Democrat Carl Brewer counts on inclusive approach, experience as mayor to woo voters
It was a reminder of why he decided to run for governor.
"I started watching what was going on with
Brewer, a former
"She said, 'Something has to happen,'" Brewer said. "I said, 'Well, Cathy, these are the only choices we have.' And she said, 'Are you planning on running?'
"So I was in the race."
Now he may make history.
If Democratic voters choose him on
He believes his time as mayor -- where he said he sorted through problems by working with individual people and not just interest groups -- makes him the best choice to lead
"You don't draw the line in the sand on issues. You include everybody, whether they're Democratic, independent, Republican. I have friends of all parties that are very close to me, and that's how you do that," Brewer said.
"It's about building relationships."
Overcoming divisions
On the campaign trail, Brewer seems to relish talking to voters.
At the Democratic picnic in
An April poll conducted by
Still, most potential voters haven't heard of him.
"Nice fellow. Nice fellow. I don't know much about him," Democrat
Brewer has tried to paint himself as the "true blue" candidate in the race by highlighting his support for full legalization of marijuana and his stance in favor of abortion rights. He has largely stayed clear of the fight over abortion and guns between his opponents
He is the only major Republican or Democratic candidate for governor who has not held elected office in
Brewer has instead sought to focus attention on his time as mayor of
Brewer, describing his approach, said he would tell
He said over time the focus in city government shifted from scoring political points to helping people.
"You made sure everyone got their fair share, everyone was treated respectfully," Brewer said.
During his tenure, he worked with the business and aviation community to promote the city's aviation industry abroad.
Brewer worked in the aircraft industry for more than 30 years. He began as a sheet metal worker and served as a union steward. Later, he worked in management at
Rep.
"The
In a statement, Brewer said that during his time as mayor,
"I have withstood criticism like this from people like Whitmer and
Still, Unruh said, he never sensed hostility or hard feelings from Brewer.
"I think it was always an easy conversation. It was always cordial," Unruh said.
Grandson's impact
As Brewer campaigned, one significant issue in the Democratic race -- problems in the state's child welfare system -- became deeply personal.
Last fall,
Brewer, who was in the
Problems in the DCF frequently come up in the Democratic race for governor. When Brewer talks about the agency, he often notes he has had personal experience with the child welfare system but stops short of recounting Evan's story.
In an interview, Brewer said Evan's death led him to see problems beyond the agency, from the courts to law enforcement.
"We can point the finger at DCF all day long and we can come to solutions and we can fix DCF. But that still does not fix the problem," Brewer said.
Everyone should know what the process is and the process should work, he said.
"We should be able to make sure that every child -- that it is a priority and it's not a 'Well, it's not in my house' or 'It doesn't concern me,'" Brewer said.
Brewer 'led' to run
Brewer grew up the oldest of five siblings. He was raised by his mom and grandparents.
He said he would go to the store in elementary school to buy something to eat and would figure out how much he could hold back to buy his youngest sister potato chips.
"It was just one of those things that I went through, taking care of others. I just have always been that way," Brewer said.
"I am a person who believes God leads you down a certain path for a reason, and for him, that path of being (on the
Williams, a former
Brewer reaches out to everyone regardless of gender, race or party, she said.
At a forum at a
"Just to be in an environment where we have this much nastiness and hatred and bigotry is beyond me. I'm just taken aback," Brewer said.
Brewer said he doesn't think about the historic nature of his candidacy should he win the race.
"But I am sensitive to it, that I believe
Coming next Sunday
Profiles of the main Republican candidates for governor.
Other Democratic candidates for governor
Andersen is a surgeon and colonel in the
Bergeson entered the race as a high school student in
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