LANSING — Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) today announced “Friend of Retail” designations for the August 5 primary election. 30 Michigan Senate candidates and 70 Michigan House of Representatives candidates earned the title Friend of Retail. Candidates earning the Friend of Retail designation demonstrate an understanding of the retail industry’s priorities and a willingness to work toward solutions, said William J. Hallan, MRA Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel.
“Michigan Retailers Association looks forward to working with these legislators next year as part of our mission to promote, protect and grow the retail industry here in Michigan,” said Hallan.
Michigan Retailers Association represents nearly 5,000 members and their more than 15,000 stores and websites in Michigan. Retail is directly responsible for more than 850,000 jobs in Michigan’s economy, and one-fourth of Michigan jobs are supported directly and indirectly by retail sales. Eighteen percent of Michigan’s total economic activity (GDP) comes from retail.
MICHIGAN STATE SENATE
The following 32 state senate candidates, listed by district, were designated as a Friend of Retail:
1. Coleman Young II (D-Detroit)
3. Morris Hood III (D-Detroit)
5. David Knezak (D-Dearborn Heights)
7. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton)
8. Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison Twp)
9. Steven Bieda (D-Warren)
12. Jim Marleau (R-Lake Orion)
13. Ethan Baker (R-Birminghan), Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy), Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham), & Rocky Racszkowski (R-Troy)
14. David Robertson (R-Grand Blanc)
15. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake)
16. Mike Shirkey (R-Clark Lake)
19. Mike Nofs (R-Battle Creek)
20. Margaret O’Brien (R-Portage)
21. John Proos (R-St. Joseph)
22. Joe Hune (R-Hamburg)
25. Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair)
26. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton)
27. Jim Ananich (D-Flint)
28. Peter MacGregor (R-Rockford)
29. Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell)
30. Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive)
31. Kevin Daley (R-Attica) & Mike Green (R-Mayville)
32. Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth)
34. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart)
35. Darwin Booher (R-Evart)
36. Jim Stamas (R-Midland)
37. Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City)
38. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba)
MICHIGAN STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The following 70 state house candidates, listed by district, were designated as a Friend of Retail:
11. Rashid Baydoun (D-Dearborn Heights)
17. Bill LaVoy (D-Monroe)
19. Laura Cox (R-Livonia)
20. Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth)
21. Carol Fausone (R-Canton)
23. Pat Somerville (R-New Boston)
24. Anthony Forlini (R-Harrison Twp)
25. Henry Yanez (D-Sterling Heights)
26. Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak)
29. Christina Barr (R-Pontiac)
32. Andrea LaFontaine (R-Richmond)
37. Julie Grippo (R-Farmington Hills)
38. Kathy Crawford (R-Novi)
39. Klint Kesto (R-Commerce Twp)
41. Martin Howrylak (R-Troy)
43. Jose Aliaga (R-Clarkston), Nate Knapper (R-Clarkston), Andrea Schroeder (R-Clarkston), & Jim Tedder (R-Clarkston)
44. Russ Tierney (R-Highland)
45. Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills)
46. Bradford Jacobsen (R-Oxford)
47. Henry M. Vaupel (R-Fowlerville)
50. Craig Withers (R-Grand Blanc)
51. Joseph Graves (R-Linden)
56. Jason Sheppard (R-Lambertville)
58. Brad Benzing (R-Hillsdale)
61. Brandt Iden (R-Kalamazoo) & Phil Stinchcomb (R-Portage)
63. David Maturen (R-Vicksburg)
64. Earl Poleski (R-Jackson)
65. Robert Sutherby (R-Jackson)
67. John Hayhoe (R-Holt)
68. Andy Schor (D-Lansing)
70. Rick Outman (R-Six Lakes)
71. Tom Barrett (R-Potterville)
72. Ken Yonker (R-Caledonia)
73. Chris Afendoulis (R-Grand Rapids), John Decker (R-East Grand Rapids), & Frank Pfaff Jr. (R-Comstock Park)
74. Rob VerHeulen (R-Walker)
76. Donijo DeJonge (R-Grand Rapids)
77. Tom Hooker (R-Byron Center)
78. Dave Pagel (R-Berrien Springs)
79. Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville)
81. Dan Lauwers (R-Brockway)
83. Paul Muxlow (R-Brown City)
84. Curtis Boehmer (R-Harbor Beach), Kurt Damrow (R-Elkton), Dan Grimshaw (R-Vassar), & Tom Wassa (R-Fairgrove)
86. Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-Alto)
87. Mike Callton (R-Nashville)
88. Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville)
89. Amanda Price (R-Holland)
90. Bob Harmsen (R-Holland)
93. Tom Leonard (R-Lansing)
94. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw Twp)
97. Joel Johnson (R-Clare)
98. Karl Ieuter (R-Midland)
99. Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant)
100. Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo)
101. Ray Franz (R-Onekama)
103. Bruce Rendon (R-Lake City)
104. Jamie Callahan (R-Traverse City), Robert Hentschel (R-Traverse City), & Larry Inman (R-Williamsburg)
106. Peter Pettalia (R-Presque Isle)
107. Frank Foster (R-Pellston)
108. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan)
