CheeseTown and the home of the Flying Gs

It’s been a busy couple of weeks.

June 16-17 and June 19, I was getting very acquainted with the streets of Pinconning, visiting a lot of homes. Campaign volunteers and I went door knocking, introducing ourselves and talking about my wish to bring small town values to Lansing.

What exactly are small town values, you ask?

Well, in rural Ogemaw County, where I was raised, we look out for our friends and neighbors. We care about our communities, from the business on the corner to the schools, we want to see success and prosperity.

However, as the people in Pinconning told me, we’re seeing less of this in Lansing. We’ve seen our state succumb to pressure from the individuals with the deepest pockets, turning its back on the hardworking men and women who really make Michigan run.

And look what we’re left with.

But during my three days hitting the streets in Pinconning, I did find some time for fun. I mean, it was the CheeseTown Festival!

I took some time Thursday night to listen to some live music played at the festival, and Saturday I participated in the two-mile run/walk. It had been awhile since I ran two miles, but I still made it through all right, despite have to take a couple break from running to walk a bit. It was about 90 degrees, so I didn’t feel too bad about it.

Last week, on June 25 and 26, I hit the streets of Gladwin. I met several fine people out there, and can’t wait for a chance to be their voice in Lansing.

Several people talked to me about education. It seems that the more doors I knock on, the more people are extremely worried about what legislators are doing to our educational system. A lady on Bowery Avenue who worked for Houghton Lake Schools told me how she is worried her job may soon be gone. A retired teacher from the Gladwin school systems told me about how upset he is with the state forcing teachers out of retirement.

Education wasn't the only topic we talked about in Gladwin. On Grout Street a nice lady talked to me about how we need to do more for small businesses, and how we need to stop handing out tax breaks to large corporations who ship jobs across seas.

Job outsourcing was brought up at several other houses as well. When people tell you they lost their job so that a CEO could save a few bucks, it truly is hard on the heart. The people of the 97th District are sick of a state that operates on greed. They are ready to take it back.

And so am I.

Let's take it back.

Hitting the doors back-to-back

The campaign team and I were busy June 7 and June 8, hitting up doors in Beaverton and AuGres on back-to-back nights.

The message was simple, I am a small town, rural community guy, and I want to take those great values passed down to me to Lansing. Most of the people had the same response — “We need it.”

When going door-to-door, I was able to talk to people of several different ages and demographics. We discussed jobs and education on their front porches, and, as I expected, the folks were friendly and welcoming. The 97th District is full of hardworking and intelligent people, and most had a common message. That message is that we need to stop rewarding companies that outsource Michigan jobs with tax breaks. We need to stop cutting away from education and fix school funding so that we aren’t offering students fewer opportunities. We need to reform Michigan. We need to help small businesses.

I hear those messages everywhere I go, and they are not falling on deaf ears. I understand the issues at the state level. I drive on the crumbling roads. I see the shuttered businesses. I reported on the teacher layoffs and program cuts. And in Beaverton and AuGres, they have seen and felt the sting of these issues, as well. They are ready for a better Michigan.

In closing, I want to give a few people a special shout-out. First off, I want to say hello to the lady in Beaverton whose job was outsourced. We can do something about it! I also want to say hi to the retired autoworker who told me how he thought the Gulf oil leak (although leak is way to soft of a word to use) could be stopped. Call BP! Of course, I want to say thanks to the kind lady in AuGres who, after talking to me for a few minutes, allowed me to put up a campaign sign in her yard. Thanks again! I also ran into AuGres City Manager Pat Killingbeck while knocking on doors, and Beaverton Mayor Nila Frei. It was great to see both of them.

And everyone who told me “I’ll support you,” or “We’ll vote for you,” thanks a million. Your encouragement is appreciated and your positive attitude is contagious, and I will fight for you!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Thanks to the AuGres City Council for allowing me to say a few words June 8, too. At the meeting, I talked with city council about growing AuGres, and taking advantage of the resources near the city, especially the Saginaw Bay. The Bay is one of our greatest economic tools, but if we don’t make sure it stays clean and clear, that could change. It’s time we have someone in Lansing serious about ensuring we have clean waterways. Not only is important economically, but it’s the right thing to do. Unfortunately, the Saginaw Bay has been contaminated with E. Coli in several different areas. We need to do something about this. I reported on it, and I know that locally, elected officials are very concerned and working hard. They deserve someone at the state level who is engaged, and who wants to help them out.

Together we can make sure the Saginaw Bay and lakes, rivers and streams in the district are clean for future generations. Let’s leave them better than we found them.