the taxpayers…they deserve to know what you’re making.”
A mental health priority.
In light of the recent Walmart stabbings in Traverse City by a man who has been found not competent to stand trial – and the long-overdue crackdown on the homeless encampment in the city – Michigan News Source asked Leonard about his stance on mental health issues and he pointed to his history on the issue. Drawing on his early work with Judge Jennie E. Barkey to launch the state’s first mental health court, Leonard has made the issue central to his campaign.
“I was probably, behind closed doors, one of her biggest naysayers because I didn’t think you could actually get these people help,” Leonard admitted. “And every single week, not only did Judge Barkey prove me wrong, but most importantly, the people that were entering her mental health court began to prove me wrong.”
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Leonard added, “What I saw was, when somebody suffers from a mental health issue, when you get them a support system and they’re able to start going back to school or going back to work – but most importantly, they’re on their medication, and they’re getting the help that they need, they are much different people. So it really opened my eyes, but even my heart about helping these people.”
Legislative track record.
Leonard pointed to his work in the legislature, saying, “So when I came into the legislature in 2013, I really wanted to focus on on mental health issues over my six years so I had the opportunity to help revamp Kevin’s Law…and then when I became Speaker, I was very clear that addressing our broken mental health system was going to be one of my top three priorities. And we put together a bipartisan CARES task force, Republicans and Democrats.”
Named after a Michigan man killed during a mental health crisis, Kevin’s Law allows courts to order assisted outpatient treatment for individuals with severe mental illness who struggle to recognize their condition and consistently refuse care. The law is designed as a preventive measure, letting judges mandate treatment plans – such as medication and counseling – before a person becomes a danger to themselves or others, rather than waiting for a mental health crisis to occur.
Leonard calls for stigma-free mental health care, expanded telehealth access.
Citing sobering statistics – 20% of Michiganders struggle with mental health issues, and half receive no treatment – Leonard said addressing stigma is key: “If somebody suffers from something physically, so if they’ve got diabetes, or if, God forbid, they get cancer, they’re not embarrassed to ask their local church or their friends for help or for prayer. But oftentimes, when somebody suffers from a mental health issue, they’re ashamed…We need to get rid of the stigma.”
And as it relates to students, Leonard said that he supports expanding telehealth to ensure round-the- clock access to mental health services – which can occur at a fraction of the cost of staffing every school and community with counselors.
Plans for a pro-growth state.
Leonard also signaled plans to overhaul Michigan’s tax structure, saying he would push to phase out the state income tax and deliver property tax relief for homeowners. He argued that Michigan families are being squeezed from every direction and promised that cutting taxes would be a top priority of his administration. Leonard said easing the tax burden would not only help struggling households but also make Michigan more competitive for businesses and workers. Leonard emphasized that making Michigan a “growth state” is his overarching goal, and all of his proposals – from tax cuts to business incentives – are designed to support that vision.
A career in law and policy.
A resident of DeWitt, Leonard is a former prosecutor, was a Michigan House member from 2013 to 2019 and served as Speaker of the Michigan House from 2017 to 2019. He was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan in 2019 but was blocked by Democratic Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters. Leonard is currently an attorney and partner at the Plunkett Cooney law firm in Lansing where he serves as firm’s Government Relations, Public Policy and Regulatory Practice Group Leader.
Leonard’s platform weaves together a tough-on-crime approach, sweeping transparency reforms, and a renewed commitment to mental health care, all underscored by his push to cut taxes and make Michigan a growth-driven state. His message is clear: he’s betting that voters are ready for bold change at every level of government. “People are fed up with government,” Leonard said. “They want to see more accountability.”
Leonard is one of seven Republicans vying to be the GOP gubernatorial candidate in 2026. His competition includes former Attorney General Mike Cox, former U.S. House candidate Anthony Hudson, U.S. Rep. John James, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, Traverse City entrepreneur Evan Space and Karla Wagner, the leader of a ballot proposal campaign to get rid of property taxes in Michigan.
