Education: I will work to equalize school funding so that our smaller Northern Michigan schools have the necessary resources to educate our children. Evaluation systems should be decided locally, not by the state, to better serve the community. I will fight for local control so that our educators can tailor the learning experience to reflect the values of our families. I will advocate for a secure retirement for our teachers and a reduction in standardized tests and unfunded mandates.
Firearms: Article 1, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution states, “Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state.” I will work to end Michigan’s pistol registration scheme, an ineffective infringement on our most basic right. I will partner with statewide gun rights organizations to reform the Concealed Pistol License laws to make licenses more affordable, attainable, and versatile. I will support Constitutional Carry, as well as defend Open Carry. I will oppose any attempt to pass any version of “Red Flag” laws.
Regulatory Reform: The Governor’s response to the coronavirus culminated in the heavy hand of our regulatory agencies attempting to crush a septuagenarian barber. I would work towards reform of health and safety licensing and give control to local agencies that can tailor their requirements to both the needs of the public and the oversight concerns of the local community. This would take that bureaucratic power out of the hands of the governor and place it into the hands of those directly responsible for the needs of the community.
Taxes: In October 2007 our income taxes were increased from 3.9% to 4.35%, with the promise that our income taxes would be reduced every year until we returned to a 3.9% rate. That promise was broken and our tax rate has been stuck at 4.25%. I will work to reduce our tax burden to the promised 3.9%. I will staunchly resist any proposal to expand the sales tax to services or necessities.
Cancel Culture and the Polarization of Michiganders: We must stop defining the value of our fellow human beings by their worst moments. As a leader in the state, I will use the bully pulpit to call for change and strive to be an example of tolerance and forgiveness.
Criminal Justice: Opiate addiction is threatening the fabric of our society. The effect of addiction is, unfortunately, often compounded by the legal consequences of an addict’s actions. I don’t believe prison is the answer for nonviolent criminals. Treatment and restitution, coupled with education and work programs, will benefit our society in the long run. I support law enforcement, and they do a job that I couldn’t do. Unfortunately, non-violent criminals often get dealt with harshly, leading to a cycle of distrust in the system and desperation in the addict. Criminal justice reform will break that cycle and give police the chance to, once again, be peace officers instead of law enforcement officers.
Term Limits: I support term limits and will vote to protect them. I also support efforts to enact term limits for Congress.
Quality of Life: I will support the effort to end our biennial time change. This was a foolish idea whose time should come to an end. I would also pursue the creation of a family fishing and hunting license. This would allow an angler or hunter, for an extra fee, to bring someone hunting or fishing without requiring them to buy their own license just to try the sport.