Crowded race for GOP state rep nomination

Seven men are competing for the Republican nomination for state representative for the 83rd District in the Aug. 3 Primary Election, and one for the Democratic nomination.

The Republican candidates include Ed Smith, Paul Muxlow, Kirk Dale, John Hoffman, Eric Tubbs, Alan Broughton and Justin Faber.

Alan Lewandowski will be the only candidate on the Democratic ballot.

The 83rd District includes Sanilac County, Burtchville and Fort Gratiot townships and the city of Port Huron.

Meet the candidates.

Justin Faber Justin Faber

Personal: address - Deckerville; age -31; occupation -self-employed

Qualifications: Small business owner. Fiscal conservative. Veteran. Community leader. Farm Bureau member. Right to Life member. Saint Ignatius Parish Council. Lions District 11-D2 Cabinet Secretary-treasurer. Chairman Sanilac County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Board. Sanilac County Veterans Millage Governing Council member.

 

 

 

 

Alan Broughton Alan Broughton

Personal: address -Port Sanilac, age -61, occupation - retired Deckerville Schools superintendent, Sandusky interim superintendent

Qualifications: Worked with school boards to formulate, implement and keep balanced multi-million dollar budgets. Negotiated contracts. Made difficult budget-cutting decisions. Helped build significant balances to provide financial security for districts.

 

 

 

 

Eric Tubbs Eric Tubbs

Personal: address - Sandusky, age -51, occupation -business owner

Qualifications: Born and raised in Sanilac County. BBA from Northwood University. Worked in international business in auto supply industry in Detroit. Returned to Sandusky in 1995. Coowner of Tubbs Brothers Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

John Hoffmann John Hoffmann

Personal: address - Applegate, age -75, occupation -part-time engineering consultant

Qualifications: Retired U.S. Navy commander with leadership, teaching and large corporation business experience. Started successful engineering consulting firm in Michigan. Chairman of Sanilac Township Planning Commission. Married, 5 children, 16 grandchildren.

 

 

 

 

 

Kirk Dale Kirk Dale

Personal: address - Marlette; age -no answer; occupation -GM retiree, Marlette Township supervisor

Qualifications: Extensive leadership qualifications. 38 years General Motors, general supervisor manufacturing engineering. 21 years government service, Marlette Township Supervisor 8 years.

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Muxlow Paul Muxlow

Personal: address -Brown City; age -72; occupation - real estate broker, owner

Qualifications: Raised on dairy/crop farm. Worked in technology for Boeing Aircraft & Bendix. Retired educator (28 years). Current vice-president of Sanilac County Intermediate School District Board. Small business owner.

 

 

 

 

 

Ed Smith Ed Smith

Personal: address - Lexington; age -49; occupation -self-employed business owner 28 years

Qualifications: National Merit Scholar. Bachelor of Science Business Administration Management. Past township supervisor. Chairman county and township planning commissions, National Association Towns & township -Michigan. Chairman Sanilac County Republican Party. Married, 3 children. Active in Cub Scouts, soccer, hockey and bowling.

 

 

 

 

What mix of tax/service/program cuts and/or tax increases/restructuring do you favor for resolving the state budget crisis?

Hoffmann: “Eliminate MBT (Michigan Business Tax) and equipment taxes to create new jobs. Increase sales tax and sales tax on services to replace lost revenue. Hiring freeze on state employees. No state employee wage increases for 2 years. Increase state employee and teacher contribution to retirement and health plans comparable with civilian workers.”

Tubbs: “Reduction in state employees’ pension and healthcare costs, making them comparable to those in the private sector. Privatization of government services where possible. Elimination of lifetime healthcare for legislators. Elimination of the MBT. Elimination of tax breaks to film makers. Elimination of targeted tax breaks and other ‘corporate welfare’ programs.

Dale: “Address high unemployment. Pass legislation that will make Michigan a business-friendly state. Lower taxes. The current tax and spend policies have not worked and should be carefully addressed. I am pro-education agriculture-infrastructure. Legislations should first ask, ‘should state government actually be doing this’”.

Muxlow: “This is not the time for new taxes in Michigan. It’s important to reduce or remove the Michigan Business Tax levied on business and industry. Lower taxes would attract new industry to Michigan. Our state budget needs to be frozen or reduced to allow Michigan’s economic health to recover.”

Smith: “The state budget must be balanced by cutting expenses to match the current level of revenues. We need to eliminate the Michigan Business Tax, creating the best business climate allowing current businesses to survive and encourage new businesses to choose Michigan. This will help our citizens get back to work.”

Broughton: “For too many years both political parties have been unwilling to look beyond their narrow beliefs. While cutting taxes for small businesses is essential, we must change our tax structure and budget process to provide more efficiency and stability for our local governments and schools. All options must be on the table.”

Faber: “No program is immune from restructuring. We cannot simply cut or tax our way out of this crisis. Programs that cannot be made efficient may face elimination. Ultimately government must run like a successful business if our area and state are to recover and prosper.”

Lawmakes can’t seem to get things done because of political gridlock. Are you willing to reach across party lines? On which issues are you willing to compromise?

Smith: “Legislators must work together to lift Michigan from eight years of being the worse in the nation. We must prepare our students for 21st century jobs with higher standards and funding reaching classrooms and not wasted by overspending districts or new bureaucracy in preparation for college and the workforce.”

Muxlow: “I am strong enough and willing to reach across party lines to reduce gridlock and reach fair compromise. I will also strongly represent the wishes, needs and morals of the citizens of Sanilac and St. Clair counties.”

Dale: “Lobbyists cause political gridlock, political party representatives can work together. I will only compromise on issues that are in the best interests of the citizens of the 83rd District and state. I serve on a proactive, fiscal conservative township board, and that I will continue in my service as state representative.”

Faber: Two core principals that I will not waver on are the protection of the unborn and the right to keep and bear arms. However, all other issues must be open to discussion and collaboration. Fixing Michigan requires a real effort, cooperation between the parties and compromise amongst elected officials is essential.”

Hoffmann: “I am willing to negotiate gasoline taxes. Phase-in of sales tax increase while reducing or eliminating MI income tax (MI Fair Tax). Changing of all state employee and teacher retirement plans to defined contribution plans. Increasing term limits. Two year budget cycle and reductions in legislators’ compensation and benefits

Tubbs: “Sometimes political gridlock is a good thing, preventing bad policy from being enacted. I will reach across party lines any time a member of the other party presents an idea that is constitutionally justified and in the best interests of all the citizens in the 83rd District.”

Broughton: “My proposal to impose financial penalties on state leaders if they fail to pass a budget on time would provide an incentive to work together for the common good. I would support ideas from either party if I believed they would serve the people of our district well.”