MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. — On Monday we learned former President Bill Clinton is coming to Muskegon Heights as part of a three-stop visit to Michigan on Wednesday, which also includes South Haven and Benton Harbor. 13 ON YOUR SIDE made unannounced stops to a Kamala Harris Campaign office in Muskegon Heights and the Muskegon County GOP to see what local campaign leaders have to say about Muskegon Heights getting a visit from a former president.
At the Harris office, located at the corner of Broadway Avenue and Peck Street, campaign workers call Patsy Petty their "queen." Petty said she's been working elections for 55 years, since she was just 21 years old.
"I love people. I'm about equality and justice for all and to make a difference in my community, and this is something that's dear to my heart," said Petty who is still working elections despite health issues.
"I can be in excruciating pain, and I can be in the bed, and something within this political realm will get me going, and I forget about it and I'm up moving around. I can't explain it, and it's something that's deep, embodied in my soul."
Petty said since industries began pulling out of Muskegon Heights, the population has significantly decreased, and because of that, the city often gets overlooked politically. But she said the city votes heavily Democratic and she's been telling party leadership for years to mobilize voters in Muskegon Heights.
"I've always told the people from the top that a bird in the hand is better than two or three in the bush. You have to hit areas like Muskegon, Benton Harbor and Kalamazoo. That's where your Democratic base is," she said.
Now that Clinton is coming to town, Petty said she feels that maybe "the powers that be" have listened to her. She also believes that Muskegon County could play a huge role in deciding whether Michigan goes Democratic or Republican in the presidential election.
"I feel very wonderful and I feel honored that a town of this size and magnitude could make the difference in us winning the State of Michigan, and that's an honor for me. I mean, there's no words that can explain that," she said.
As for Republicans, when we visited the Muskegon County GOP office on Glade Street, workers told us they were not authorized to speak to members of the press. They referred us to Victoria LaCivita, who is the communications director for Trump Team Michigan. We told her we were looking to do a story on Muskegon County's role in the election, in light of Clinton's upcoming visit. She sent us the following statement:
“Dangerously liberal Kamala Harris is responsible for every struggle Michiganders have faced over the last three and a half years. Her actions fueled skyrocketing inflation, an inability to afford gas and groceries, violent crime at the hands of illegal immigrants, and a California- elitist obsession with electric vehicles. Muskegon is at the forefront of this election, and the community has not been spared from Kamala’s crippling policies. Nothing has been worse for Michiganders than the Biden-Harris agenda, which is why voters are going to overwhelmingly support Donald J. Trump in November."