Bernero’s running mate promotes job creation; about 40 attend Brenda Lawrence’s speech

• Tweet
• 

Brenda Lawrence pointed to a recent decision by General Motors Co. as a testament to gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero’s political prowess as Lansing’s mayor.

The Detroit automaker announced Wednesday they will make a $190 million investment in the GM Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant, creating 600 jobs.

Lawrence, Bernero’s running mate for lieutenant governor and Central Michigan University alumna, spoke to about 40 people Thursday for an hour in the Charles V. Park Library Auditorium about Bernero’s campaign.

“We have vibrant cities that we are running in this economy and we are getting the job done,” said Lawrence, current Southfield mayor.

Lansing was voted one of the top 10 cities for young adults to live and was ranked in the top seven cities for economic development in the nation, Lawrence said.

Since taking office in 2005, Lawrence said Bernero facilitated the growth of 6,000 jobs in Lansing.

She also said Bernero supports film credits, the Pure Michigan campaign and education, because economic development is useless if there is not a skilled labor force.

Bernero will work to secure higher education funding if elected to office, she said.

“We can’t raise the price of tuition every year and expect people to be able to afford it,” she said

Detroit sophomore and College Democrat Ricardo White said he supports Bernero’s campaign because he doesn’t believe Snyder has the skill set to create jobs.

“I like (Bernero’s) strategy on how he is going to create jobs in the state,” he said.

White said Bernero will create jobs by supporting green manufacturing and sustaining infrastructure. White said he’s skeptical about Bernero’s plan to create a state-run bank, but will support the initiative as long as it is done responsibly.

Bernero’s daughter, Virginia Bernero, said she organized Lawrence’s visit to CMU because she wants students to get a better feel for who the candidates are.

“I just want people to get fired up for the election,” she said.

The Lansing sophomore said Lawrence’s record as the mayor of Southfield is “sound” because she has worked toward solutions that actually work. She said her father and Lawrence have had the unique opportunity to be in constant contact with constituents while in office, which makes them better qualified to run the state.

Lawrence said she and Bernero have the leadership necessary to make critical decisions for the state of Michigan in difficult economic times.

“The governor is the CEO of this state and we are in a crisis,” she said. “We need leadership. We need experience.”