Kevin Rinke, former automotive executive and entrepreneur, speaks to the Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, March 15, at the War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Farms.

Rinke is a candidate for the Michigan Republican gubernatorial nomination.
“Mr. Rinke will share his insight into current Lansing politics and policy,” commented Eastside Republican Club chair Marie Hackleman in advance of the meeting.

“The Forum is open to the public at no charge, so we invite anyone interested in Michigan government to attend,” she added.

Forum doors open at 7 p.m. for coffee and networking in advance of the 7:30 p.m. meeting.

Rinke began in the family automotive business, working part-time in every department. Then, after his 1983 graduation from MSU, Rinke joined the family business full-time.

Today, Rinke, 60, has been largely out of the metro Detroit automotive dealership scene for more than a decade following sale of the family business—considered one of General Motors's top dealership groups globally—to Penske Automotive Group.

Rinke Chevrolet Buick GMC in Center Line is currently owned by Kevin Rinke's cousin, Ed Rinke.

After Rinke left the automotive business, he purchased two southeastern Michigan post-acute traumatic brain injury rehabilitation clinics. He later sold those facilities to a Boston-based firm.
Rinke is not the first multimillionaire to self-fund a campaign for Michigan governor.

West Michigan Republican Dick DeVos spent millions in 2006 on his unsuccessful bid to topple incumbent Democrat Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

Four years later, Ann Arbor venture capitalist Rick Snyder followed the same path to grab an upset victory in the Republican primary against four career GOP politicians — and to then win the governor's office.

According to Crain’s Detroit Business, Rinke expects to spend $10 million spreading his message and boost name identification among Michigan Republican primary voters.

Rinke and his wife, Janine, reside in Oakland County and have three children.