Lynn Mason (D-Belding)
Democrat Lynn Mason is a former school teacher and four-term Ionia County Commission. Now she’s running for the Michigan State House in the 86th District.
Q: Why politics?
A: “I like to be a part of making good policy, solving problems. I’ve been into advocacy working for people for years. Frankly I think I’m good at it. I have great mediation skills and I think right now people want legislators and elected officials who mean what they say and say what they mean.”
Q: Under what dire circumstance or government necessity would you be willing to support a tax increase?
A: “I would be willing to raise taxes if we could have a good, solid, strategic plan for infrastructure, also with a plan to bring revenue back into the state so that we could do tax relief later.”
Q: If the election were held today, why would you – or – why would you not, vote for your party’s Presidential nominee?
A: “I will vote for my party’s nominee. She is someone whose resume shows hard work and knowledge.”
Thomas Albert (R-Lowell)
Republican Thomas Albert is an Iraq War Veteran with degrees in Political Science and Business Administration from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.
Q: Why politics?
A: “I’m running for three reasons. I offer much needed leadership in government. I’ve led marines and I can be an effective leader in Lansing as well. Secondly, I have the courage to make tough choices. Lastly, I want to fight for families. I know how hard it can be to support a family and I want to make decisions that support families in Lansing.”
Q: Under what dire circumstance or government necessity would you be willing to support a tax increase?
A: “I don’t want to support tax increases. Families are having a tough enough time out there. We need to support good jobs and the local economy. We need to support small businesses. I don’t want to focus on taking more money out of households, that’s where it needs to stay. It needs to stay supporting families.”
Q: If the election were held today, why would you – or – why would you not, vote for your party’s Presidential nominee?
A: “I’m a proud Republican and I support Republican principals and the Republican Party. I’m focused on supporting the 86th District. That’s what I care most about right now and what I want to do is focus on is good jobs because that’s what leads to both stronger wages and stronger families.”
Bill Gelinau (L-Lowell)
Libertarian Bill Gelinau is former Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Michigan. A former small business owner and title insurance administrator has a long history of political experience. Now he seeks office in Michigan House District 86.
Q: Why politics?
A: “Well, I think it’s important, not only for me personally but when I think about where our culture is going, it’s important to be involved. I know my parents were very involved years ago and I think more people should be engaged in the things that matter.”
Q: Under what dire circumstance or government necessity would you be willing to support a tax increase?
A: “Not very many. I think our tax system needs serious reform. But certainly when you look at the Constitution that’s really the place where we decide what government should or should not be doing. I think we overstep those boundaries most of the time.
Q: If the election were held today, why would you – or – why would you not, vote for your party’s Presidential nominee?
A: “Well actually I do support Gary Johnson and the reason is is that I believe he is the best emblem of where America should go believing on both free market economics, not crony capitalism, but also a more socially tolerant view of the world which includes respect for people across the board including marriage equality and just involvement in our culture. I really admire him for that.”
Cliff Yankovich (G-Ada)
Green Party candidate Cliff Yankovich is running in Michigan House District 86.
The Lowell business owner has served as a Chamber Board member and currently the Downtown Development Authority.
Q: Why politics?
A: “At one point I was a precinct delegate for the Republican Party. I lobbied Governor Snyder to tax sales on the internet. The thing that really pushed me over the edge was probably the Flint water crisis.”
Q: Under what dire circumstance or government necessity would you be willing to support a tax increase?
A: “I would be willing to support a tax increase to do something as mundane as pave our roads if the money was designated solely for that purpose? I think where things get confusing is when all sorts of attachments are put on bills that are supposed to address a single problem.”
Q: If the election were held today, why would you – or – why would you not, vote for your party’s Presidential nominee?
A: “I would wholeheartedly vote for my party’s nominee because she has a plan that would positively impact our country. She wants to turn away from fossil fuels and she wants to cut military spending.”
