Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks to a crowd of several hundred people at the Superior Dome parking lot Saturday morning. Whitmer stopped in Marquette on a campaign visit as she tries to convince voters to give her a second term just a few weeks ahead of the Nov. 8 mid-term elections. (Journal photo by Randy Crouch)

MARQUETTE — During her visit to Marquette on Saturday as part of her re-election campaign, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addressed the regional and state economy.

Several hundred people were in attendance in the Superior Dome parking lot in Marquette to listen to speeches from the governor as well as U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills; Jenn Hill, Democratic state representative candidate for the 109th District; and Dr. Bob Lorinser, the Democratic candidate for the 1st Congressional District.

Hundreds of people enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather and had the opportunity to line up for photos with the governor after the event.

Whitmer spent much of the event touting her accomplishments over the past four years, with a particular emphasis on Upper Peninsula businesses and organizations that the governor said she has paid special attention to during her four years in Lansing.

“We are traveling across the state talking about the major investments we’ve made, creating the foundation for future economic growth in Michigan, highlighting the Jacobetti veterans home that we made a major investment in. To Calumet Electronics’ growth here in the Upper Peninsula. This is cutting-edge manufacturing that we have to bring back to North America, specifically to Michigan,” she said.

The state allocated $34.2 million for the construction of the new D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans, which the governor visited in August.

One of the major issues facing Marquette-area residents, and people from around the state, is the lack of access to affordable housing, an issue that the governor said she will focus on during a prospective second term.

“We recognize there is not one solution for every community. In some communities it’s refurbishing current stock, in others it’s building brand-new stock and that’s why these resources are so important,” Whitmer said. “We’re really moving forward fast here. We’ve already built a number of units here in the Upper Peninsula — working with local leadership to make sure that we are leveraging every moment and opportunity with these resources to do as much as we can. I think we are going to have to put more money into it and that’s something I’m committed to.”

Whitmer also addressed funding for rural schools and the different needs between schools in areas like the U.P. and those in larger cities downstate.

“We’ve made a historic investment in public education four years in a row. We’ve closed the gap between districts. We know that there are wealthier parts of the state that have historically got more money,” Whitmer said. “We put more money into at-risk, English-language learners and kids with special needs. This is how we really build an equity. We didn’t dictate how those dollars are used, we leave that to the local community. But by putting $1,279 (in) addition into education of Upper Peninsula kids is a way that we support communities and help our kids get prepared for the world that they need to navigate when they leave high school.”

The governor will continue her bus tour throughout the state in the coming two weeks until she faces off against GOP gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon in the Nov. 8 election. The two candidates will face off in their second and final debate at 7 p.m. Tuesday.