Issues

Education, economy, environment, election integrity, health care and agriculture. 

Education - Local Control

We have quality schools in West Michigan.  Every week at Rotary Club we hear from students from schools across the county, and all the rotarians walk away knowing that our students can compete with anyone in the country academically when inspired to do so.

When we provide our teachers and administrators the flexibility they need to educate and motivate our children, the kids will have a better opportunity to succeed.  We need to step back from the mentality of Lansing and Washington bureaucrats know what is best for our kids, and give the decision making power back to our local school districts. Then, as parents and community stakeholders, we hold the schools accountable.  

We need to give the teachers and administrators who know each child by name the power to make decisions for what is best for the child and our communities.  Each student is different, they learn their own way, come from different life experiences and have different visions about their future. Let’s get professional educators in our schools, provide them the room to be successful, and recognize that quality education is a community effort led by parents.

Economy - West Michigan Vision

Too often our government is reactive and not proactive when it relates to economic policy. At a state and local level, just like any company, nonprofit or organization, we need to set a vision for where we want to be in five, ten and twenty years and focus on the plan.

We must also continue to remove barriers to growth and create an ecosystem that encourages and nurtures entrepreneurship. I believe that our next major employers are the ones currently here working hard to build their businesses. Michigan continues to fall behind our neighboring states in our support for entrepreneurs and local businesses. I have worked to change these current practices by championing the creation of a Research and Development tax credit and the creation of the Venture Michigan Fund. Helping provide the tools necessary for our businesses and entrepreneurs to succeed.

Environment

I have worked over the past 20 years on impactful projects that have restored and preserved the environment in West Michigan. I have worked behind the scenes to provide cleanup funding to get Muskegon Lake removed as an Area of Concern. I voted for the creation of Ottawa Sands in Spring Lake and Dune Harbor Park in Norton Shores to preserve our shoreline and the expansion of the Rosy Mound Natural Area in Grand Haven. I also secured funding to help with the cleanup efforts at Grand Haven’s Harbor Island.

We know that the ability to enjoy our natural surroundings is a primary reason we choose to live here. Let’s continue the progress we have made together and responsibly manage our resources so the next generation will want to stay here.

Agriculture - Opportunity

Agriculture is an opportunity for Michigan.  We are blessed to live in a region with a unique microclimate to produce a variety of crops.

I have worked hand-in-hand with our growers over the years during good times and bad.  I have helped our asparagus growers as they faced an unlevel playing field with Peruvian competition.  I have worked with cherry and apple growers to provide relief when frost destroyed their livelihoods.  I have helped secure funding to research Phytophthora, a disease that threatens our vegetable crops in Michigan.

With a growing world population, our growers here in West Michigan stand to benefit.  I will work with the agriculture community to ensure they remain on the leading edge of the industry and prevent unnecessary government overreach.