Michigan House District 61 Choose 1
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
Biographical Information
Website
http://DeniseMentzer.com
Campaign Twitter Handle
@None
Occupation / Current Position
Current State Representative HD61
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration summa cum laude
Qualifications and Experience
10 years on Mount Clemens City Commission. I'm in my second term as a state representative running for my third
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?
We are falling seriously behind in reading and math scores. Teachers should have more of a say in classroom curriculum. We need to pay attention to the increased needs of students for hunger, health care and mental health care. We need some type of incentive program to encourage more to go into the teaching profession. We must stop underfunding the education budget and pass a budget prior to July 1st so school systems know what to expect.
ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
Those in the workforce must get a fair, livable wage with health care benefits and time off. While Michigan recently increased the minimum wage, we are still falling behind. Training programs for skilled trades must be offered at the high school level.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability, and environmental protection in Michigan?
We had the green energy package which was just repealed by the House. Thankfully, the Senate will not take it up. We need better regulation of utility companies and their ever increasing demands for rate increases. We must seriously consider alternative methods of green energy (solar, wind, hydroelectric) to supplement and replace parts of the grid.
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?
Michigan's population is shrinking as residents get older and there are less children born. Farmers have been dependent on immigrant labor for years. So has the tourism industry in Michigan. We should welcome immigrants and the skills and labor they bring and streamline the citizenship process.
Biographical Information
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?
Candidate has not yet responded.
ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
Candidate has not yet responded.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability, and environmental protection in Michigan?
Candidate has not yet responded.
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?
Candidate has not yet responded.