LANSING, Mich. — While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is again absent from Michigan, Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, on Wednesday called upon Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II to provide leadership in his role as acting governor and schedule a special election for the vacated 35th Senate District seat:
“As we approach the 100-day mark since the previous senator from the 35th District was elected to Congress, more than 270,000 residents of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties remain without representation in the Michigan Senate.
“It is unfortunate the governor has been more preoccupied with her national book tour during the past few months than focused on the business of Michigan. Now, she has left on a 10-day overseas absence.
“I urge acting Gov. Gilchrist to provide the leadership that our absent governor cannot be bothered with and schedule a special election for the people of the 35th Senate District. All Michiganders deserve full representation in Lansing. All Michiganders deserve elected leaders who do their jobs.”