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.