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Wed. 10:50 a.m.: Local leaders head to Detroit in push to save local GM plant

Tribune Chronicle business writer is accompanying the group

DETROIT, Mich. – Joe Martin took off work to go to Detroit today – it was that important to him to show his support for the effort to keep the General Motors plant in Lordstown producing vehicles.

“I just thought this was important, to lose a day of pay, it was worth doing this,” Martin said. “Like I told Dave (Green, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112), you have to show a presence up there.”

Martin is among a local contingent headed to the North American International Auto Show going on in downtown Detroit to support “Drive It Home Ohio,” a local grassroots effort to convince General Motors to reverse its intent to idle the Lordstown manufacturing complex, assign a new product there and invest in the workforce.

Others on the bus are James Dignan, president and CEO of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber; Sarah Boyarko, the chamber’s chief operating officer; Lordstown Mayor Arno Hill; Crystal Carpenter, another plant employee; Green; and reporters from the New York Times. Tribune Chronicle business writer Ron Selak Jr. is also accompanying the group in the vehicle. Coverage of today’s events in Detroit will be published here, www.tribtoday.com, and in Thursday’s Tribune Chronicle print edition.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted are also at the show, and plan to speak with the media this afternoon. The two state administrators plant to meet Thursday with General Motors CEO Mary Barra.

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