Steve Johnson - WKTV Journal

72^thDistrict 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.

There are two candidates, a one-term incumbent and a challenger, seeking the Republican Party nomination in the Aug. 7 primary. The winner will then face Democratic candidate Ron Rraayer and Libertarian candidate Jamie Lewis at 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: Jennifer Antel

Party: Primary candidate, Republican

Occupation: Mayor pro tem for the City of Wayland, coach, substitute teacher and business owner.

Why did you decide to run for the 72^th District House of Representatives seat?

I was tired of everyone bickering in Lansing and not, seemingly, working together to get things done. And I thought my different leadership style could make a difference.

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

Broadening our education, specifically for high school students, including high tech and skilled trades at the high school level. And also early elementary education in math and English.

Name: Steve Johnson

Party: Incumbent primary candidate, Republican

Occupation: State Representative, 72nd District

Why did you decide to run for the 72^th District House of Representatives seat?

I’ve been in this job for two years now. I’ve given some strong, conservative leadership so far and I believe, hopefully, in another two years I can get some conservative legislation across the finish line that I have gotten started.

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

No. 1 is defending people’s right to life, No. 2 is enacting lower taxes for everyone, and No. 3 is working to fix our broken auto no fault insurance system, allowing rate relief for everyone.

77^thDistrict House of Representatives

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

There are two candidates seeking the Republican Party nomination and two candidates seeking the Democractic Party nomination. The winners for each party will then face each other along with Libertarian candidate Patty Malowney at 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: Tommy Brann

Party: Incumbent, Republican

Occupation: Owner of Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille on Division Avenue

Why did you decide to run for the 77^thDistrict House of Representatives seat?

Because I am good at the job. I own a small business and every night, I comeback and work at that business and through that I bring the issues that I learned about and discuss at that business back to Lansing, which is not something many of my colleagues are able to do.

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

I have an animal cruelty bill that I have been working on. Also, I want to continue the work on homelessness by getting that $2 additional per bed for the shelters. Michigan is one of the lowest in the country, $16 per bed when the average is $26, in contributing to shelters. This additional money would help with new bedding and operations. We have more than 60,000 homeless people, so it is a big problem. I also want to bring the concept of free enterprise into the schools to give students more career choices.

Name: Jordan T. Oesch

Party: Incumbent, Republican

Occupation: Business services

Why did you decide to run for the 77^thDistrict House of Representatives seat?

I decided to run because I love the area and it just motivated me. It is why I want to fight to bring more economic opportunities back to West Michigan. I will work tirelessly to ensure that every effort is made to bring our state up around West Michigan.

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

Taxes and infrastructure. The moderation of infrastructure has a number of benefits to us, bring businesses back and cost savings. That along with everything else that is so important to the people of this area.

The Democratic candidates are Dana Knight and Robert Van Kirk, did not participate in the We the People candidate profiles.

New state Rep. Steve Johnson intends to represent his conservative district in Lansing. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Steven Johnson is up front on his conservative values platform as he gets ready to go work in the Michigan House of Representatives for the 72^nd District – he stated his conservative values before his convincing Nov. 8 election victory and he restated them this week as he is fully immersing himself in his new job.

Rep. Steve Johnson, far right, on an outing with a youth group. (Supplied)

And he does not think Michigan’s Republican surge, led by the state support for President-elect Donald Trump, had very much to with his win either.

“I don’t think so – I live in a pretty conservative area, so I think I was going to win on my values, that I was going to follow the Constitution and our Judeo-Christian heritage,” Johnson, a Republican, said Thursday.

In the general election last week, Johnson defeated Democrat Steve Shoemaker with nearly 60 percent of the vote in a far-flung district that includes includes the City of Kentwood and Gaines Township in Kent County, and Leighton Township, Wayland Township, Dorr Township and the City of Wayland in Allegan County. The seat was held by Ken Yonker, who vacated due to term limits but was elected to the position of Kent County Drain Commissioner.

Johnson, 25, resides in Wayland Township, is unmarried, and served in the Air Force from 2009-2014. He had been working in construction but now considers himself a full-time representative of his district.

“This is my job now,” Johnson said. “I am preparing for office, familiarizing myself with policy and ready to understand the bills I will be voting on.”

Among the bills he hopes to be voting on are right-to-life bills, something he said should and can happen in the current political climate.

“Absolutely,” he said. “One of our most fundamental rights, as taxpayers, is to protect unborn life. I will absolutely be working on legislation to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, as well as a life-at-conception act. Life begins at conception.”

Two other issues he will advocate for — or better stated: advocate against — is the federal Common Core education standards and tax breaks to attract business investment. During his campaign, he was critical of tax incentives given to lure Switch to take over the old Steelcase pyramid to create its Supernap data storage center in Gaines Township.

“First of all, Common Core is a federal program, a one size fits all, and it does not work,” Johnson said. “The federal government, the state government, should not be involved in education. That is best handled on the local school district level.

“Teachers and parents should be working together to decide on educational options. Nobody cares more about the job of education than the parents of the students. We need to get the bureaucrats out of the way when it comes to education.”

And as far as government tax breaks, he sees the problem is tax rates as much as breaks.

“Government should not be picking winners and losers, when it comes to businesses,” he said. “We need to have a low tax rate across the board, get the government to get out of the way. … Let the free market work, and whatever business and industry makes sense, locally or for Michigan, they will rise to the top.”

As for his thoughts, now that his election and his new job has sunk in as a reality?

“I’d like to just thank … (the voters) for their support and let them know that I will be leading the fight for following the Constitution and our Judeo-Christian values. That is why I ran.”