Governor stops in for summer fun

 

By Kristyne E. Demske

C & G Staff Writer

     MOUNT CLEMENS — The hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream, moonwalks and balloons made the event look like a neighborhood picnic, but this time one of the “locals” was Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

     Granholm and a number of Macomb County Democrats generated a crowd of hundreds Aug. 8 at Shadyside Park to kick off their “Meets Greets & Eats” summer picnics that will be held around the county this month.

     “We just thought it was a good way for people to meet elected officials,” said Macomb County Democratic Party Chairman Ed Bruley. “They like the relaxed atmosphere.”

     But even with the relaxed atmosphere, the governor had some tough issues to talk to residents about, including the state of employment in Michigan.

     “It is critical that we support the manufacturers,” she said.

     She talked of her recent trip to Japan, where she said she spoke with manufacturers who want to bring their business here, which she said would bring more than 600 jobs and pump $116 million into the state’s economy.

     “Of the companies that I spoke to … they both said that the best workforce that they had … is in Michigan,” she told the crowd. “They need to find the skill level of a manufacturing state.”

     But she said Michigan couldn’t rely solely on manufacturing anymore, either.

     “We also have to diversify our economy. We can’t put all our eggs in one basket,” she said.

     Granholm said she was trying to encourage companies to develop more fuel cell technology and she urged listeners to invest in small businesses.

     “We should be creating the jobs here that keep young people here,” she said. “We need to create the jobs that will not be outsourced.”

     But to do that, she said, Michigan’s education level has to keep up.

     “We want to make sure that every child in Michigan knows that they have to go beyond high school now,” she said. “The world has changed.”

     To that end, Granholm told the crowd that she’s working with the Legislature to grant every student in the state a $4,000 scholarship for higher education. The catch is, the money would only come after a student has completed two years of higher education. She did say some students could get money early if they needed it to begin, but “if they drop out, they’ve got to pay us back.”

     State Rep. Fred Miller, D-Mount Clemens, said he was happy Granholm made the stop in the city.

     “She’s got a great plan out there,” he said. “Everything couldn’t have turned out better.”

     And City Commissioner Barb Dempsey said she was pleased that Granholm would come to the community, a sentiment echoed by some in the crowd.

     “I think it’s a great idea,” said Mount Clemens resident Marva Thompson said of the picnic. “She’s a people person. That’s what we love about her.”

     You can reach Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com