Economic growth and how to achieve it are at the top of the platform for most candidates for government office — whether it be for local, state, or national seats of representation. Regional economic catalyst, Southwest Michigan First, reached out to the 2022 candidates for office to get their take on growing the economy. From now until the election, we’ll share the answers of those who responded to our questions. Let’s meet the candidates for Michigan governor (in alphabetical order by last name):
This content is sponsored by ITC.
Affiliation
Republican
Position Seeking
Governor
District position
Statewide
What community/professional experiences do you possess that have prepared you for this position?
I am a businesswoman, breast-cancer survivor and working mom of four girls. I built a career in Michigan’s steel industry throughout the early 2000s, leading industrial sales for heavy equipment in the agriculture, automotive and energy sectors, among others. These experiences have shaped me into a solutions-oriented person.
What is your motivation for running for office?
As an experienced businesswoman, I recognized the enormous damage COVID-19 lockdowns had on the economy, our children’s education, the lives of our loved ones in nursing homes and our personal safety. I could not stand by and let the impacts of COVID-19 continue to send our state in the wrong direction.
Please list your top priorities within the responsibilities of this elected office.
1) Improve Michigan schools by empowering parents and expanding choices, 2) Rebuild and grow the economy, support energy and infrastructure projects throughout Michigan, and 3) Restore law and order
How do you plan to accomplish these goals within the responsibilities and restrictions of the office?
I have a five step plan for Michigan in education, the economy, energy/infrastructure and public safety. Each of these plans requires working hand-in-hand with the legislature, the business community and Michiganders to move the needle in the right direction for Michigan: education – https://www.tudordixon.com/education2, economy – https://www.tudordixon.com/economy, energy and infrastructure – https://www.tudordixon.com/energy and public safety – https://www.tudordixon.com/safety.
At Southwest Michigan First, we believe “the greatest force for change is a well-paying job.” If elected, what steps do you plan to take to increase job growth and workforce development?
I want to focus on ways to upscale our workforce training and emphasize trade work. By expanding public-private partnerships between the education system and the private sector we can increase workforce training opportunities. I would also work to create a state level plan to expose more students to high demand skilled trades and high-paying career opportunities.
How will your election impact the region’s workforce and companies who call Southwest Michigan home?
I will make “Michigan Open for Business.” By enacting pro-growth policies and rehabilitating the state’s image as hostile to businesses, we can quickly put Michiganders back to work.
How can elected officials create a place where working together toward meaningful progress is the priority?
Elected officials must learn to listen and understand that government is not the solution, government is the problem. We need to get out of the way and let Michiganders have individual freedoms over their lives.
What are your thoughts on diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental justice issues in your district?
I believe that we live in the greatest country on the planet. While we may not always get it perfect, America gives its citizens opportunities that are only a thing of dreams in other countries. We need to focus on letting people take control over their own lives and be able to focus on what is best for their families without intrusion from the government. COVID-19 taught us that government will take advantage of difficult situations and try to take away freedoms guaranteed in our constitution. If I am elected, I will make sure that people never again fear the government closing their business, their children’s schools or prevent them from protecting their loved ones in nursing homes.
In what ways do you plan to connect with constituents to receive their input?
I will continue to do what I am doing on the campaign trail – visiting businesses and talking to Michiganders. It is important to remember that elected officials work for their constituents and are stewards of tax dollars. I promise to never lose sight of that responsibility.
What are your long-term political/career goals?
My goal is to help make Michigan a place where people want to live, work and raise their families.
Campaign Song
“Born Free” by Matt Monro
Favorite Movie
“The Goonies”
Favorite Book
“Bittersweet” by Susan Cain
Favorite Food
Chicken and noodles
Affiliation
Democratic party
Position Seeking
Governor
District Position
State of Michigan
What community/professional experiences do you possess that have prepared you for this position?
I have served as Michigan’s 49th governor since 2019. I previously served as Ingham County Prosecutor in 2016, in the State Senate from 2006-2015 and in the State House of Representatives from 2001-2006.
What is your motivation for running for office?
Despite the challenges of the past few years, we have made so much progress toward building a stronger Michigan. I will work with anyone to keep solving problems for Michiganders. I’ve made record investments in education, expanded affordable childcare, moved dirt to fix our roads and bridges and secured major investments creating thousands of jobs in the automotive and other key industries. By focusing on the fundamentals, we can bring people together to continue moving Michigan forward.
Please list your top priorities within the responsibilities of this elected office.
Economy and jobs: We are working to cut costs for Michigan families and keep our economy moving forward by supporting small businesses. I signed two bipartisan tax cuts for small businesses and provided over $400 million in relief to help retain hundreds of thousands of jobs and support tens of thousands of small businesses. Michigan had the fastest small business growth in decades last year with major boosts to revenue, new business applications and jobs added.
Infrastructure: Our administration has secured historic, multi-billion dollar investments to repair and rebuild our roads and bridges. We have fixed over 13,000 lane miles and 900 bridges including projects rebuilding dozens of miles of US-131, M-37, I-69 and I-94. We are putting our foot on the accelerator to build on that progress with historic bipartisan investments to rebuild our infrastructure.
Education: We secured historic bipartisan investments in our schools closing the decades-long funding gap between districts and providing the largest-ever per-pupil funding for our students – and we did it all without raising taxes.
How do you plan to accomplish these goals within the responsibilities and restrictions of the office?
