The annual Mackinac Policy Conference is underway. The state’s most influential political, business, and civic leaders are gathered on Mackinac Island to talk about public policy issues. Southwest Michigan is represented, in part, by State Senator Aric Nesbitt.

WSJM caught up with Senator Nesbitt to ask about the conference, the state of play in Lansing, and his campaign for governor. He said one of his priorities is addressing issues around population growth (or the lack thereof) in Michigan.

“Unfortunately, we shrunk in the first decade of the century, we grew in the second decade. If we continue down the status quo over the next 30 years, some state demographers say we could lose up to 700,000 people in the state of Michigan, net,” said Nesbitt.

Nesbitt said the population decline is a drag on our economy and adding to the problem is young people leaving. He said part of the solution is better options — giving students more choice when it comes to pursuing education after high school.

“We need to redo and do away with the Michigan Merit Curriculum to make sure that students are provided the opportunities of whether they want to go into the trades or into college, make it up to them and have their choice.”

As part of his campaign for governor, Nesbitt is hosting a Tractor Tour across rural Michigan, meeting with people in town hall-style settings. It starts this Friday in Cass County.

For the full interview with Sen. Nesbitt, visit WSJM’s Facebook page where the video will be posted at 6:45 am ET on Wednesday.