Governor Gretchen Whitmer wants Michigan to be a leader on Great Lakes issues in the region. Senior Correspondent for Detroit Public Television’s Great Lakes Bureau Gary Wilson says that’s a position the state has enjoyed in the past.
Wilson interviewed Whitmer recently during a conference in Milwaukee of U.S. governors and Canadian premiers from the Great Lakes region. In the interview, they discussed regional leadership and a potential new pipeline in the Great Lakes.
Wilson says Whitmer commanded the stage at the conference in Milwaukee. He says the presence and youth of Michigan’s governor was evident compared to the other leaders. Wilson says Whitmer is trying to bring more attention to Great Lakes regional issues ahead of next year’s election. The governor has invited all of the Democratic presidential candidates to visit Michigan during the early stages of the campaign.
WestSouthwest Brief with Gary Wilson
Whitmer describes the Great Lakes as “at the core of who Michigan is.” Wilson says it’s typical for other states to look to Michigan for guidance on major Great Lakes issues. He says Whitmer’s comments show that the governor wants to keep Michigan in that role.
