ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The UP State Fair welcomed Lieutenant Governor Garland Gilchrist on Thursday, as this was “Honored Citizens Day.”
There was a ceremony honoring the UP Veteran of the Year, and then the main event, which was a luncheon with Gilchrist.
Gilchrist spoke about several issues facing Upper Peninsula residents, with housing being a serious concern.
“When the conversations that I’ve had, across every county in the UP, I’ve been to each county in the UP three times, and I hear about housing affordability and availability. People want to be able to afford to rent or buy a home here and stay here,” said Gilchrist.
Another issue plaguing the UP is access to health care, something Gilchrist is passionate about.
“Access to health care services, in particular mental and behavioral health services, which I’m deeply concerned about. The prospects of that, but these cuts that have come down from the federal government on Medicaid and what that could mean for our rural communities,” said Gilchrist.
The Gilchrist luncheon packed the tent with attendees from both parties. His speech today was non-partisan and free from political rhetoric, something many in the crowd appreciated.
“We see him a lot up here. I think he’s a very reasonable person. You can have competing points of view, and he’ll listen to them,” Said Christopher Germain of The Lake Superior Community Partnership.
Gilchrist spent much of the day listening to people attending the fair, hopefully gaining valuable insight into the needs of the UP.
