FLINT, Mich. — Following a debate that started off with 20 minutes of questions about the lead water crisis in this town, top Democrats hit back at the suggestion that the two candidates will forget about Flint, Mich.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder issued a statement after the debate jabbing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Snyder said Clinton and Sanders will leave Flint and continue on the campaign trail, while he will stay around to fix the problems.
“In the coming days, political candidates will be leaving Flint and Michigan,” Snyder said. “They will not be staying to help solve the crisis, but I am committed to the people of Flint. I will fix this crisis and help move Flint forward. Long-term solutions are what the people of Flint need and what I am focused on delivering for them.”
In April 2014, a state emergency manager appointed by Snyder signed off on a symbolic vote from the Flint City Council to change the city’s water source. The move aimed to cut costs by requiring the city to take its water from the Flint River instead of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department while a new pipeline was built to connect the city to Lake Huron.
The Flint River water, however, was so acidic that it caused the lead pipes bringing water from the city’s cast iron mains to homes to corrode. Lead leached off the pipes and into the drinking water of homes throughout the city. The state has declared a state of emergency and Flint residents are not able to drink the water coming out of their taps.
Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ campaign manager, said the Vermont senator won’t stop talking about Flint. He said Snyder doesn’t like all the attention being focused on Flint and the lead water crisis, but the spotlight won’t be going away.
“He has a long history of fighting for people even if it doesn’t benefit him,” Weaver said.
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz believes the debate accomplished the candidates’ goal of shining an even brighter national spotlight on the city’s plight.
By being present in Flint and focusing so much of the debate on what’s taking place here, the candidates showed “we have their backs,” she said.
She added that Flint will be a major issue because of what it represents nationally.
“The issue of what happened in Flint, who caused it and the republican neglect should be talked about all the way through,” she said. “But more importantly we want to broaden this out about how this is a problem in so many neighborhoods across America.”
Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Brandon Dillon said he’d rather the candidates stuck around and Snyder was the one who left.
“I’m confident both candidates are going to continue talking about it and Gov. Snyder can put his head in the sand and pretend like they’re not gonna but I think the people in Flint know they will,” Dillon said.
