Incumbent - Rep. David LaGrand (D-Grand Rapids)
Democrat David LaGrand is the incumbent in Grand Rapids 75th District House race. LaGrand owns a number of small businesses, and he’s served as an Assistant Kent County Prosecutor and on the Grand Rapids City Commission. He was elected 75th District Representative in a special election back in March. Now he’s seeking a second, full-term in office.
Q: Why politics?
A: “I think the best answer to that is that government is just the name we do for what we do together. Politics is about building a community and making sure that everyone has a voice in our community.”
Q: Under what dire circumstance or government necessity would you be willing to support a tax increase?
A: “If the need is compelling and the citizens want services we have to pay for those services with revenue. The other word for revenue is tax. ”
Q: If the election were held today, why would you – or – why would you not, vote for your party’s Presidential nominee?
A: “I absolutely would because that I think that I have not seen anything as dangerous to our Republic as the candidacy of Donald Trump in my lifetime. I have never seen another candidate openly, or obliquely, calling for the assassination of their opponent. Someone calling into question the very roots of our Democracy and the basis of our form of self-governance. And never seen any candidate so fundamentally disrespectful of so many parts of our society.”
Chad Rossiter (R-Grand Rapids)
Chad Rossiter is a loan officer and Grand Valley student pursuing a Master of Public Administration. Serving the public good is his goal. While admitting he’s not a politician, he is concerned about the current course of government, and that’s why the Republican has decided to challenge Democrat David LaGrand in the 75th District House race.
Q: Why politics?
A: “Well that’s a loaded question I think. I don’t think there’s anything like inherently obvious about why but I’ve always had a calling to do something to contribute to the public good and I figured this is a good election cycle to hop into as my opponent was running unopposed and I started and I felt like I could probably make a difference in here and give the district a new option.”
Q: Under what dire circumstance or government necessity would you be willing to support a tax increase?
A: “No one ever wants their taxes to go up but unfortunately we live in a town that it might be a necessary thing. There’s a lot of situations where to balance the budget, you know, there might be a slight increase even if it’s not the favorable option.”
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 not vote, no matter if it’s today, in 10 years or yesterday, I would not vote for Donald Trump because I don’t think he’s fit to President. I don’t think he’s…I think he’s a loose cannon. Additionally I wouldn’t vote for the other party’s candidate and I’m not gonna because I think she’s the worst kind of intense politician so, we really don’t have great options this year.”
