Occupation / Current Position
Retired
Education
High School Graduate, Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters Trade School
Qualifications and Experience
I'm a working man who understands and has experienced the challenges and difficult positions the average Michigander faces nearly every day and I am determined to lessen that load..
Michigan's education system is doing well, but there is always room for improvement as new teaching techniques and technologies are developed. I am concerned about funding especially with recent proposals to reduce or eliminate property taxes and the push towards voucher programs. There is a shortage of teachers which needs to be addressed. I support standardized testing as a way to evaluate curriculum and one of the ways to evaluate student progress.
While I strongly support higher education, I would work to have more emphasis placed on teaching trades, including bringing back shop class.
Provide opportunities for residents to increase their knowledge and expand and their experience in a chosen area. Introduce measures to identify and eliminate price gouging, support unions and collective bargaining, reduce the cost of childcare to the individual, improve local roads and bridges so that farmers can get their products to market faster and cheaper and have those saving passed on to the consumer, develop ways to bring down healthcare costs, provide for incentives to medical personnel to work in rural areas. These are just a few of the things I want to work on if elected.
As with most things, if the supply is greater than the demand, prices are usually lower. We need to identify viable, clean and renewable energy sources and increase our grid capacity. At the same time, there needs to be regulations and restrictions in place to protect our environment. This may prove to be a difficult balance to achieve but one that must be explored.
I believe in and support our Constitution which to me applies to everyone living in this country. I am adamantly opposed to the policies currently guiding ICE. If I would make any changes, it would be to clarify and strengthen the language so that the intent could not be misconstrued.
Occupation / Current Position
State Representative
Education
Ferris State University – Bachelor of Science, Business Administration Ferris State University – Associate Degree, Legal Studies Montcalm Community College – Associate Degree
Qualifications and Experience
Five-plus years serving in the Michigan House of Representatives. Chair, House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. Experience building bipartisan support to move significant legislation. Skille
Michigan's education system has dedicated teachers and staff. However, despite significant funding increases in recent years, student achievement is still nowhere near where I would like it to be. I believe we must shift our focus from spending more money to ensuring we use existing resources effectively, especially as enrollment is declining. We must continue to recruit and retain teachers. I also believe we should shift our focus away from standardized testing and more towards student mastery. Assessment is a good thing, but it should not take away excessive instructional time. Finally, we should expand opportunities in career and tech.
Michigan has a cost of living problem, and over the years, the cost of everyday living has risen faster than paychecks. My focus is on lowering everyday costs by reducing property taxes, pursuing affordable, reliable energy, continuing to reduce auto insurance costs, and creating an environment where small businesses can survive and prosper. I also believe that we should reduce unnecessary regulations that drive up costs for both employers AND consumers. As a resident of rural Michigan, I also know that vibrant and strong small towns are important to economic growth. It's important that legislative policies reflect that to ensure opportunity
Michigan needs an energy policy that emphasizes affordability and reliability, and good environmental stewardship. I support an all-of-the-above strategy with a particular emphasis on nuclear, natural gas, and other emerging technologies that provide reliable, clean energy at an affordable cost. I believe that forcing massive industrial wind and solar infrastructure across our landscape through government mandates is a terrible mistake. I believe those policies are bad for the environment/wildlife and the consumer alike. We should protect Michigan's natural resources through practical and science-based conservation efforts.
I believe our constitution must be respected, but it should not be interpreted in ways that prevent the enforcement of U.S. immigration law. My focus is securing our nation's borders, supporting legal immigration, and opposing sanctuary policies that put our citizens at risk. While constitutional protections should be respected as interpreted by the courts, I believe lawmakers and courts should distinguish the rights of U.S. citizens and those who are unlawfully residing here.
