By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
While there was discussion ranging from Kent County mental health care to a new brewery in Wyoming presented Monday, April 9, as part of the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meeting, a nuanced difference of political opinion on the federal level lead off the morning program.
Local representatives of U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan 2nd District)— Sen. Peter’s West Michigan Regional Director Peter Dickow and Rep. Huizenga’s District Director Greg VanWoerkom — offered differences of opinion on the politically changed debate on gun control and student protests in the wake of the Florida school shooting.
In response to a topic introduction by the meeting moderator, Dickow and VanWoerkom expressed not only their bosses’ stand on the issue but, subtly, their own.
“The question about the most recent energy being driven from the students or from adults, personally I don’t know if the senator has an opinion on that directly,” Dickow said. “… (but) it has been pretty impressive to see the energy from the students, nationwide. I know that the senator and his wife were among those that did actually march in Washington (D.C.) recently. … Whether that is going to result in congressional changes? I think that remains to be seen.”
VanWoerkom, however, wanted to talk more about how Rep. Huizenga is more focused on school safety overall rather than a focus on gun control as the only answer.
“We are trying to see it as … How do we ensure our schools remain safe, what are the resources they need,” he said. “We all want our kids safe and that is kind of what I am focusing on from a personal level, as a school board president, and then from a legislative perspective. What are the tools, resources, that schools need to ensure parents feel safe sending their kids there.”
VanWoerkom, incidentally and in addition to his work as district director for Rep. Huizenga, is running as a Republican for the Michigan 91st District State Representative seat currently held by Rep. Holly Hughes, also a Republican.
The monthly meeting brings together government leaders of all levels to discuss issues of importance and presents those discussions through WKTV’s live, delayed and on-demand broadcasts.
The Chamber’s Government Matters meetings include representatives of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kent County, local Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, and, often, representatives of other regional, State of Michigan and Federal elected officials. The next meeting will be May 14 at Kentwood City Hall.
The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. Replays are also available online at WKTV’s government meetings on-demand page (wktvondemand.com) and on the chamber’s Facebook page.
