×

Tudor Dixon speaks out against Whitmer’s COVID-19 actions during Alpena stop

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz State Rep. Sue Allor was the master of ceremonies for the Tudor Dixon rally in Alpena on Wednesday. Allor has reached her term limit and the Alpena area will have a new representative after next week’s election.

ALPENA — Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon and her supporters want to hold incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer accountable for her actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and for not abiding by the restrictions herself.

On Wednesday, several hundred people packed the parking lot across the street from JJ’s Steak and Pizza House in Alpena to show their support for Dixon. Chants of ‘USA’ broke out several times during the event, which also featured Republican candidates from other area races.

Dixon is trekking across Michigan to motivate voters and garner support she hopes will help her defeat Whitmer next Tuesday.

Dixon reminded those in attendance Wednesday of Whitmer’s actions during the COVID-19 pandemic when businesses were forced to close and people were labeled non-essential and not allowed to work.

She also called the governor out for closing schools during that time, which she said has set Michigan students back academically and had a negative impact on their mental health.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Tudor Dixon, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, signs an autograph on the back of a shirt of one of her supporters in Alpena on Wednesday.

“I think it is important and people need to remember that this could all happen again and she doesn’t have another election coming up and if she was willing to do that type of stuff once, she’ll be willing to do it again,” Dixon said.

Dixon hit Whitmer hard during her speech, citing times when Whitmer broke her own rules during the pandemic.

Whitmer traveled to Florida after she told people to stay home and not travel, Dixon said, and Whitmer was also accused of taking trips to her cottage on Birch Lake. The governor denied those accusations, but Dixon said the bottom line is Whitmer didn’t practice what she preached and ignored her own orders deliberately.

“She was just kind of mocking the people of Michigan when she was telling the people that they needed to stay home and stay safe, turn in your neighbors if they are having Thanksgiving, and yet the rules didn’t apply for her.” Dixon said. “That is why we need to fire Gretchen Whitmer.”

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the COVID-19 vaccine be added to a school’s list of needed vaccinations. That decision would fall to state officials, and although Whitmer has said she does not support adding the vaccine to the existing list.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon addresses a large crowd from a stage in front of her bus in Alpena on Wednesday. Hundreds of people from the area attended the rally to listen to her speech. Dixon is squaring off against Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday.

Dixon said Whitmer’s past COVID-19 actions speak loudly and she believes the governor could mandate the shots for students.

“I will make sure that never happens in the state of Michigan, but the decision is up to the state government and she could very easily force every child going to school to have to have the vaccine,” Dixon said. “Considering what she did during the pandemic, the Vax to Normal program, pushing everyone to get vaccinated, and her loyalty to the teacher’s union, I believe that is what will happen in the state of Michigan if we don’t fire Gretchen Whitmer.”

Dixon also spoke about the outdoors and her plans to help hunters.

If elected, Dixon intends to undo a new state requirement that forces deer hunters to report their harvest to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources within 72 hours, or before transferring possession of the deer. A person who fails to do so, can be charged with a 90-day misdemeanor, with fines and costs ranging from $50-$500.

Dixon said a person who hunts should not be made out to be a criminal for not reporting a legally killed deer. She said in rural areas of the state, like Northeast Michigan, hunting camps and other properties that are in the middle of the woods, often don’t have reliable internet and cell reception, which could hamper someone trying to file the report.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon smiles after receiving a warm welcome from hundreds of supporters in Alpena during a campaign rally on Wednesday.

During the campaign and debates, Whitmer has touted record investment into education, roads and other government initiatives. Dixon said a significant portion of that funding came from the $10.31 billion the state received via the American Rescue Plan Act from the federal government.

Dixon said once that funding is exhausted, the state needs to find other ways to fund the investments. Dixon said utilizing a portion of the more than $9 billion state surplus money could be a consideration.

“We’re seeing all of this money at the end of her term going out and being listed as actual money we will pay going forward,” Dixon said. “It has to be one-time projects. When you have this one-time money, it can’t go into education long-term. We have seen the per pupil funding go up, but is that sustainable for where we are right now? I do believe the tax surplus needs to be spent in appropriate areas.”

Dixon said there is a large learning loss for Michigan students from the impacts of schools being closed. She said she will work hard to get kids caught back up to speed.

She also promoted her $1 billion “Building a Safer State” strategy, a plan that would support law enforcement by putting money toward recruiting, retaining, training, and equip first responders.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon shares a special moment with some of the children who were at Wednesday’s rally in Alpena on Wednesday.

She also pledged to work with the state legislature to approve a suspension of the state’s sales or gas tax to help people overcome the high cost of gasoline.

An email sent from Whitmer’s campaign team to respond to Dixon’s comment said Gov. Whitmer has followed-through on many campaign promises despite the pandemic and Dixon is the wrong choice for Michigan. The email said the Whitmer administration considers Dixon’s ideas and goals a step backwards should she become governor.

“Through the challenges of the past few years, Gov. Whitmer has brought people together to get things done on the fundamental issues that matter most to Michiganders — fixing 13,000 lane miles of roads and 900 bridges, supporting thousands of good-paying jobs, putting more than 170,000 Michiganders on a tuition-free path to higher education and skills training, and announcing $4.9 million to build residential and commercial spaces in Alpena,” the email said. “Meanwhile, Tudor Dixon has pushed a dangerous Devos-backed agenda to ban abortion with no exceptions for rape, incest, or the health of the mother and slash funding for education, public safety, and infrastructure.”

Voters will have their say on abortion on Tuesday, as Proposal 3 could amend the state’s constitution for abortion if it passes.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today