HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first-ever appearance as keynote speaker for the 90th Annual Tulip Time’s Governer’s Luncheon included some self-deprecating humor and praise for West Michigan and the festival. (Listen to her full speech.)
Shee praised Holland for consistently producing the Tulip Time Festival, now in its 90th year, drawing some 500,000 visitors. Tulip Time’s executive director, Gwen Auwerda, had earlier noted the festival delivers an economic impact of $48 million to West Michigan, and both she and Whitmer acknowledge the festival is considered the opening event for Michigan’s tourism season.
Whitmer made a point of noting that, beyond the downtown area, this part of West Michigan hosts excellent beaches and a wide variety of attractions, making it a year-round draw to visitors.
Holland, she said, is an excellent example of a Michigan city “where all families find opportunities,” she said, and shows how “Michigan can be a great place to raise your family.”
She noted that several people had approached her for photos before the luncheon, whispering that they’d voted for her, unlike most Ottawa County residents. She joked about getting just five votes here — causing a burst of laughter from her audience.
But, she said, “first and foremost of all, we are Michiganders.”
Everyone in Michigan may not agree on every single issue, she said, citing the Mackinac Bridge being built at a time when Republicans controlled the state legislature during Gov. Soapy Williams term. Though the bridge plan got nicknamed “Soapy’s Folly,” but went forward with the grit and determination that so defines Michigan residents.
She said making the bridge part of her campaign logo was an intentional statement that she wants to work together with people from both parties to do what’s best for Michigan.
While Whitmer emphasized the need for better schools, in a brief post-luncheon press conference, she expanded on that topic, saying Michigan’s outcomes for third-grade literacy are the worst in the U.S. While this state ranks below the average, based on figures compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics, Michigan is tied with New York, as falling 40th out of 50 states, Dept. of Defense schools, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico schools.
Asked if she’d met with Holland native and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy Devos, Whitmer said she’d had dinner with President Trump and, there, most of the conversation centered on protecting the Great Lakes.
She continued to hint that auto insurance reform would not go forward unless it was a bipartisan bill, and that negotiations for her first state budget were “in the second inning.”
Holland resident Linda DeVisser attended the luncheon as a guest of a family member. She said she was surprised to learn Whitmer has West Michigan roots. Whitmer grew up in Grand Rapids, telling the crowd she often visited Holland and the Tulip Time Festival as a child, later bringing her own children here.
“I thought she was very straight forward, and funny … She was delightful,” Devisser said, adding that she appreciated the whole luncheon’s warm and cheerful tone.
