Saginaw, Mich. (Midland Daily News, Abigail VanderMolen) — Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Winnie Brinks and state Senator Chedrick Greene, D-Saginaw, discussed affordability at a roundtable with community members in Saginaw’s First Ward Community Center on Monday.

Brinks, currently the state Senate majority leader, is campaigning alongside gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson.

Topics of conversation included rising health insurance and health care costs, utilities, and public transportation.

“The most important job that a legislator can do is listen to — and I don’t like to say just people — I like to say listen to his neighbors,” Greene said. “I’ve sat in the pews with people, I’ve been in meetings with people that I’ve had interactions with personally, because you’re my neighbor … we’re a part of the fabric of the community.”

Marcelle Smith, pastor at Historic Second Baptist Church of Bay City, told the lawmakers that he’s observed cost is a major reason why young people move out of the area.

“I plan on being here because I love Saginaw, I love mid-Michigan,” Smith said. “I want it to get better, but I do need y’all to help me help you because I can do some stuff pastorally, I can serve on the boards and stuff like that, but it goes back to the cost. The cost is always going to be a factor.”

Retired clinical social worker Pat Parker Person said she’s seen firsthand how rising costs disproportionately affect people with lower incomes.

“You can say some of that (rising cost) is obviously inflation, but it’s inflation really impacting lower income,” she said. “You know, when my income was higher, that kind of stuff wasn’t a big deal. But now that it’s fixed and with some part-time work, then it’s just a huge difference.

Among the topics of discussion at the panel was the cost of electricity. Brinks told roundtable attendees that she wants to limit the frequency with which electricity providers DTE and Consumers Energy could ask for permission to raise their rates. 

A statewide proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot would prohibit utilities including Consumers Energy and DTE, and companies with over $250,000 in government contracts — as well as people with strong ties to those organizations — from making direct or indirect contributions to politicians and political candidates.

“Anything that we can do to make sure that we’re addressing those rising costs in all these areas — you heard talk about food, you heard talk about energy, housing, transportation — all of those have seen increasing pressure on them,” Brinks said. “It really is important that we have people in the governor’s office and in the legislature who are really focused on that.”

Early voting in Midland County begins Oct. 24 at the Greater Midland Community Center and at Coleman City Hall. To see your sample ballot, polling place and local clerk, and to see if you are registered to vote, go to https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index.