I plan on continuing to do what I have always done: working across the aisle to get things done. I have signed over 900 bipartisan bills and want to keep making progress and move our state forward. I was proud to join Rep. Upton for the groundbreaking of Whirlpool’s new affordable complex in Benton Harbor, a $20 million project, funded in-part by a state grant, that will help attract and retain talent in the region. I will work with anyone to get things done for Michiganders.
At Southwest Michigan First, we believe “the greatest force for change is a well-paying job.” If elected, what steps do you plan to take to increase job growth and workforce development?
Powering Michigan’s homegrown workforce starts with education. We made Michigan’s largest investment in K-12 education without raising taxes – tripling the number of literacy coaches, increasing access to mental health care and reducing class sizes. We launched Futures For Frontliners and Michigan Reconnect, two new programs that have put 170,000 Michiganders and counting on a path to tuition-free skills training and higher education. We have secured tens of millions in funding for other workforce training programs like Going PRO, MiLEAP, and MiSTARS creating job training and apprenticeship opportunities for over 30,000 more Michiganders and hundreds of companies across the state. We are committed to building on these investments to help fill jobs and put Michiganders to work in high-skill, high demand jobs. I am proud of the progress we’ve made toward closing the skills gap and reaching the Sixty by 30 goal we set of having 60% of our workforce with a professional certificate or college degree.
I’m proud of the work we have done securing new investments in Southwest Michigan to expand opportunities and adding hundreds of new jobs, including projects such as:
● Pfizer’s $120 million investment to add 250 jobs at its Portage manufacturing facility
● EQ United’s $6 million investment creating 175 new jobs in Cassopolis
● American Axle and Manufacturing’s $40 million expansion at its Three Rivers plant creating 100 new jobs
● Viking-Cives’ $25 million investment to create a new facility in Battle Creek adding 91 jobs
● Hydro Aluminum Metals’s $150 million investment at a new facility in Cassopolis adding 67 new jobs
● A $10 million expansion of Midwest Fastener Corporation’s facilities in Portage and Decatur adding 90 new jobs
● C&S Machine Products $34.5 million investment to expand operations at its Bertrand Township facility adding 85 jobs
● Bleistahl’s $8.7 million investment to expand operations in Battle Creek adding 69 jobs
● Duncan Aviation’s $30 million expansion at its Battle Creek facility adding 61 jobs
● West Michigan Tool and Die’s $3.4 million expansion in Benton Harbor adding 22 new jobs.
How will your election impact the region’s workforce and companies who call Southwest Michigan home?
I worked across the aisle to sign a landmark economic incentives package that gave Michigan the tools we need to stay competitive in attracting new business. With the partnership of the legislature, we landed a $7 billion investment from GM, a $2 billion investment from Ford and a nearly $2 billion investment from LG Energy Solutions creating 1,200 new jobs in Holland to manufacture next generation batteries for electric vehicles.
How can elected officials create a place where working together toward meaningful progress is the priority?
When Republicans and Democrats commit to working across the aisle, we get things done and make real change in Michiganders’ lives. I have always said that I still believe there is more that unites us than divides us. When we focus on the fundamentals, it is easier to see we all want the same things: high-quality education for our kids, safe communities, a booming economy and a pathway to opportunity for everyone. Earlier this year I worked with a bipartisan coalition of governors advocating for passage of the CHIPS Act that was signed into law and will help bring critical supply chains back home from overseas and help our state compete. I have signed over 900 bipartisan bills and will work with anyone to solve problems for Michiganders. That’s how we made historic investments in education and closed the decades-long funding gap between districts and landed the biggest investment in General Motors’ history to ensure the future of auto manufacturing is made in Michigan, by Michigan workers. This year we secured a bipartisan budget that included major investments in local communities across the state, including projects in Southwest Michigan like $11 million in funding to keep Sturgis Hospital open and $13 million for restoration of the Kalamazoo River in downtown Battle Creek.
What are your thoughts on diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental justice issues in your district?
My administration has made historic investments in communities of color. Between signing legislation to build 2,000 affordable housing units, announcing the MI Open Account Coalition to offer low-and no-cost financial services for unbanked and underbanked Michiganders, expanding low- and no-cost preschool and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, I’ve worked tirelessly to advocate for Michiganders of all backgrounds. I’ve proposed a plan to triple the Earned Income Tax Credit that would provide over 700,000 working families an averaged combined tax credit of $3,000. I announced the MI Healthy Climate Plan would create resilient jobs and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, moving towards energy independence through renewable resources, building a charging network to support 2 million electric vehicles, protecting 30 percent of our land and water and so much more. I launched Michigan’s first advisory council on Environmental Justice and created the Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate to address environmental justice concerns and advance equity across the state.
In what ways do you plan to connect with constituents to receive their input?
Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist and I have each visited all 83 counties of our state. As part of my campaign I have hosted over 15 Grilling with Gretchen and Garlin events across Michigan and met with thousands of Michiganders in their communities to hear their ideas and aspirations for our state. Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist and I travel the state every week and have visited small businesses, hosted dozens of roundtables and heard from parents, seniors, business owners and hardworking families across the state.
What are your long-term political/career goals?
I’ve got a job I love and that’s where my focus is. I am working to address the needs I hear about everyday from Michiganders. We are cutting costs for families, boosting our economy and creating good paying jobs, improving education, strengthening our infrastructure and expanding our skilled workforce with new tuition-free programs for higher education and job training.
Campaign Song
Any song by Lizzo!
Favorite Movie
“The Big Lebowski”
Favorite Book
“To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
Favorite Food
Cherries
