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Candidate Profiles: Michigan House 75th Ditrict

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In early August, State Representative Brandon Dillon announced he’d been elected chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party. His vacated seat will be filled during a primary election tomorrow. There are three 75th House District candidates running in Grand Rapids; one unopposed Republican and two Democrats.

Republican Blake Edmonds is a 23-year old who’s served as the youth Vice Chairman for the Michigan Republican Party. He’s also worked in the Michigan House in Constituent Relations.

His priorities are criminal justice reform, education reform and providing jobs Edmonds says people can build a career around.

“This race doesn’t have to be about politics as usual. It doesn’t have to be about Republican versus Democrat. It can be about the ideas that matter to you the voter.”

Democrat David LaGrand is a small business owner. Currently the 49-year old is a Grand Rapids Public School Board Member and a former City of Grand Rapids Commissioner.

LaGrand tells us his priorities are improving education legislation, criminal justice reform.

“I’m excited about the prospect of going to Lansing and representing Grand Rapids well. Working for our community on economic issues, on educational issues and on social justice issues.”

Democrat Michael Scruggs is chairman of the Kent County Black Caucus and served on the Kent County Department of Human Services Board.

“Last year I ran for State Senator in the 29th District where we received 49 percent of the vote. And we believe that, in our subsequent investigation, that we received those votes because we stayed on message.”

The 57-year old tells us he’s opposed to privatizing education, foster care and prisons. Scruggs says he’ll defend worker’s rights and protect family dynamics.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.