City Pulse Staff
Former Gov. John Engler and his wife, Michelle, are the proud new owners of a sprawling home outside Laingsburg listed at $649,000.
TheEnglers bought a home in Woodhall Township on April 5, according to theShiawassee County Register of Deeds. The 4,240-square-foot lakefrontabode has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Online pictures show anopen-floor plan, a deck overlooking the water and an elephant statue inthe great room. The home is assessed at $294,100, according to onlinerecords.
The Woodhall Township property will be a "good retreat, a vacation home," John Truscott, Engler's former press secretary, said Monday.
The news of Engler's purchase didn't come as a surprise to Bill Ballenger, publisher of Inside Michigan Politics.
"First of all, he's a Michigan guy," Ballenger said, noting that Engler still has family around his hometown of Beal City.
Therehave been persistent rumors that Engler will challenge U.S. Sen. DebbieStabenow, D-Michigan, in 2012 or will be looking to otherwise involvehimself in Michigan politics, especially as his old fundraiser, RonWeiser, chairs the Michigan Republican Party.
Truscott denied that.
"Absolutely not," he said. “There's no truth behind any of those rumors."
Ballenger said he doesn't see a Senate bid in Engler's future, either.
"With Engler, you can't ever be sure, but I'd be very surprised," he said.
Hesaid he could see the former governor setting up a politicalentrepreneurial operation, given his extensive network in Michigan. ButBallenger was skeptical Engler might jump in for the 2010 election.
"The idea that Engler would come up and immediately have an impact this fall might be a little too early," he said.
Englerwill not be stepping down from his post heading up the Washington,D.C.-based National Association of Manufacturers, Truscott said. Theexecutive's annual salary is more than $1 million, according to TheNational Journal. His position was thought to be in danger with theadvent of the Barack Obama administration, as Engler was close toformer President George W. Bush, but there have been no moves thus farto oust him.
Thehome is in the Scenic Lake area near homes of other GOP powerbrokerslike former Supreme Court Chief Justice Cliff Taylor, Justice RobertYoung and former Engler aide Dan Pero.
The Englers have 15-year-old triplets who attend schools in the Washington area.
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