Michigan House District 96
Duties: The Michigan House of Representatives shares responsibility with the Michigan Senate to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws.Qualifications: Representatives are elected in even-numbered years to 2-year terms. They must be at least 21 years of age and a registered voter in their district. There are 110 State House districts which are re-apportioned after each census.Term: 2 years
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Christopher R. Girard
(Dem)
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Timmy Beson
(Rep)
EDUCATION: How do you evaluate Michigan’s current education system in terms of quality, funding, the teacher workforce and standardized testing? What changes, if any, would you propose or support?
ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability, and environmental protection in Michigan?
IMMIGRATION: What is your position on due process, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment rights for all Michigan residents, including noncitizens, and what changes, if any, would you support?
Occupation / Current Position
Mayor City of Bay City
Education
Bay City Central High School Alma College. B.S. Psychology
Qualifications and Experience
I’m the Mayor of Bay City and a former two-term City Commissioner representing the 6th Ward. I co-own Girard Investments LLC and serve on the boards of Bay-Arenac Behavioral Health, Hidden Harvest, an
Bay County schools face budget gaps driven by declining enrollment and that means teachers and programs at risk. Michigan’s school funding formula punishes districts for losing students. I support reforming school funding and creating mechanisms that help districts focus dollars where they matter most, on students and teachers. That includes examining administrative structures while protecting educator jobs and collective bargaining rights. Standardized testing should inform instruction, not define it. Safety grants and mental health resources must be part of base funding. Every kid deserves a safe place to learn and a real path forward.
Affordability starts with good jobs that pay a living wage. I support apprenticeship programs and workforce training tied to local employers so Bay County residents get those jobs first. When public dollars fund a project, the workers building it should earn fair wages. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and need a representative who understands what it takes to grow. Housing costs are squeezing families. Bay County needs thousands of new homes and senior housing that frees up family homes for the next generation. I will fight to lower utility costs and for development that benefits people already here.
Saginaw Bay is one of Michigan’s great natural resources and it deserves our protection. I believe in following the science and bringing farmers, conservationists, and communities together to address runoff, contaminated sediments, and water quality. I support responsible energy oversight that keeps rates affordable and ensures reliable service. I am committed to examining our energy mix to make sure we are getting the best value for families and businesses. When energy companies want rate increases, ratepayers need a voice in Lansing accountable to people, not utility companies. Michigan’s water and Michigan’s families both deserve better.
Every person in Michigan deserves constitutional protections, due process, First Amendment freedoms, and Fourth Amendment protections from unreasonable search and seizure regardless of status. I support requiring judicial warrants before any search or detention and prohibiting stops based on race or language. These are not partisan positions. They are constitutional ones. As Mayor of Bay City I worked cooperatively with commissioners to craft local protections grounded in equal protection and constitutional compliance, keeping public safety focused on local issues. Bay County is stronger when everyone lives with dignity.
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