By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At:
WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)
Gubernatorial candidate Garrett Soldano was arrested for drunk driving and refusing a breathalyzer test in Kalamazoo Township, court records obtained by West Michigan Politics reveal.
The incident, which occurred in 2009, when Soldano was 31, is not a campaign ending issue for him, though it definitely needs to be addressed and disposed of QUICKLY.
This certainly isn't something we would want Whitmer to bring up out of left field in October 2022...
Soldano, who recently announced he will be boycotting the Michigan Republican Party weekend on Mackinac Island next month, ended up taking a plea deal for a reduced charge in May of 2009, with Judge Richard Santoni presiding.
West Michigan Politics has submitted a Freedom Of Information Act request with the Kalamazoo Township Police Department to obtain copies of the police report corresponding with Soldano's arrest, and will be published after receiving.
People make mistakes, everyone does, I certainly have.
However, part of life is being willing to discuss those mistakes, ESPECIALLY when you're running for public office, even MORE so when you're running for Governor of the State of Michigan, the most powerful office in the state.
How Soldano addresses the drunk driving arrest, and some other issues that have popped up, will be immensely telling.
Can Garrett hang with the big boys and take a couple punches like a man? Or will he duck, dodge, run, and hide?
His ability to take the punches that come with a Gubernatorial campaign will determine whether or not he is a serious, first-tier candidate who can go the full 12 rounds with Gretchen Whitmer.
Soldano, a Chiropractor, faces off against former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, real estate agent Ryan Kelley, radio host Tudor Dixon, Pastor Ralph Rebant, businessman Austin Chenge, and Bob Scott in the Republican Gubernatorial primary.
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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.