The 32nd District includes voters from Benzie, Manistee, Mason, Oceana and Muskegon counties. The seat is for a term of four years.
The News Advocate sent questionnaires to all candidates in all contested races. Answers were only edited if they exceeded the word count.
MANISTEE NEWS ADVOCATE: Please introduce yourself and describe your background, professionally, politically or personally.
BUMSTEAD: Hello, I’m Jon Bumstead. Before running for public office, I owned a construction business, Bumstead Construction and built custom homes for more than 39 years. I was born and raised in Newaygo County and have remained a resident of West Michigan my entire life. I’m an avid outdoorsman, a proud husband, father, and grandpa. In 2010, I was elected to represent the 100th District in the Michigan House of Representatives where I served three terms. In 2018, I ran for and was elected to represent the 34th State Senate District which include: Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana counties.
SABO: I am Terry Sabo, currently state representative serving my last term for the 92nd district in Muskegon. Growing up in rural Ravenna, I milked cows before school and learned the value of hard work. I am a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and was a police officer and firefighter in Muskegon Heights for 25 years. In 2011, I was appointed to the Muskegon County Road Commission and soon after elected to the Muskegon County Commission, serving as chair my last year. I believe in building relationships, listening to people’s concerns and helping them and their communities grow and thrive.
MNA: What are your top two legislative priorities and how would you address them?
BUMSTEAD: My top legislative priorities are giving tax relief to the residents of Michigan and helping to eliminate bureaucratic process at the state level. Passing meaningful tax relief is more important now than ever before. Our families and individuals are currently suffering the effects of record high inflation. I’ve worked to sponsor and support legislation already that would lower our states income tax rate, increase the tax exemption for seniors and pause our states gas tax. The rising cost of everyday essentials are hurting our families, seniors and individuals; and will continue to fight for tax relief for all Michiganders so that you can bring home more of the money that you have earned. Secondly, as a State Senator my priority is serving the constituents of the new 32nd State Senate District. I am committed to helping residents and businesses navigate state agencies and their bureaucratic processes. My staff and I will always work to cut back on the red tape and cumbersome processes that can make getting a permit, license, unemployment, and other state assistance a nightmare for our businesses and individuals.
SABO: Affordable housing, child care, the internet, economic growth, public education and a healthy environment are all important issues in the counties of the district. These are all equally important but I believe the lack of affordable housing and child care is a crisis—you can’t have economic growth without measures in place to correct these issues.
I support current bills in the house and senate that create tools for local governments to partner with non and for-profit developers, builders and property owners.
But I pledge to do more. Many households spend more than half of their income on rent, leaving little money for other expenses.
Quality, affordable and safe child care is absolutely necessary for working families. This has become very apparent to me as I listen to the concerns on the lakeshore. In fact, Manistee County was one of seven counties in the state to be part of a study that addresses the challenges of rural childcare.
Michigan recently launched MI-Tri-Share, a child care pilot program that splits the cost of child care between family, business and government.
I also support the bipartisan childcare package that expands access to child care for families and provides solutions for childcare businesses.
MNA: What is your position on abortion and reproductive rights for women?
BUMSTEAD: I’ve always been pro-life, I do support exceptions for the life of mother, rape, and incest. Now with proposal 3, the people of Michigan will get to vote and decide in November how our states view this matter. Once we hear from the voters, it is imperative that our state uphold the decision of the voters.
SABO: Women have the right to reproductive health care and choice. All decisions regarding pregnancy lies with the woman and her health care provider. It is a private decision that has no place in politics.
Research shows that access to birth control, reproductive health care and sex education provides women with the information they need to make informed decisions. Those decisions are theirs alone. By overturning Roe v Wade, the government has made women second class citizens with no control over their reproductive decisions.
I support the right for women to make their own decisions regarding their healthcare.
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