ELECTION PREVIEW – GOVERNORS RACE

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
With the Aug. 2 primary only a few weeks away, people’s attention is turning to the state, regional and local races as well as local proposals that will be on the ballot.
After fraudulent signatures were found on the petitions of five Republican gubernatorial candidates earlier this summer including James Craig, Michael Brown and Perry Johnson, the field for the Aug. 2 Republican primary has been cut in half with five candidates left. The winner will face Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in November.
The five candidates still in the running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination are Tudor Dixon of Lansing, a talk show host and businesswoman; Ryan Kelley of Allendale, a real estate company owner; Ralph Rebandt of Farmington Hills, a pastor; Kevin Rinke of Bloomfield Hills, a businessman; and Garrett Soldano of Mattawan, a chiropractor.
All five remaining gubernatorial candidates have appeared in debates as well as at campaign stops across the state in the weeks and months leading up to Aug 2 primary election.
All five have also taken time to sit down for interviews with the Berrien County-based We The Parents MI organization, a new grassroots group. Those interviews can be found on two websites: https://www.facebook.com/wetheparentsmi/videos/ and https://www.facebook.com/GarrettForMichigan/videos/speaking-with-jamie-hall-representing-we-the-parents/1047823185910883.
The five candidates answer questions on a variety of topics, ranging from education and the economy to abortion and the pandemic.
Dixon said that she’s been working behind the scene to build relationships with legislators and others across the state to address important issues. She wants to see education return to the basics, reduce over regulation of businesses, support law enforcement and promote pro-life policies. She wants to reduce the income tax.
Kelley said he will institute a “Michigan First” policy with emphasis on medical freedom, election integrity, American values, lowering all taxes and taking critical race theory and other divisive theories out of schools. He said his recent arrest for being at the Jan. 6, 2021 protest in Washington has given momentum to his campaign.
Rebandt said what sets him apart is his goal of changing the culture and putting the emphasis back on God, family and country. He wants to promote community policing to re-establish relationships with the people as well as dismantling the public school system and promoting election integrity. He wants to cut government waste.
Rinke said he wants to help Michigan become a better place for people to live and work. He’s been endorsed by Mike Brown. Three issues important to him are improving the business climate, having an education system that supports families and students and promoting election integrity. He would eliminate the personal income tax.
Soldano became involved in politics after the pandemic shutdowns. He led the “Unlock Michigan” effort and wants to do more to make sure unelected government bureaucrats can’t shut down businesses and schools in the future. He said he wants to eliminate over regulation, reduce government spending and cut income taxes.
The Aug. 2 election will also feature a variety of other races and proposals. Proposals on the ballot include fire proposals in Berrien and Pipestone Townships, Oronoko Township, Weesaw Township, Watervliet city, Coloma city and Baroda Township.
Police and/or public safety millages are on the ballot in Watervliet city and Baroda Township. Road millages are on the ballot in Weesaw Township, Three Oaks Township, Lincoln Township and Galien Township.
There are three contested Berrien County Board of Commissioner races in the third, ninth and 12th districts.
Democrats Chokwe Pitchford and Joseph Taylor are vying to be the nominee in the third district in Benton Harbor, Republicans Michael Davidson and Alexander Ott are vying to be the nominee in the ninth district and Republicans Michael Majerek and Charlton McCully are vying to be the nominee in the 12th district. All but Majerek are newcomers.