Up North Progressive
Politics and commentary for Northern MichiganDan O’Neil for 104th Michigan State House: Meet the Candidates 2018
Monday , 10, September 2018 Candidates, Election 2018, Meet the Candidates 2018 Leave a comment
Michigan’s 104th State House District is made up of Grand Traverse County which includes Traverse City. The candidate who will represent the people of this district in Lansing is Dan O’Neil.
A native of Traverse City, Dan and his wife, Maura Brennan raised three children. Dan is a small business owner and an attorney with a practice focusing on equal pay for women and employees who are terminated from their jobs illegally.
Issues Dan O’Neil will fight for in Lansing are fully funding and expanding public education to provide the training and skills future Michigan generations need. He also supports expanding health care for all and supports the Medicaid expansion. O’Neil supports shutting down Line 5 and expanding renewable energy in Michigan. Affordable childcare paid family leave, living wages with benefits are all important to the health of working families in Michigan. Dan O’Neil will work for the people of the 104th District to ensure they become part of Michigan’s labor rights. Civil rights, eliminating Citizens United and vote yes on proposal 2 are other issues Dan O’Neil supports.
Dan O’Neil has received endorsements from Democratic Party candidate for Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Senator Gary Peters, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, Clean Water Action, The UAW, SMART, LiUNA!, Iron Workers Local 25, MEA, and AFT.
Dan O’Neil can be contacted through his website and Facebook page. You can find out more about Dan O’Neil, his events and opportunities to volunteer.
The 104th State House District is fortunate to have a candidate this election who isn’t running a vanity campaign. Vote for Dan O’Neil on November 6, 2018.
Tim Schaiberger for 103rd Michigan State House: Meet the Candidates 2018
Sunday , 9, September 2018 Candidates, Election 2018, Meet the Candidates 2018 Leave a comment
The 103rd state house district in Michigan is made up of Crawford, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Ogemaw and Roscommon Counties. The next representative for this district is Tim Schaiberger of West Branch. He has lived in the 103rd State House District his entire life, and currently with his daughter.
Tim Schaiberger attended Ogemaw Heights High School playing football and volunteering through the National Honor Society. He graduated from Central Michigan University in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. Schaiberger holds years of public service. He’s served in the West Branch City Council, Planning Commission and is a member of Kiwanis. When Tim Schaiberger isn’t busy as a business owner and playing guitar, he works as a substitute teacher.
Issues Tim Schaiberger wants to work on when he is in Lansing include better funding of public education, improving infrastructure, and protecting Michigan’s most abundant resource, water. Schaiberger supports shutting down Enbridge Line 5. He will vote to repeal the crippling prevailing wage law. Tim Schaiberger supports the changes provided in Proposals 2 and 3 to reform elections in Michigan and make it easier for people to vote. Better funding and services for veterans and legalizing marijuana are also priorities for Tim Schaiberger.
Endorsements for Tim Schaiberger include Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union and Curt Schaiberger. To find out more about Tim Schaiberger, visit his Facebook page.
The mid-term election is on November 6, 2018. Residents of the 103rd State House District will have a representative who will fight for them when they elect Tim Schaiberger,
Dion Adams for 102nd Michigan State House: Meet the Candidates 2018
Saturday , 8, September 2018 Candidates, Election 2018, Meet the Candidates 2018 Leave a comment
Wexford, the western and inner townships of Osceola, and Mecosta counties serpentine their way through West Michigan to create The 102nd State House District. The next representative for the 102nd District is Dion Adams of Big Rapids, where he and his wife, Carrie, raised three children.
Dion Adams grew up in Detroit, attending both public and private schools. He attended Ferris State University, graduating in 1982. He built diesel engines for Abrams tanks, motor vehicles, and serviced semi trucks for General Motors. He was a proud member of both the UAW and Teamsters during this time. In Big Rapids, he started his own diesel service and towing businesses. A severe on the job injury forced him into retirement. Opioid medication to manage pain caused problems. When medical marijuana became legal in Michigan, he switched medications to manage his pain, and the side effects of using prescription pain medications disappeared. Dion and his wife, Carrie, are members of Christian Life Ministries.
