This year, Michigan Retailers Association chose two outstanding friends of retail to receive MRA’s Legislator of the Year awards: Representative Rob VerHeulen (R-Walker) and Senator Peter MacGregor (R-Rockford). Both legislators sponsored bills that became a new law preventing local governments from taxing food or beverages (Public Act 135 of 2018). They were recognized at the January 2018 board meeting for their strong support of the retail industry.
Representative Rob VerHeulen is serving his third and final term in the Michigan House of Representatives. He represents a portion of West Michigan’s Kent County including the cities of Walker, Grandville, Rockford and Cedar Springs. Prior to serving in the House, VerHeulen was an attorney for Meijer Inc. and served as the Mayor of Walker.
He has earned the Friend of Retail designation or endorsement every year. In fact, he was the only legislator with a 100 percent score on MRA’s voting record last term. His freshman term he sponsored MRA’s Main Street Fairness legislation and worked tirelessly to help push it over the finish line. He and two others were named MRA’s Legislators of the Year in 2015 for that effort.
Senator Peter MacGregor was elected in November 2014 to his first term in the Michigan Senate. He previously served four years in the Michigan House of Representatives. In the Senate, he represents a portion of West Michigan’s Kent County including the cities of Cedar Springs, Grandville, Rockford, Walker and Wyoming.
Prior to serving in the legislature, MacGregor owned a small business and served as a Cannon Township Planning Commissioner, Township Trustee and Township Supervisor. He was named a Friend of Retail in 2012 and 2014 and has been very supportive of retail.
