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Mike Duggan and Jocelyn Benson
Gubernatorial candidates, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, exchanged barbs Monday night over the origins of their campaign money, the Detroit News reports.
The exchanges took place at a forum sponsored by the United Auto Workers at a union hall in Dearborn before about 150 people.
Duggan, who is running as an independent, accused Benson, a Democrat, of receiving $1.5 million from Kenneth and Jennifer Duda of California. Kenneth Duda leads a company that works in networking for data centers, Craig Mauger of The News reports.
"You took a $1.5 million contribution from Ken Duda, the man who builds the data warehouses and connects them across America," Duggan said.
Conversely, Duggan conceded that he's taking money from people tied to corporations.
"I am going to build a bridge across business and labor and represent everybody," Duggan said, according to The News. "I am not going to pretend like I'm not going to take corporate money when I am."
Benson said she's not taking money from corporate PACs and pressed Duggan about the names behind a nonprofit organization, Put Progress First, that has spent more than $10 million supporting campaign.He did not respond.
"The fundamental question that's going to be facing voters this year is who does your governor work for," Benson said.
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, who is running as a Democrat, also participated in the forum.
