BY BTL STAFF
Huntington Woods- Meet State Rep. Gretchen Driskell (D – Saline) and candidate for Michigan's 7th Congressional District, for an evening of conversation about issues directly impacting the LGBT community. The event takes place Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. in Huntington Woods and is hosted by Kevin Howley and Jason Tylenda, Howard Israel and Henry Grix, Tom Wilczek and Steve Quinkert, Mark LaChey and Bryan Hoffman, Susan Horowitz and Jan Stevenson, Nancy Katz and Margo Dichtelmiller, Bill Greene and Peter McGreevy, Larysa Blysniuk, Nina Dodge Abrams and Rep. Jim Townsend.
Driskell has been a vocal proponent of legislation introduced at the local and state levels that supports and protects LGBT rights, including the expansion of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. She has fought against efforts to curtail the basic freedoms of the LGBT community by voting against legislation that is discriminatory, including restrictions on same-sex couples adopting.
Driskell was elected as State Rep. in the 52nd House District in November 2012. She sits on the Agriculture, Elections, and Communications and Technology Committees. In addition to LGBT rights, she is focused on job creation and building small business, as well as prioritizing the public education system and protecting the environment.
Driskell is running to unseat Republican Congressman Tim Walberg Nov. 8. She released her first ad on Aug. 31. The spot, called "Zero," draws a strong contrast between her and Walberg, who has opposed zero trade deals during his time in Congress. Driskill says she would vote against bad trade deals and fight for Michigan jobs.
Walberg has voted for trade deals six separate times in Congress. Last year, he voted in favor of the Trade Promotion Authority, which makes it easier for TPP to pass. Driskell opposes bad trade deals and wants to stop American jobs from being outsourced. She was vocal in her opposition to fast-tracking the TPP, when Walberg voted to fast-track it last year. Just last week, she held a rally with Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-12) alongside local labor leaders, where Driskell once again pledged to fight against TPP in Congress.
In May, William Milliken, the former Republican governor of the state, endorsed Driskill for Congress.
"Voters in Michigan's 7th congressional district have an opportunity this year to select a representative in Congress who has a clear record of working in a constructive way to fashion solutions to the challenges we face as a state and nation," Milliken said in a news release about her. "As Saline's longest-serving mayor and more recently as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, Gretchen Driskell has a record of working constructively to achieve positive results, not simply scoring political points. She recognizes that we are one state and one nation and that in the end we all go up or down together," Milliken said.
Driskell said she's honored to have the endorsement of such a well-respected Michigan leader. His endorsement adds to Driskell's list of bipartisan endorsements, including former 7th District Reps. Joe Schwarz and Mark Schauer.
Please RSVP to [email protected] or call 734-707-6729 for more information. To support Driskell, visit her website or make non-corporate checks payable to Gretchen Driskell for Congress, PO Box 464, Saline, MI 48176.
