Chris Swanson Advocates for Reform in Law Enforcement and Education
In a gathering at Midland’s local coffee shop, Chris Swanson, the Democratic gubernatorial hopeful and Genesee County Sheriff, emphasized a forward-thinking stance on criminal justice. Swanson openly criticized the current operations of ICE and the presence of private jails.
Swanson highlighted that the practices of ICE are fostering a climate of public “distrust,” particularly pointing out their use of masks and unmarked vehicles. “We don’t have masks in Michigan for a reason,” Swanson asserted. “Law enforcement have badges and insignias. We have patrol cars that people are well aware of. That’s how you do policing.”
The sheriff also denounced the tragic incidents involving Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. citizens fatally shot by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Swanson remarked, “The blowback that I got from my own profession, it was worth it, because ICE in law enforcement is not who we are, we’re better than this.”
Addressing the Women of Michigan Action Network, Swanson passionately laid out his vision for the gubernatorial race. He echoed bipartisan sentiments to ensure Michigan’s sales tax primarily benefits K-12 educational institutions. He stressed, “The priority is K-12 funding. Keep it there and don’t take from it.”
Swanson proudly reported a 40% reduction in crime within Genesee County and a decrease of 150 inmates, attributing these achievements to the I.G.N.I.T.E program, which he describes as “the baseline of jail education in the country now.”
Voicing his opposition to private prisons, Swanson described them as “dangerous,” stating, “When you have private funded prisons, now the mindset is not restoration, it’s not second chances, it’s profit. I’m going to do everything in my power that there’s not a single private prison or jail in the state of Michigan.”
Swanson also mentioned that he would endorse the construction of data centers only with the consent of local communities.
Nationally recognized for his active participation with protesters in Flint post-George Floyd’s death in 2020 and his speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Swanson is positioned against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in the Michigan Democratic Primary. Other candidates include Kevin Hogan and Marni Sawicki. Voters will cast their ballots on Tuesday, August 4.
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