Tag Archives: 77th district representative

We the People 2020 General Election: State House of Representative candidates

October 12, 20203-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Hard News, Local Faces, Politics, We The People72nd State Representative, 77th district representative, WKTV We the PeopleJoanne

Note: For the Michigan Nov. 3 general election, WKTV’s We The People program invited participation from all candidates. If they participated, their videos are linked here, For those who did not participate, either a candidate-provided biography/issues statement, or simply their name is listed. All videos are 5-minutes or less, and were not edited in any way by WKTV.

State of Michigan 72nd District House of Representatives

The 72nd District House of Representative seat covers the cities of Kentwood and Wayland, along with a portion of Cutlerville and the community of Dorr. For a district map, click here and then search for district 072.

The candidates are a two-term incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Johnson of Wayland, and Democratic challenger Lily Cheng-Schulting of Kentwood.

Steven Johnson – Incumbent State Representative 72nd District

Occupation: State Representative for the 72nd District for the past 4 years; former Staff Sergeant in U.S. Air Force, worked on nuclear missiles.

Why did you decide to run for this position? And issues you feel voters are facing:

I am running for reelection to:

Work on providing more government transparency so taxpayers have a better understanding of how and where their hard earned money is being spent.

Reduce government debt so our children are not burdened by our actions today.

Improve the quality of education by giving parents more options and ensuring our education policy understands that each student learns differently and a one-size-fits all policy does not work.

Lily Cheng-Schulting — Candidate State Representative 72nd District

Occupation: Founder and President of the Disability A-Team of West Michigan (501c3 non-profit), and Disability and Human Rights Advocate

Why did you decide to run for this position?

As I am a proven disability and human rights advocate, I am running to ensure a high quality of life for everyone in our district! At this time, many people are hurting. Our society is facing many unaddressed social, economic, racial, and environmental problems. We need more healing and less division. I will, therefore, listen to all views and work together with you to create solutions. I will also dedicate my skills, my experience, and my energy to create positive changes for everyone, including people with disabilities, people of color, and our working class.

Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:

Families across District 72 are strongly concerned about the quality of education for all students. Since I share everyone’s concern for the quality of education and equity in education, one of my top priorities will be education.

Many families across District 72 are also concerned about the combination of healthcare, disability services, and mental healthcare. Many families either have or know someone close to them who has a disability or mental health challenge. Since disability services and mental health are both local and state issues, I will make every effort to ensure access to high quality services to aid everyone’s present and future quality of life.

Almost all voters are deeply concerned about their neighbors and the myriad of issues which affect their neighbors. They are concerned about equality and fairness for all people. They are also concerned about our working class and small businesses, since many of their neighbors have small businesses.

State of Michigan 77th District House of Representatives

The 77th District House of Representatives seat covers the City of Wyoming, Byron Township and a portion of Cutlerville. For a district map, click here and then search for district 077.

There are two candidates are two-term incumbent Republican Rep. Tommy Brann of Wyoming and Democratic challenger Bob Smith of Byron Twp.

Tommy Brand — Incumbent State Representative 77th District

Occupation: restaurant owner and state representative

Why did you decide to run for this position?

I have been a small business owner for 49 years and in the restaurant business, which is the hardest business in the world. My restaurant I take to Lansing every day in the form of my employees struggles, customers living life and my small business mind that knows how important costs and waste are in a small business and now I bring that mindset to Lansing on costs and waste.

Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:

Three issues are the virus, employment due to them, and jobs, and that is one really. The other two is health care and my citizens safety. I took an oath to protect the health and safety of my citizens and I carry that oath, Section 51 and article 4, in my wallet.

Bob Smith — Challenger State Representative 77th District

Occupation: Factory worker. I am a Production Team Member at North America Fuel Systems Remanufacturing in Kentwood.

Why did you decide to run for this position?

I have spent most of my life working hard to get ahead, but rarely doing more than barely keeping up. Involvement in union leadership inspired me to find other ways to serve. Seeing laws passed in Lansing that were designed to keep workers’ pay low inspired me to run for public office.

Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:

Employment uncertainty due to the Covid-19 crisis, inflation outpacing wage growth, and concerns about sending their kids back to school during the Covid; or not being able to work if the kids continue online schooling.

Brann focused on being businessman after big win in State House District 77

November 9, 20163-bottom, City of Wyoming, Politics77th district, 77th district representative, Republican, State House, Tommy BrannJoanne

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Despite a resounding win over his challenger for the State House District 77 race, Republican Tommy Brann says he prefers to continue to be known as a small businessman rather than politician.

