KIMBERLY BIZON 24 FALL <strong>2020</strong> BLUEWATERWOMAN.COM
DETERMINED to win BY DALE HEMMILA Kimberly Bizon is the face of determination. A candidate running for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, Bizon is making her second straight run for the seat as a Democrat in a traditionally Republican district. Even though she lost in 2018 to Republican Paul Mitchell by more than 70,000 votes, she is back on the campaign trail hoping to change voter’s minds in <strong>2020</strong>. “It’s definitely an uphill battle,” Bizon acknowledged recently while discussing her campaign. “We had a lot of financial challenges in 2018 and we currently have financial challenges to meet, but we have over 300 volunteers mobilized to try to get the word out.” That “word” includes addressing issues such as climate change and leveraging the Congressional seat to help rejuvenate the area. “A lot of times, the representatives for District 10 go to D.C. and they don’t bring anything back home,” she said. “They are approving policy, sponsoring and co-sponsoring bills, but they are not bringing anything home to a rural area like District 10. And then especially with Paul Mitchell, he really missed the mark in not having any townhalls and not being transparent.” Bizon, a resident of Lexington who is currently on pandemic furlough from her job as an online interactive director of marketing and advertising from the Southfield-based Sussman Agency, would like to change that, starting with reaching across the aisle. “Your representative as a Democrat should be able to speak to a Republican representative, and I’m not seeing that happen,” she explained. “I think that you need to represent everybody; you might not agree, but maybe you can find some middle ground. I think I’m able to do that.” And Bizon describes her policy views in fairly simple terms. “I love progressive ideals, but I’m also a little more moderate as well,” she said. “Meaning, I try to work within the system to move the needle on climate change and to bring back jobs and a living wage and, of course, healthcare.” Bizon won the August Democratic Primary by nearly 4,000 votes over Mount Clemens’ Kelly Noland, while political newcomer Lisa McClain defeated current State Representative Shane Hernandez in the Republican primary. It is now McClain who is in Bizon’s sights for the Congressional seat campaign. “She spent $2.4 million, I believe, on her primary,” Bizon said. “She spent $1.4 million on commercials that were just attack ads. The people up here in Croswell and Lexington were really surprised, and as a whole, I think that the community believes you should say what you’re going to say, and you shouldn’t benefit from putting another person down.” Bizon expects McClain, who has described herself as a Trump Republican, will spend significantly on her campaign in the general election. “She’s going to spend another $1.2 million is what we predict, and she’s already attacking us,” Bizon said. Without similar financial resources, Bizon says her campaign will look to more creative ways to get her message across. “We have the most phenomenal people who are passionate about the things I am fighting for,” she said, “We see some weaknesses in Lisa McClain. She’s one thousand percent with President Trump, and I don’t think that message resonates well. I think that there are a lot of Republicans that are not Trump Republicans. We’re trying to be really smart about our targeting, and very resourceful about our money.” That means walking door-to-door to drop off literature, setting up phone banks, dropping off signs, using social media, and creating an analytics team for campaign study. “We feel we are ahead of it right now and we are going to continue moving forward and spend as much time and energy that everybody can give,” she said. That effort will be focused on getting her message across to voters, hoping they will look at her as the right person for the job. “I understand the 10th District,” she said. “I was raised on a farm so I can connect with the farmers and the hard work they do every day. I also come from a tourist community, so I understand the need for tourism and small-town revenue. As far as schools and opportunities and broad band, I understand the challenges they have. I’m just really for people and communities; we need some help and they need a voice, and I want to be that voice in Congress for them.” Bizon says the current Democratically-controlled House of Representatives has done a good job over the past two years, but she remains concerned that the U.S. Senate has not taken up much of the legislation passed by the House and that points to the overall divide in Washington. “I feel with the current administration, it’s shock value every week,” she said. “Instead of bringing unity to America, we find ourselves divided. Truth matters. I just want to make sure we elect the right people and we just need to educate people and remind them of our common humanity.” While she rejects the term “underdog” for her political status, Bizon is still aware that she is in an uphill struggle as a blue candidate in a red district fighting what she calls some “media bias” and also taking on a wellfunded opposition. “The seat should not be bought,” she said. “I believe in campaign reform and I believe it should be a fair playing field. But I believe the voters are smart I think they will look at the candidate and see if this is someone that can represent me. Is this someone I can talk to?” Of course, Bizon believes that someone is her and will take the race all the way to November 3rd. “I could quit,” she said. “I’m sure there are days when maybe I want to quit sometimes, but when I see a child or when I see the young children, I know I have to go to bat for them. You don’t quit on things that matter. “My heart is in the right place to represent the people, and I do believe that we are going to win. I hope people don’t get discouraged. I believe if people get out and vote I will be in Congress in January.” FALL <strong>2020</strong> BLUEWATERWOMAN.COM 25