From the Detroit News:
DETROIT NEWS - The Big Three leaders in Wayne County put their support Tuesday behind Democrat Gretchen Whitmer’s gubernatorial campaign to try to boost her name recognition in a region where she needs to turn out votes in 2018.
County Executive Warren Evans, Prosecutor Kym Worthy and Sheriff Benny Napoleon said Whitmer is the right candidate for Michigan because she’s a fighter who cares about its people, including the diverse population of their county.
The Democratic, African-American elected officials all acknowledged that the former state Senate minority leader from East Lansing may not be well-known. But the endorsement event held at the Mathis Community Center on Detroit’s northwest side is a step in raising Whitmer’s profile with voters.
“Our job starts here. So if we don’t raise that name recognition, I will smugly say, ‘Nobody can,’” Evans said to cheers.
Other candidates in the Democratic race include former Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed, wealthy Ann Arbor businessman Shri Thanedar, former Xerox Global Vice President Bill Cobbs of Farmington Hills, Wayland restaurant worker Justin Giroux and Kentiel White, a health care worker from Southgate. The primary is scheduled for August 2018.
“It shouldn't surprise voters that career politicians have chosen to endorse a career politician. Frankly, we expect more of the same,” Thanedar said in a statement. “Voters I've spoken with across the state are tired of the same solutions from our leaders. They are craving decisive difference and that's what my campaign is striving to bring to the people of Michigan.”
El-Sayed’s campaign had a similar criticism.
“When establishment insiders endorse establishment insiders, it shouldn’t be that surprising. This is about real solutions to real problems that real people talk about, not backroom schemes - and our campaign is about electing a governor who gets things done for real people,” spokesman Adam Joseph said.
“As Detroit health director, Abdul delivered on just that -- universal lead screening in Detroit schools, guaranteed glasses for Detroit kids, and forcing corporate polluters to reduce their emissions.”
But Whitmer focused on the November 2018 general election. Even though it is 13 months away, she said the time is now to stand with leaders “who have a great following,” who are the “highest vote-getters in Wayne County” and with whom she is partnering to make the region and state better.
“All Michiganders, all people in Detroit, all people throughout Wayne County and the other 82 counties of this state deserve better than elected officials who want to give us false choices or want to manage our expectations,” Whitmer said. “We need leaders who are going to fight for our aspirations.”
Click for more on the story courtesy of the Detroit News.