He also does not think the GOP surge in Michigan played much into his win.

“I don’t think so. I focused on the local and I think the more local it is the less the impact of the national,” Brann said Wednesday morning. “When I go to things (public events), when I am out there, I do not want to go there as a politician. I want to go there as a local small businessman. I do not want people to change the way they look at me.”

He also said despite the big win, he knows he is working for all the people, not just the ones who voted for him. “I won with 64 percent … but to those other people, I want to please those people too,” he said.

Brann gained his first statewide office in the Tuesday election, defeating Democrat Dana Knight with 66 percent of the votes (27,946 to 14,526) for the seat representing the City of Wyoming and Byron Township and currently held by Thomas Hooker of Byron Township, who is vacating due to term limits. Hooker recently was elected as the new supervisor for Byron Township, where he lives.

Brann, a Wyoming resident, is the owner of Brann’s Steakhouse and has run the business since he was 19-years-old.

He previously said he ran for office because “I’ve always been interested in politics and admired the people who do it. I believe in free enterprise. There’s a lot of stories of entrepreneurs that I want to share not only with the government.”

He also ran on a simple platform of “keeping government simple” and avoiding debt. He reiterated that stand Wednesday.

“Working in my restaurant, I have learned that when you run a business, you keep it simple. … That is definitely the way to run government,” Brann said. “I am not there yet (in Lansing), so I don’t have specifics. … and you’ve got to have some paperwork and you have some regulations. For instance, the health department, you could call that a county regulation. I really believe in the health department; it is good for me, it is good for my customers, it is good for when I go out to eat at other restaurants. There are good regulations. But I think government and business should work the same way.”

He also stressed that government should be wary of debt.

“There is not sense of urgency” about debt, Brann said. “That debt, on the national level, is a national security problem. And I don’t want to see (debt problems) happen in our state.

“We have problems in our state. (For example) it is not the teachers’ problem, but we are $27 billion in arrears in teachers’ pension. It may be a little paranoid (looking at possible debt problems), but as a small business owner you have to be fiscally responsible. I think it is important government is run that way too. You see some cities that get in arrears, and they cut budgets and they cut services, and that leads to problems. I think Flint is a prime example of that.”

Brann will take office in January.

We the People: Candidate Forums

October 3, 20163-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Politics, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects12th District Kent County Commission, 13th District Kent County Commission, 2016 Election, 2nd ward, 3rd ward, 77th district representative, 8th District Kent County Commission, Candidate Forums, we the people, Wyoming City CouncilJoanne

WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well-informed and more involved in local matters.

City of Wyoming – 2nd Ward

The City of Wyoming’s 2nd Ward Council area covers the northern portion of the City of Wyoming from Chicago Drive in the north to Prairie Parkway down Burlingame Avenue over 36th Street and up along 32nd Street on the south. The 2nd Ward western border is Wentworth and the eastern border is the city limits.

City of Wyoming – 3rd Ward

The City of Wyoming’s 3rd Ward Council area encompasses the city’s panhandle area that includes most of the western area of the city from Prairie Parkway on the north to 60th Street in the south. The 3rd Ward eastern border wraps around the city limits to Kenowa Avenue and its western border is Burlingame Avenue.

Kent County Commissioner – 8th District

Kent County Commissioner District 8 covers the eastern portion of the City of Wyoming, including the pan handle. For specific boarders, visit accesskent.com.

Kent County Commissioner – 12th District

Kent County Commissioner District 12 covers the western portion of the City of Kentwood and the eastern portion of the City of Wyoming. For specific boarders, visit accesskent.com.

Kent County Commissioner – 13th District

Kent County Commissioner District 13 covers the eastern portion of the City of Kentwood. For specific boarders, visit accesskent.com.

State House of Representatives – 77th District

The 77th District includes Byron Township and the City of Wyoming. The seat is currently held by Thomas Hooker of Byron Township, who is vacating due to term limits.

Learn about who’s running: Primary Candidate Forum is June 16 at Wyoming Public Library

June 15, 2016Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Hard News, Our Cities, Politics, Upcoming Events2nd ward, 3rd ward, 77th district representative, august 2 primary elections, election, primary, wyoming city council memberJoanne

It’s your voice. Your vote. And it matters.

Attend the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce’s Primary Candidate Forum and become an informed voter! Learn about who’s running for City Council and the 77th District State Reps in the Primary Election on August 2.

Running for 77th District Representative (one position, Term ending 2018) are: