Voters met the former Dow Chemical executive Mary Draves Tuesday at the Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Michigan building in Midland.
Draves talked about her platform and the issues at hand, all of which circled around restoring the American Dream, which she said her kids feel "is gone."
She also took questions from voters about immigration and Paul Junge, her opponent in the primary who recently put out an attack ad on Draves.
Draves spoke to WCMU to talk about her background, the recent Donald Trump verdict, and the issues at hand here in Michigan.
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What is your background in politics before entering the race?
Draves: “My family has been active in politics for a long time. My dad was a township supervisor for well over two decades. My husband currently serves as a township trustee and is going to run for his third term. It's really important that people get involved in this type of work. I think that this is not just about running for office. This is about serving the people of the district. We need more people who want to serve.”
Was there any one issue or experience that prompted you to enter this race?
Draves: “I have two children. We have had over the course of the last 12 months many conversations about what's important to them. Right now, they just feel like their country is on a bad path. They don't like what they see. They feel the American dream is gone. When I was their age, things were much different. One of the things in our house is, is that you can't sit on the sidelines and watch things happen. You have to get involved. Between my children and my desire to serve, to say ‘I can't sit and watch this anymore’. I have to do something about it.
One issue you spoke about is energy independence. How do you define that and how do you look to kind of achieve that policy goal?
Draves: “Our nation really needs to be energy independent, which means we have enough here to provide for what we need for manufacturing and growth. We have things like natural gas supply. If we have good access to energy, that means we can innovate. That means our businesses can grow and we're not reliant on what's going on in foreign lands."
Mary Draves talks with constituents during a campaign meet and greet on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at the Associated Builders and Contractors Greater Michigan Chapter building, in Midland, Mi.
Voters in central Michigan are worried about the economy and inflation. What policy ideas do you have to curb that?
Draves: “I think one of the most important things that we have to pay attention to right now that will help is putting money in the pockets of Americans. We are going to see the Trump-era tax cuts and tax structure expire. We have to have a tax structure that benefits the American people and a government that lives within its means.”
What is your stance on the funding of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East?
Draves: “It's important that we stop the advancement of Russia. I think that the US has done its part and then some. The credit card is maxed out in my mind. It's time for the rest of the world to step up. The United States is a strong country. We have many allies. Those allies need to also take part in this. It's not just us. We do need to remain involved."
And the Middle East?
Draves: “I think it's the same thing. We need to make sure that the United States has done its part and then some. I think American people do not have to shoulder that burden alone. There are many other countries who are benefiting from the US. They need to come on board. We do these things together for a reason and the United States cannot be the only one who does.”
The most recent federal farm bill has advanced in the House of Representatives. Would you have voted for it?
Draves: "Agriculture is an extremely important part of this district, in Michigan's eighth. I've spent a lot of time talking to farmers about concerns that they have, what they see in the farm bill, what's good for them, what's not really good for them. What we need to do with the farm bill is keep moving it forward so that we can support agriculture in this region."
What is your reaction to last week’s Donald Trump New York trial verdict?
Draves: “We’ve endorsed President Trump. President Trump is the leader of our party. I believe, quite firmly, that last week's decision was quite unfair and frankly, a witch hunt. And I think that if you look at the facts and the data surrounding [it], they don't net out. It's very disappointing to see that our judicial system has been weaponized.”
Was there a specific part of the case that stood out as an abuse of power?
Draves: “I think that the FEC did not bring charges and I also think that the DOJ decided that they weren't going to charge him. Why is this proceeding? That's a big question.”
The primary will be held on Tuesday, August 6th.
