Duggan highlights education, jobs, housing in Southwest Michigan campaign stop

Independent gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan made a campaign stop in Southwest Michigan, including Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass counties, where he discussed his platform focused on education, economic growth, and housing affordability. Speaking at a town hall meeting in St. Joseph, Duggan highlighted concerns like low third-grade reading levels, job loss among young residents, and regulatory delays impacting agriculture and development, citing staffing shortages at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. During his visit, Duggan unveiled a four-point plan for data center development in Michigan. His proposal calls for stronger statewide standards that ensure developers cover the full cost of electricity, utilize closed-loop recycling for water to protect the environment, and operate with complete transparency regarding agreements. Crucially, Duggan emphasized that local communities must retain the decision-making authority over data center projects without external pressure. He also pledged that if elected, his administration would provide legal teams to assist communities in either defining how data centers could develop or in fighting against projects they do not want, aiming for clear state standards that protect the public. Duggan is running as an independent, acknowledging an uphill battle against major parties but stressing direct engagement with voters across all 83 counties.