Issues Dion Adams will focus on in Lansing include universal health care including dental, vision, and mental. He also Supports LGBTQIA and women’s rights and will fight to stop discrimination of any person. Adams believes fully funded education and training so our future generations can find gainful employment is vital to stimulating the economy in Michigan. Too many young people simply can’t realize the American Dream, because the opportunity for younger generations doesn’t exist. Dion Adams also knows the environment is vital for the future both economically and for the health of Michigan. Dion Adams supports the decriminalization of marijuana.
Endorsements for Dion Adams include Demand Universal Health Care (DUH!), Candidates with a Contract, and Michigan Our Revolution Electorate. To learn more about Dion Adams, visit his website and Facebook page.
On November 6, 2018, the people of the 102nd District will have the opportunity to elect a new state representative who knows what the hard working people of Michigan need and will fight for them in Lansing. Elect Dion Adams for 102nd State House.
Kathy Wiejaczka for 101st Michigan State House: Meet the Candidates 2018
Friday , 7, September 2018 Candidates, Election 2018, Meet the Candidates 2018 Leave a comment
The 101st State House District is made up of the four counties of Benzie, Leelanau, Manistee, and Mason Counties. The next person to represent the people of this district is Kathy Wiejaczka of Empire. She lives with her husband, Kent, with whom she raised three children.
Kathy Wiejaczka is a retired RN with a career spanning 39 years. She has served her community in other ways. She was on the Empire Township Zoning Board of Appeals and the Leelanau County Solid Waste Council. She also serves as a precinct delegate and worked as a county captain for the nonpartisan Voters Not Politicians campaign to end gerrymandering in the state. Kathy and Kent Wiejaczka also run a construction business, providing experience in operating a small business in their community.
Issues Kathy Wiejaczka will fight for when she is in Lansing include health care, especially improving access to mental health care. She will support funding public education so that students get the best possible education available. Wiejaczka also supports two years of free community college tuition. Kathy Wiejaczka also supports making corporations help shoulder the burden of paying for new roads instead of raising fees and taxes on Michigan’s citizens. Finally, Kathy Wiejaczka knows none of these things can happen until protecting our most vital natural resource, water, becomes a priority in the state.
Endorsements of Kathy Wiejaczka include Equality Michigan Pride PAC, IBEW Local 498, United Association Local Union 85 Plumbers, Steamfitters, & HVACR Service Technicians, UAW, Flippable, MEA, Planned Parenthood of Michigan, Moms Demand Action, Emily’s List, AFT, MRCC, Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Michigan Association for Justice, SEIU, Woman2Woman, Benzie County Democratic Party, Leelanau County Democratic Party, Ty and Kathy Wessell.
To learn more about Kathy Wiejaczka and get involved with her campaign, visit her Facebook page and website. The last day to register to vote is October 9. Make sure you are registered to vote so you can vote for Kathy on November 6.
Sandy Clarke for 100th State House District: Meet The Candidates 2018
Thursday , 6, September 2018 Candidates, Election 2018, Meet the Candidates 2018 Leave a comment
The 100th Michigan State House District includes the counties of Lake, Newaygo, and Oceana. Sandy Clarke of Webber Township in Lake County is the next person to represent the people of this district. Clarke is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at West Shore Community College. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and History from Wilberforce University in Ohio and her post-graduate degree at Antioch University. Clarke served Lake County as a County Commissioner from 2010 to 2014. She is a board member of The Baldwin Promise, a program that assists high school graduates of Baldwin High School to attend college tuition-free, and author of the book, Not Working Is Not An Option
Sandy Clarke’s priorities for Lake, Newaygo and Oceana Counties center on education, agriculture, and economic development. In education, she wants to extend programs like the Baldwin Promise to Public Schools in all of the 100th state house district. Clarke stresses the importance of expanding STEM fields education and would create an office of student loan ombudsman to provide funding for higher education. To support economic development in the 100th state house district, Clarke wants to expand public transportation to Newaygo and Oceana Counties, bring broadband internet to the entire district, provide better services, housing and care for the district’s veterans, disabled and elderly.
