26th District State Senate
The 26th District of the State Senate includes the City of Kentwood along with all of Allegan and Van Buren counties. For a district map, click here.
Three men are running in the Aug. 7 Republican primary. Two of them were term-limited out of State Representative positions then worked in public service at either the county or state level. Also running is a career dentist. The three are looking to replace the also term-limited Republican Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker. The eventual Republican Party primary winner will then face the lone Democratic candidate Garnet Lewis and Libertarian candidate Erwin Haas in the general election Nov. 6.
Note: Primary candidates are show in alphabetical order. Only seats with primary opposition were invited to participate in We The People at this time.
Name: Bob Genetski
Party: Candidate, Republican
Occupation: Allegan County Clerk and Register of Deeds (Former State Representative)
Why did you decide to run for the 26th District State Senate seat?
I was teaching high school in 2008, I was teaching at-risk students, and I saw how they and their families were effected by the terrible economy and the job-killing Michigan business tax, and I wanted to do something to do something to help those families. As I looked at it, Michigan has come a long way and improved greatly. However their is still a long ways to go. Our roads are crumbling, our infrastructure is crumbling and we have an auto insurance burden that forces a lot of our friends and neighbors to drive without auto insurance.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
We’ve got to improve the roads and we’ve got to do it without increasing the gas tax and registration fees. And we need to come up with an affordable automobile insurance solution, one that allows those drivers who are struggling economically to afford some sort of auto insurance so they are not breaking the law every time they get into their car.
Name: Aric Nesbitt
Party: Candidate, Republican
Occupation: Public Service. (Former cabinet member for Gov. Rick Snyder; former State Representative)
Why did you decide to run for the 26th District State Senate seat?
We need to defend Michigan’s comeback. Over the last eight years, through tax reform, through eliminating about 2,300 rules and regulations, eliminating the Michigan business tax, we have come a long way. We have created about 500,000 plus new jobs under Gov. Snyder and Republican leadership. After a lot of prayer with my wife, over the winter months, I decided we still have work to do.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
Protect Michigan’s comeback. Address the cost of car insurance. Double down on rebuilding our roads. We need to pay down our long-term debt — that is huge for our children and grandchildren.
Name: Don Wickstra
Party: Candidate, Republican
Occupation: Dentist
Why did you decide to run for the 26th District State Senate seat?
I read that our current state senator is term limited and I realized that there is an opportunity that would not normally be there. I have not been a political guy my whole life and I’ve not dreamed of this longer than four months. I read that and something clicked in my mind and I said ‘Maybe I could do that and maybe I could make a difference.” … I am not looking for a career. I have a career.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
I am not political and I do not have my own agenda. I have made a point of trying to avoid that (setting legislative priorities). … There are clearly some issues, as I go door-to-door and meet people. The car insurance issue is out there. Roads have been an ongoing issue. Schools are an issue. But I think it might be wrong for the people for me to show up with my agenda.
28th District State Senate
The 28th District of the State Senate includes the City of Wyoming as well as the cities of Walker, Rockford and Cedar Springs. For a district map, click here.
In the 28thDistrict State Senate race, there are three candidates facing off in the primary for the Democratic Party nomination. The winner will then face Republican incumbent Peter MacGregor and Libertarian candidate Nathan Hewer in the general election, Nov. 6.
Note: Primary candidates are show in alphabetical order. Only seats with primary opposition were invited to participate in We The People at this time.
Name: Craig Beech
Party: Challenger, Democrat
Occupation: Retired public-school teacher
Why did you decide to run for the 28thDistrict State Senate seat?
As a public-school teacher, I have been frustrated with government in the treatment of public education, especially the lack of perspective. I want to bring an insight into education, which is what is needed. I believe education is the foundation that provides to our middle class.
After the Parkland Stoneman Douglas High School shootings, I realized I was in the same spot and the same scenario I had been 10 times before and I had nothing to offer. I said to my students, I’m sorry. I failed you. The adults failed you because we have not tackled this problem. That was the straw that determined my future. I needed to take responsibility. America is a great country and the adults should be able to deal with this issue.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
I have four platforms: quality of public education, people before profits, protection of our national resources, and Michigan was recently rated by a non-partisan group as the last for government accountability and transparency and I want to change that.
Name: Gidget Groendyk
Party: Challenger, Democrat
Occupation: Works at Sears
Why did you decide to run for the 28thDistrict State Senate seat?
It started back in the last election. In Plainfield Township, the LGBTQ community didn’t have any rights. Through a series of events, it became apparent that for me to help make a change I needed to be more involved and decided to run for election.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
Transparency through government and government spending. I also want to look at equal pay, due process and legal assistant to immigrants, bullying and gun violence, and elderly rights.
Name: Ryan Jeanette
Party: Challenger, Democrat
Occupation: Student at Grand Rapids Community College
Why did you decide to run for the 28thDistrict State Senate seat?
Over a year ago, I realized there was a fundamental flaw in our government in that government no longer cares about the people it needs to care about the most. Looking around, in the last 30 years, people’s lives have not improved. We are not fighting and fixing the things that need to be fixed and that needs to be changed.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
I would like to look at fixing how we fund education. We need to find innovative ways to fix our infrastructure and this is not just for the highways and roadways, but our railways as well as they are important to our agricultural. I want to look at improving the health care systems and I am looking at several options. We also need to focus on the environment as well. We need to have more coordination between Michigan and other states on protection of our Great Lakes. Also, I want to change how our government is accountable to the people.
