Occupation / Current Position
Bioethics Professor, Attorney, Author
Education
1992-GRCC, 1995-GVSU, 1996-Loyola Law, 1999-MSU College of Law
Qualifications and Experience
Allendale Public Schools Board of Education, Allendale Township Planning Commissioner, Attorney, Bioethics Professor, Michigan Department of Heatlh and Human Services Ethics Committee
As a two term Board of Education member, this is one of my top priorities.
Michigan has dedicated educators and many excellent local schools, but the overall system is not yet delivering consistent quality for every child. I am especially concerned about literacy, uneven access to advanced coursework and career/technical education, student mental health needs, and the strain placed on teachers and support staff.
I support stable, adequate, and more equitable school funding. Michigan’s FY 2026 budget increased the foundation allowance to over $10,000 per pupil and continued investments in free school meals, literacy, pre-K, and educator recru
This is, again, one of my top priorities.
Affordability is one of the most important issues facing Michigan families. Too many people are working hard but still struggling to afford housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation, and basic necessities. I believe that anyone who works full-time should be able to earn a living wage and support themselves and their family with dignity.
To address affordability, I support policies that strengthen wages while also lowering the everyday costs that strain household budgets. This includes expanding access to affordable childcare so parents can participate fully in the workforce, protecting access to
This is our future.
Michigan's energy policy should be guided by three equally important goals: reliability, affordability, and environmental stewardship. We should not have to choose one at the expense of the others.
First, energy must be reliable. Michigan families, businesses, schools, farms, and healthcare facilities depend on a stable electric grid. I support investments in grid modernization, infrastructure maintenance, and resilience measures that reduce outages and improve recovery from severe weather events, which have become increasingly common. Utilities must be held accountable for providing dependable service and making prudent
My position is grounded in both my professional experience and my personal life. As an attorney, I have spent my career working within a system built on constitutional protections. As a healthcare ethicist and professor, I have spent decades advocating for the dignity and worth of every human being. I believe that due process, freedom of speech and association under the First Amendment, and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment are fundamental constitutional rights that must be respected for all people within our borders, including noncitizens.
My perspective has also been shaped by personal experience
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