GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Republicans and Democrats are traveling statewide, courting the all-important female vote ahead of Election Day.
Two events Tuesday in west Michigan highlight the importance of women in politics.
Gov. Rick Snyder is participating in a Women Strengthening Michigan forum in Kent County. It’s one in a series of events designed to highlight female leaders and discuss policy.
Minutes after that event began, Democrats stopped in Grand Rapids, making their case about why the Democratic Party is better for women than the GOP.
Snyder was joined by Cynthia Kay, president and CEO of CK and CO Media Production; Annie Link, with Swiss Lane Dairy; Teresa Weatherall Neal, superintendent Grand Rapids Public Schools; and Dr. Rose Ramirez, a family practitioner.
“Sue and I are very fortunate to have three wonderful kids,” Snyder told the audience. “So, how do we make sure our two daughters have the same opportunities our son has in terms of reinforcing that message? That’s why we want to have a series like this.”
The Snyder event can be seen in its entirety online.
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Lt. Gov. candidate Lisa Brown and State Sen. Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer join women from the across the state, speaking against Republican policies.
During their stop in west Michigan, the Democratic politicians were joined by Elizabeth Welch Lykins, an employment attorney from Grand Rapids and Jordan Crandell, a student at Grand Valley State University and waitress from Allendale, stressing the issue of pay equity.
“You can stand up and say, ‘I support equal pay,’ but if you’re not willing to put teeth into the law and enforce it, it doesn’t count,” said Sen. Stabenow.
State Rep. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), says the issue ought to be a matter of common sense.
“Two people who have the same training and same skills and do the same job in the same workplace should get the same paycheck,” said Brinks.
The female vote has been a central theme in Michigan’s race for U.S. Senate.
Republican Terri Lynn Land’s campaign has accused Democrats of attacking her for framing policy answers from her perspective as a mother.
Land will be joined on Wednesday by U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) for a rally in Utica.
Rep. Gary Peters campaign says Land is out-of-touch with the issues women care about.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be making a stop at Oakland University on Thursday to campaign for Peters and Democratic candidate for governor Mark Schauer.
