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Whitmer visits Escanaba

By HALEY GUSTAFSON

Escanaba Daily Press

ESCANABA — There was standing room only at the United Steel Workers Local 2-21 hall in Escanaba when Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer visited Tuesday night for a meet and greet with Delta County residents. During the event, Whitmer listened to comments from residents and spoke out about various issues Michigan faces and how she intends to fix them if elected.

Whitmer, who has spent the last 14 years in the Michigan Legislature, said she decided to run for governor to start a progressive movement towards change.

“We’ve got a lot of big things we’ve got to tackle,” she said. “I want to be a part of the solution.”

One of the biggest issues discussed by Whitman and was education and the lack of state funding toward it.

One attendee brought up concerns with President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, and if some of her later decisions in that position could affect how students are taught, which could ultimately affect the future workforce and economy.

“Education is absolutely one of the most — if not the most — fundamental things we need to get right,” she said. “It’s not an expenditure, it’s an investment.”

Whitmer said Michigan’s government needs to start “treating teachers like the professionals they are” and taking funds that are supposed to be used to benefit schools and distributing them elsewhere is “unacceptable.”

Another hot topic was the protection Michigan’s lakes, forests, and environment. Many Delta County residents raised questions about fracking, mining, and other environment-related occupations and how the government can create jobs within those fields while still maintaining the integrity of the state’s natural resources. Whitmer said finding the balance between protecting the environment while still creating jobs is difficult, but it is something that the Democratic Party needs to focus on, posing the question to the audience, “What is the right balance?”

“The Great Lakes are one of the most precious resources in Michigan,” she said.

The possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act was also brought into discussion. The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was put into place by former President Barack Obama and gave millions of Americans who didn’t have health care coverage. Whitmer said most Republicans do not agree with Obamacare, adding this is a big concern.

“I’m watching it very closely and I’m very worried about it,” she said. Whitmer added that although most Republicans are opposed to the Affordable Care Act, she and Gov. Rick Snyder have worked together to expand health care coverage across Michigan.

“I was glad he staked that territory because not all Republican governors did that,” she said, noting about one million people across Michigan are currently covered with health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

In her closing remarks, Whitmer urged residents to start thinking about the 2018 governor’s race, the issues facing Michigan, and how to move forward.

In a brief interview after the event with the Daily Press, Chairperson for the Delta County Democrats, Lucas Bradshaw, said the turnout of the event was unexpected, noting they had prepared for only 50 and the attendance exceeded 100 people.

“We’re fed up, fired up, and ready to fight,” he said of the attendees.

Bradshaw attributed the high turnout to a positive attribute from the Trump presidential race, explaining Trump went out and talked to the people of the nation, which sparked an interest in politics. He added that having someone who is running for a higher office come to a smaller county, such as Delta County, is important because it gives people a chance for their voices to be heard.

“Our principles are too important,” he said, adding having a candidate like Whitmer could benefit not only Michigan but Delta County in the future.

“We have a candidate like Gretchen who is not afraid to back down. Sounds a lot like a Yooper,” he said.

Whitmer’s visit to Escanaba was sponsored by the Delta County Democratic Party.

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