News Photo by Julie Riddle Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Rinke speaks at a political event at Art in the Loft in Alpena on Friday.

ALPENA — Kevin Rinke, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, spoke to a crowd at the Alpena County Republicans’ Campaign Kickoff event at Art in the Loft on Friday evening.

Rinke, of Bloomfield Township, made the Alpena stop at the tail end of a two-week bus tour of the state, his campaign office said.

In his brief address, Rinke declined to offer comment on issues including election integrity or critical race theory to the crowd of several dozen but said he hopes, should he attain the governor’s office, to eliminate personal income tax and make sure the government spends wisely on public education.

He cited his experience as a business owner as a foundation he said makes him “a leader who can beat Whitmer.”

Organizers of Friday’s event about two weeks ago invited multiple Republican gubernatorial candidates to speak at Friday’s event, but only Rinke was available, according to a party representative.

Candidates for the Republican nomination for 106th State House District representative offered brief introductions of themselves as candidates during the event, as did several candidates for Alpena County positions.

In a phone call before Friday’s event, Marie Fielder, chairwoman of the Alpena County Democratic Party, said the county’s party does not comment on campaign events such as Friday’s kickoff event hosted by the opposing party.

Rinke will vie for the Republican nomination for governor against fellow contenders Donna Brandenburg, Michael Brown, James Craig, Tudor Dixon, Perry Johnson, Ryan Kelley, Michael Markey, Ralph Rebandt, and Garrett Soldano.

The winner of the Aug. 2 Republican primary will advance to the Nov. 8 general election against incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and any third-party candidates.

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693 or jriddle@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jriddleX.