State Representative John Moolenaar

Thanks to the unique structure of Michigan's term limits, Representative Moolenaar will have plenty of time to prepare for an eventual State Senate run to fill Tony Stamas' seat. Stamas' term doesn't end until the 2010 election, while Moolenaar's current House terms ends with this year's election. This has many people speculating as to what the three-time State Rep. will be doing in the meantime. Look for Tony to bring on Moolenaar to his staff sometime shortly after he leaves office – something to pay the bills until 2010.

The Honorable Bill Schuette

True charisma. The US Congressman representing Midland before Dave Camp, Schuette gambled by running for a Senate seat against the powerful Carl Levin – and lost. He then settled for a stint in the State Senate, and is currently finishing up his run on the Michigan Court of Appeals. Had he stayed in Congress, his length of tenure coupled with his charisma would put him in a very senior position, and he knows it. There are rumors that a potential Attorney General race is in his future. Bet on it.

William Stavropoulos

The super-CEO, Midland's own "Jack Welch". In 1999, Stavropoulos won the Kavaler Award for Chief Executive Excellence. He came to Dow Chemical's rescue at the end of 2002 when the company fired then-CEO Michael Parker. Stavropoulos proceeded to invoke his business skills and catapult the company with a legendary comeback.

Oh yea, and did we mention he brought professional baseball to Midland? Stavropoulos was the principal architect of bringing the Great Lakes Loons to Mid-Michgan and he continues to lead the Michigan Baseball Foundation.

Andrew Liveris

The chairman, president, and chief executive officer at Dow Chemical, Liveris came out of the company's 2003 reorganization as the heir apparent to the CEO's office, beating out top candidates such as Bob Wood and Pedro Reinhard. Wood soon left for Chemtura Corporation and Reinhard was abrubtly fired in 2007, a prime example of Liveris' power.

Since his ascension to the Dow throne, Liveris has not disappointed. Quickly quieting local concerns of giving control of the company to a foreigner, the Australian-born Liveris has continued Stavropoulos' brilliance and is shaping the chemical giant for excellent growth in the future – an impressive feat given today's market.

Congressman Dave Camp

No other person from Midland has the power to shape National issues more than the nine-term lawmaker representing Michigan's Fourth Congressional District.

Camp holds a coveted spot on the most powerful Congressional committee, Ways and Means, and a GOP majority in November could hand him the chairmanship. A longshot  perhaps, in today's political climate, however that possibility makes him not only the most influential person in Midland, but the most influential person in Mid-Michigan.