Alpena, MichiganLocal Weather Alerts
There are currently no active weather alerts.

Bergman looking at rural broadband, modernization of Soo Locks as next issues to address

Congressman Jack Bergman chats with WBKB's Mike Beiermeister on Tuesday morning.

Alpena — On a busy August Primary Election day, Congressman Jack Bergman was cool, calm, and collected.

The Representative for the 1st district of Michigan made his rounds in Northeast Michigan, talking to constituents and identifying problems. Bergman stopped by WBKB’s studios and identified a few issues that are on his radar for the future.

“We assume when we turn on our light switches in our house, the lights go on,” said Bergman. “Electricity is consider a utility. I would suggest to you that broadband should be a utility.”

It’s no secret that broadband has been an issue Northeast Michigan. Oscoda and Montmorency County have some of the worst issues with broadband. Presque Isle County is not far behind. Bergman plans to tackle this issue by looking at solutions to make sure all areas are covered. Closing the skilled jobs gap is another topic that Bergman touched on during the conversation.

“Now that economy is booming to the point where we know we need more qualified people to fill the jobs,” said Bergman. “You look around and see “help wanted” [signs] in many areas all around.”

The modernization of the Soo Locks have been one of the biggest issues that Bergman has advocated for, gaining national attention. President Donald Trump referenced the project, wanting to push it up the food chain of struggling infrastructures in the United States. He spoke at a rally back in April in Washington Township, giving a shout out to the project.

The congressman noted that each issue begins with the constituents and the conversations at the coffee shop. He asks one question of the folks he represents.

“Are you better off than you were two years ago?”

Bergman will run for re-election in November. He will most likely face write-in Democrat Matt Morgan, a candidate who has identified the same issues to act on.

To learn more about Bergman and his proposed legislation, visit https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/jack_bergman/412709 or visit https://bergmanforcongress.com/

To learn more about Matt Morgan, visit https://mattmorganformichigan.com/