Whitmer and Dixon talk business at Detroit Economic Club

Michigan’s economy was on the agenda as the state’s gubernatorial candidates made their pitch to the Detroit Economic Club — putting aside topics like abortion and past elections.

Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer says the tax incentive deals she’s brokered with Republicans in the legislature are drawing jobs to the state.

“Michigan is now competing and winning landmark projects.” — Gretchen Whitmer (D)

“Michigan is now competing and winning landmark projects,” says Whitmer. “When we think about how do we secure our economic future, it is building batteries where the rest of the EVs will have to be assembled as well.”

But Republican challenger and conservative media commentator, Tudor Dixon, criticized the bipartisan tax incentives given to the Goshen battery company because it’s based in China.

“She chose to take $715 million and give it to a corporation that has ties to the Chinese Communist Party,” says Dixon. “It’s owned by a Chinese company instead of our own investors that are right here in the state of Michigan.”

Officials claim the Goshen battery plant set near Big Rapids will create 23,000 new jobs.

Taking a break from economic talk, the focus turned to schools. Dixon says taxpayer money for schools should go to public, charter and private schools.

“I want to make sure that we’re funding our students instead of our systems.” — Tudor Dixon (R)

“I want to make sure that we’re funding our students instead of our systems – make sure that dollars are following the child,” says Dixon.

Incumbent Whitmer says it was important to close the public school funding gap between poorer districts and more affluent ones.

“Now four governors before me tried to do it,” says Whitmer, “We got it done in the last couple of years. Equality equity is putting more resources into kids who are in at-risk or special needs or English language learners.”

While this event kept the candidates separate, Dixon and Whitmer will have a chance to address each other — as well as voters — during Tuesday’s debate at Oakland University.