by P.D. Lesko
ON THURSDAY MAR. 12, Rep. Debbie Dingell delivered what was billed as a State-of-the-District speech. She spoke for 35 minutes to a group of around 100 people. At the luncheon, which took place at Weber’s Inn on Jackson Rd. in Ann Arbor, there were eleven local elected officials present, as well as members of the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce.
Rep. Dingell kicked off her speech by pointing out that as a U.S. Rep. with only 60 days experience in office, she really didn’t have the required time representing the U.S. 12th Congressional District necessary to give a State-of-the-District speech.
The assertion, which is factually accurate, ignored what publications such as The Washington Post and The Hill have described as Mrs. Dingell’s position as a long-time political insider in DC thanks to her husband’s decades-long tenure in Congress.
In fact, during her 2014 campaign, beltway political analysts predicted Mrs. Dingell would hit the ground running.
Washtenaw County Clerk Larry Kestenbaum said as much after Dingell’s speech. “I came today to support her. She’s really hit the ground running.”
She told The Ann Arbor Independent, “I think the District is doing ok. There’s lots of opportunity.” She went on the say that working with Michigan’s other recently elected U.S. Congressional representatives (a group which she refers to as “The Freshman Five”) is “going well.” The Freshman Five includes three Republicans, and Dingell has not hesitated to cross party lines to work with them.
“I want to be part of a coalition to work on issues,” she said.
In her speech, Mrs. Dingell was open about her former affiliation with the Republican Party.
“Before I married John,” she said, referring to her husband, former U.S. Congressman John D. Dingell, Jr., “I was a Republican. A Milliken Republican,” she quickly added.
The only member of Ann Arbor City Council who attended Rep. Dingell’s speech was Jane Lumm (I-Ward 2). Lumm, who describes herself as a social progressive and a fiscal conservative, said that she came to hear what Mrs. Dingell had to say.
“For me, mostly these days it’s deer and crime as the State-of-the-District in my area,” said Lumm with a smile.
While answering questioning from The Ann Arbor Independent, Rep. Dingell touched on the fact that she had also recently defied Democratic leadership by attending a joint session of Congress at which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke.
“People are mad at me because I went to the join session,” she said, “but you have to listen to everyone.”
Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton attended Rep. Dingell’s speech. He answered questions about crime in his slice of the 12th Congressional District.
“Crime is stable,” said Sheriff Clayton, “and if you look in some categories crime is down.”
In her speech, Rep. Dingell spoke about the need to nurture Michigan’s auto industry and the importance of diversification of the state’s economy.
The topic of currency manipulation as it relates to international trade with Japan came up during the course of the Congresswoman’s remarks.
She alleged that Japan is able to price its exported autos so competitively by manipulating its own currency.
“I will not support any trade agreements that don’t address this issue,” said Mrs. Dingell.
Donna Williams works for the University of Michigan Credit Union. In speaking after the event about Mrs. Dingell’s speech, Williams characterized the address as “ok.” She added, “I think she spoke to our issues—the auto industry. Her currency manipulation comment made me want to do more research.”
Likewise, Dennis Huibregtse, who is a member of the Ann Arbor-Ypsi Chamber of Commerce, said when asked about Dingell’s speech, “It was ok.”
Ken Schwartz is the Superior Twp. Supervisor and what stood out for him was Rep. Dingell’s support for the country’s space program, specifically the Mission to Mars.
“The Mission to Mars was important to mention,” said Schwartz. “I’m glad she’s sensitive to the reinvigoration of the space program.”
Ann Arbor’s mayor and mayor pro tem were both absent from the event as was Ypsilanti’s mayor, Amanda Edmonds. Ypsilanti Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson was present.
“I’m looking forward to working to Rep. Debbie Dingell. I don’t think there will be a missed beat.” Richardson went on to say that, “one person in my district described Rep. Dingell as ‘energy.’”