Flint welcomes Democratic candidates, but distrust of help runs high
Flint — The spots on the arms of Keith Tomaszewski tell the story, he said, of how the long-running lead-contaminated water crisis here has affected his life and others.
But as 20 Democratic presidential candidates prepare to debate Tuesday and Wednesday in Detroit, Tomaszewski said he is not convinced any of them really care about him or other residents — even though four candidates already have visited the city and Flint is bound to come up on the nationally televised stage.
"I think it's going to be the same thing, just enough to get a little shine on the votes," said the 55-year-old Flint resident as he recently walked to a bus stop downtown. Tomaszewski fears he may have Legionnaires' disease and hopes to get checked soon.
"I don't think they are going to step in and do anything about it," he said. "I've got marks all over my skin."
Former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey last week were the latest to campaign in Flint. Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro was the first to visit in June, and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand went in early July.
Read more: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/27/flint-welcomes-democratic-candidates-distrust-help-high/1810026001/