Where in the world is John Goldwater?

LANSING – John Goldwater, a Republican businessman with questionable ties to China, has repeatedly ghosted the media and avoided opportunities to communicate with voters. MIRS has invited Goldwater over five times to join a candidate forum with state Senator Kevin Hertel, the Democratic candidate, and was consistently ignored.

“I think the technical term for that is you have been ghosted by the Goldwater team,” Kevin Hertel, Democratic candidate for SD-12 said on MIRS Monday. “One of the most interesting things to me is that I’ve never met this individual. I’ve never run against anybody that I have not met. I’m at community events frequently here in the district, I’m at parades, and I have never met this individual.”

“One of the most important things about doing this job is being able to show up in front of people — whether you agree or disagree — and answer questions,” said Hertel. “We’re 18 days before an election, and to not be willing to stand in front of people, take questions, tell them what you’re about, what you want to do, it really does not make a lot of sense. The people of this district deserve a lot better.”

Hertel told MIRS it’s not too late for a forum — if Goldwater will show up: “If you can get it set up, I’m ready to go, any time, any place.”

When Goldwater does bother to show up, he seems “strikingly unprepared.” When interviewed by the Detroit Free Press Editorial Board, the Free Press found that “Some routine questions about state government seemed to puzzle Goldwater.” When the Detroit Metro Times reached out for comment on his Chinese business connections, Goldwater’s campaign didn’t respond (which, clearly, seems to be a trend for them).

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