With Michigan’s gubernatorial election less than two months away, candidates Jennifer Granholm, the incumbent Democrat, and Republican challenger Dick DeVos have kicked their campaign into high gear.
The DeVos campaign made a stop in Orion Township last week, when he was the featured speaker at the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Sept. 12 at the Canterbury Castle Banquet Center at Olde World Canterbury Village.
‘It’s not often that you get a candidate for governor to come to your little ‘burb,? said Chamber Managing Director Donna Heyniger.
DeVos spoke for nearly an hour to an audience of over 170 people.
‘There are 83 counties in the state, and to find them all you have to look pretty hard,? he said of his campaign. ‘But we’ve been to them all.?
DeVos outlined his ‘Michigan TurnAround? plan, while a handful of protesters from the Sierra Club stood with signs just outside the banquet center on Joslyn Road.
‘We want people to know that a vote for DeVos is a vote against the environment,? said Leigh Fifelski of the Sierra Club.
The protesters held signs that read ‘Preserve and progress with Granholm,? ‘Outsource DeVos, not jobs,? and ‘Vote Granholm, vote Great Lakes,? among others.
DeVos made no direct mention of any environmental issues during his speech, choosing instead to focus on business and the economy in front of the chamber audience.
‘There isn’t a lot of positive interaction going on between business owners and the state government,? he said.
‘We want Michigan to be the best place to invest, the best place to start a new business,? DeVos added.
He read off a list of statistics comparing Michigan’s economy to other states, and urged the crowd to consider his business background when they vote in November.
One industry DeVos addressed specifically is Michigan’s important automotive industry.
‘The pressures of the automotive industry are tough,? he said, noting that where jobs have been lost within the major car companies, other industries have not picked up the slack.
DeVos also addressed the need for Michigan to have a presence in the international business community.
‘Michigan business can compete in the world,? he said. ‘We have got to go get it done with our heads held high.?
DeVos said Oakland County has the leadership and structure that he would like to see the state adopt.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Oakland County Commissioner for District 3 Eric Wilson sat at a table with DeVos and his wife, Betsy, and were among the many officials from the county, Orion Township and Village of Lake Orion in attendance.
‘Orion Township recognizes, with the attendance we’ve had today, the importance to create jobs here and across the state of Michigan,? Wilson said. ‘Dick DeVos is the candidate to do that.?
DeVos answered just one question from the audience (on his plan for the city of Detroit) before he had to leave.
Some of the bi-partisan crowd left right after DeVos? speech was done, while others shook his hand and thanked him for coming.
After a few minutes DeVos and Betsy were ushered out the back door, and headed to the next campaign site.
Though the chamber has no plans to bring in Granholm, Heyniger noted that they are not endorsing a candidate in the election.