Snyder and Granholm talk transition

DETROIT (AP/WOOD) - Governor-elect Rick Snyder met with outgoing Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm to discuss his transition.

"This is an opportunity for us to begin the very serious process of transitioning government," Granholm said.

The 52-year-old Ann Arbor businessman who easily beat Democrat Virg Bernero in Tuesday's general election thanked Granholm for her graciousness Wednesday morning during a brief appearance with reporters in Detroit.

Snyder announced former Michigan Economic Development Corp. president Doug Rothwell would head his transition team at an 11 a.m. news conference at the Book Cadillac hotel.

"I just want to say how honored I am to do this," Rothwell said. "It is a great way to bring something back to the state of Michigan -- a state that has been so great to me."

Others on the transition team include Meijer president Mark Murray and Sharon Rothwell. Snyder spent the rest of the day meeting with advisers and staff.

"These are all outstanding individuals," Snyder said. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to work with them.

"And I think they form a great nucleus of Michiganders that have both public experience and private experience -- and what a wonderful combination to deliver great results."

Snyder said he's eager to "reinvent" Michigan government, encourage entrepreneurship, rebuild Detroit and reduce partisan and regional infighting.

It's time to use a new approach to creating jobs, Snyder said.

"I would add that there's been too much effort on the hunting side -- looking for out-of-state companies as the primary focus," he said. "What we're going to get back to is helping Michiganders create companies. Helping small businesses grow and all-size businesses succeed, and really focus on Michiganders becoming the core of our comeback, because that's how it's going to happen and we're on that path."

A $1.4 billion budget deficit is among the challenges Snyder faces when he takes office Jan. 1. He will meet the March 1 deadline of delivering a budget to the Legislature, he said.

24 Hour News 8 reporter Marc Thompson contributed to this story.