Endorsements for Sandy Clarke include the Progressive Women’s Caucus, United Auto Workers, Lake County Democratic Party and Newaygo Democratic Party. To learn more about Sandy Clarke and get involved, visit her website and Facebook page where upcoming events and news are available.
The last day to register to vote is October 9. Vote for Sandy Clarke 100th State House District on November 6.
Kristen Brown for 99th Michigan State House: Meet the Candidates 2018
Wednesday , 5, September 2018 Candidates, Election 2018, Meet the Candidates 2018 Leave a comment
Michigan’s 99th State House District consists of Isabella County and a unique horseshoe pattern of townships of the western, northern, and southern borders of Midland County. The Democratic Party candidate for this district in the 2018 election is Kristen Brown of Mount Pleasant. She is a lifelong resident of the region where she raises two children with her husband, Jeff.
Kristen Brown grew up in a family where helping others was a priority. Her parents were both educators in Mount Pleasant. Brown attended Central Michigan University for her pre-law education, and earned a Juris Doctor in Law at the Detroit College of Law. She has worked in a private practice representing children living in abusive and neglected environments, as well as disabled people. She’s now running for Michigan’s state legislature to continue her work in helping and serving others.
Issues Kristen Brown will work for in Lansing include affordable healthcare, especially lowering prescription drug prices. She also will ensure our infrastructure has adequate funding so roads can be repaired. Brown will work to increase funding for our public schools and support teachers by making sure they have the resources and respect they deserve to do their best to educate Michigan’s children.
Endorsements for Kristen Brown include the Michigan Association of Justice, the Michigan Federation of College Democrats, Equality Michigan, MEA, AFL-CIO, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Sierra Club, UAW, Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights.
To learn more about Kristen Brown’s campaign, make sure to check out her website and Facebook page. Kristen Brown is ready to serve the people of the 99th State House District. Vote for her on November 6.
Sarah Schulz for 98th Michigan State House: Meet the Candidates 2018
Wednesday , 5, September 2018 Candidates, Election 2018, Meet the Candidates 2018 Leave a comment
The 98th State House District in Michigan Is made up of townships in Bay and Midland Counties stretching north to M 61 and south to Midland. The next representative of the district is a Michigan native who will work for the people rather than enforcing a political agenda that only benefits anti-democracy interests. That new representative is Sarah Schulz of Midland.
A Flint native, Sarah Schulz earned her Master’s Degree in Human Resources and currently works in the Public Sector. She and her husband Andrew raise their two children in Midland. Sarah is aware of the struggles Flint has endured with the end of General Motors in the city that devastated the economy. She’s watched as Flint suffered Governor Snyder’s emergency manager takeover that robbed the citizens of their civil rights and leads to the poisoning of the people that still live there.
Through her career of working with people, Sarah understands the issues that concern the people of the 98th State House District. Sarah will support unions by working to repeal Right to Work, providing a living wage for all workers and making sure women are paid the same wages as men for doing the same job. She will support green industry development by promoting green technology in the 98th District. She will also work to decommission Enbridge Line 5. she supports the Medicaid Expansion, universal health care including mental health care. She supports an education system that respects the profession of teaching, increasing school resources and promoting higher education that trains people for the jobs of the future. Sarah Schulz supports a woman’s reproductive freedom and would work to eliminate the barriers that force women to choose abortion over bringing a pregnancy to term.
Endorsements for Sarah Schulz include the UAW, Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union, POAM, Michigan Farm Bureau, LiUNA! Local 1098, Justice PAC, AFL-CIO, Equality Michigan, Michigan Federation of College Democrats, SEIU, AFSCME, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFT, Progressive Women’s Caucus, MEA, Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Congressman Dan Kildee, House Democratic Floor Leader Christine Greig, State Rep Darrin Camilleri, State Rep Brian Elder, State Rep Kristy Pagan, and Bay County Register of Deeds Brandon Krause.
To find out more about Sara Schulz, volunteer for her campaign or attend an event, check out her website and Facebook page. Sarah Schulz is ready to go to Lansing and get to work for the people of the 98th District. Won’t it be nice to be represented by a person with integrity and honesty; who won’t issue gay agenda alerts to the press or dig into social media to try and create a negative spin on an opponent, or call utility companies terrorists and blame them when they don’t win their primary. It will be refreshing to have someone in Lansing representing the 98th State House District who will be there for the citizens.
Scott Dianda for 38th Michigan State Senate: Meet the Candidates 2018
Tuesday , 4, September 2018 Candidates, Election 2018, Meet the Candidates 2018 Leave a comment
Scott Dianda currently represents the people of the 110th State House District. For the 2018 election, he is running for Michigan’s 38th State Senate seat. The State Senate District includes the western Upper Peninsula counties of Alger, Baraga, Delta, Dickenson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, and Schoolcraft.
Scott Dianda has lived in the Upper Peninsula his entire life. He attended school at Lake Superior State University and The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Dianda has experience in retail and worked for the Michigan Department of Transportation. He lives in Calumet with his wife, Debbie.
Scott Dianda will continue to fight for issues important to the people of the western Upper Peninsula. As State Senator, he will focus on job creation that embraces traditional industries in Northern Michigan and jobs for the 21st Century. In education, Dianda understands the importance of supporting education through proper funding and training young people for jobs in technology and developing vocational education programs. Affordable energy for the Upper Peninsula continues to be a priority. Allowing renewable energy to provide the power needed will help lower rates.
Scott Dianda is endorsed by the MEA, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, AFT, IUPAT District 7, POAM, Michigan State Police Troopers Association, Marquette County Sheriff Greg Zyburt, UFCW Local 951, OE Local 324, Iron Workers Local 8, County Road Association of Michigan, the Small Business Association of Michigan, Sierra Club, Michigan Chapter, AFL-CIO, Equality Michigan, and Planned Parenthood.
Scott Dianda has worked hard over the years as the State Representative for the western Upper Peninsula. He will continue to do so as the next Senator for the 38th State Senate. To find out more about Scott Dianda, visit his website and Facebook page. Register to vote by October 9, 2018, and vote for Scott Dianda on November 6.
Celia Young-Wenkel for 97th Michigan State House: Meet the Candidates 2018
Tuesday , 4, September 2018 Candidates, Election 2018, Meet the Candidates 2018 Leave a comment
The 97th Michigan State House District is made up of Arenac, Clare, Gladwin and the eastern townships of Osceola Counties. Celia Young-Wenkel of Standish is the Democratic candidate running for this seat in the state legislature.
Celia Young-Wenkel is a survivor of assault and domestic violence. She finished high school while married and went on to study at Saginaw Valley State University. After the death of her second husband, she continued her education as a single mother and graduated Summa Cum Laude. Celia worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer and a Child Protective Services Worker for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She later earned a Masters of Social Work. Her career and experience give her first-hand knowledge of helping the people of the 97th State House District and Celia Young-Wenkel will take her experience to Lansing.
Issues Celia will fight for in Lansing include health care for all, addressing the epidemic of drug addiction that costs communities time, resources and lives to combat every day. Celia Young-Wenkel supports comprehensive background checks for all gun purchases. She also points out that online
Celia Young-Wenkel received endorsements from Planned Parenthood of Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers. To learn more about Celia Young-Wenkel, visit her Facebook page. With your vote on November 6, 2018, Celia Young-Wenkel will be your State House representative for the 97th District.
Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. -Abraham Lincoln