Aug. 2 Election 2022 preview: Michigan's new 34th District in the House of Representatives
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Three Republican candidates are seeking the most votes in the Aug. 2 primary election to advance to the November general election in hopes of serving as Lenawee County’s representative in the new 34th District in the Michigan House of Representatives. The 34th District covers most of Lenawee County.
Julie Moore of Adrian Township, Ryan Rank of Madison Township and state Sen. Dale Zorn of Onsted will be on the ballot. The winner of the Republican primary will face John Dahlgren of Clinton, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary. The 34th District seat is open because Rep. Bronna Kahle, who lives in the district, cannot run again due to term limits.
Moore is a nurse, and Rank is a former Madison Township fire chief. Zorn cannot run for reelection to the Michigan Senate because of term limits. He moved from his longtime home in Ida to his family cottage at Sand Lake in order to run for the House.
Questionnaires were provided to Moore, Rank and Zorn. Their responses are below. Dahlgren will be profiled in the fall.
Julie Moore
Age: 60.
Occupation: Registered nurse working locally as a diabetes nurse educator.
Spouse/kids: Married 42 years; six children, almost 13 grandchildren.
Government experience: Precinct delegate for Adrian Township for two years.
Volunteer/community service experience: I am a member of a local health collaborative, Lenawee Health Network. I volunteer at Care Pregnancy and Family Center, currently as an educator for their sexual risk avoidance program. I serve on the board for the Associated Charities and donate meals at Share the Warmth of Lenawee. I am a member of the local Right to Life Chapter, Zonta International, Evening Lions, and attend and serve at Crossroads Community Church, as well as the local Republican executive committee.
Why are you running for this position? I am running for this office because I believe this is an important time to step up and defend those freedoms and beliefs that we hold dear, for our families, our grandchildren and for future generations.
What do you think is the main challenge facing Lenawee County/the districts you will be serving, and what should be done about it? The main challenge that we face in Lenawee today is threefold. We know that our businesses are struggling to find workers, especially workers that are skilled. If we want citizens of Lenawee to thrive and prosper, we need to prepare our youth for the workforce and support them as they struggle with a gap in education and mental health challenges they are facing post COVID-19.
How will you make yourself available to constituents? I would make myself available to the community by holding meeting hours in the community at convenient times for community members. I plan to continue to attend community events, networking with community members as they occur. I am available by email and on my website.
Why should people vote for you? I am the right person to represent District 34 because I know Lenawee County, it’s my home. I am a Tecumseh High School graduate and I’ve raised my family here. My goal is to make a better Michigan for our families, our children and grandchildren. I have been described as professional, a good listener, great communicator, passionate, respectful and kind. I am energetic, organized and hardworking and I have some common sense. I believe that I am the best candidate to be your state representative because I know Lenawee. I have the right intentions and the right personal characteristics!
Ryan Rank
Age: 49.
Occupation: Retired fire chief of Madison Township.
Spouse/kids: Carrie; no kids (we were unable to have kids).
Government experience: This is my first time seeking elected office. I have over 30 years' fire and EMS public safety experience in small/local government.
Volunteer/community service experience: Firefighter/paramedic for over 30 years with Palmyra Fire Department, Blissfield Fire Department and retired as fire chief for Madison Township (26 years. At my retirement I held these positions:
Michigan Fire Chief's Association vice chair EMS section, Michigan Fire Chiefs Association alternate to state EMS coordination committee.
Michigan Fire Chief's Association representative on safe deliver advisory committee.
President, Lenawee County Fire Chiefs Association.
Lenawee County Medical Control Authority, treasurer/executive board.
Lenawee County local emergency planning committee/homeland security board, board chair.
Lenawee County Emergency Operations Center, fire executive member.
Lenawee County Health Department modular emergency medical system, workgroup member.
District 1 regional medical response coalition, planning board member/executive board member.
District 1 regional trauma network.
Michigan Rural EMS Network, executive board member, past president of the board.
Current member Michigan Farm Bureau, NRA, Right to Life, Ducks Unlimited, Adrian Moose.
Why are you running for this position? After a very rewarding 30-year career protecting Lenawee County in public safety, I needed to find a way I could still represent and protect my neighbors. I was asked by many people to run for state representative because they knew I had my Lenawee neighbors’ best interests in mind. I feel we have gotten away from the true meaning of representing, and the voice of Lenawee, not mine, needs to be heard in Lansing.
What do you think is the main challenge facing Lenawee County/the districts you will be serving, and what should be done about it? I am not a career politician; the only alliance I have is with you the people, my friends and neighbors in the 34th District. Being your hometown voice in Lansing means ensuring your voice, not mine, is heard. We need to get back to “We The People,” making sure that our individual rights are not infringed upon. Making sure that the Constitution of the United States is followed. Working on voter integrity and securing one of the most important civic duties we have. We need to focus on bringing jobs and business back to the district. Lenawee was once a huge manufacturing community with economic prosperity. Making Michigan affordable again with smaller, better government. Ensuring our seniors, veterans and public safety have the resources available to them and are taken care of. Parents know what’s best for their children and they should have a majority say for their child’s education.
How will you make yourself available to constituents? Office phone and email, however, we also want to hold regular in-person discussions. I would like to work with our government partners and hold “office hours” to include nights and weekends in different communities in the district. This will give my friends and neighbors the opportunity to hold my feet to the fire and make sure I am representing their voice the way it needs to be heard.
Why should people vote for you? I am Lenawee dedicated. I was born and raised in Lenawee County; I graduated from Blissfield High School. I am a friend and neighbor with government, corporate and small business experience; a proven effective servant leader that allows me to comprehend issues from many different standpoints. I want to continue to build relationships I have formed in the community, to listen and bring back the people’s voice to Lansing. I dedicated my life to protecting and serving Lenawee County. It is my duty and honor to serve as your next state representative and hometown voice in Lansing.
Dale Zorn
Age: 68.
Occupation: Member of the Michigan Senate from the 17th District.
Spouse/kids: Married to Cindy. Four children and 11 grandchildren.
Government experience: Ten years of service to Raisinville Township. Twenty years on the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, including four years as chairman. Four years in the Michigan House of Representatives. Currently serving as a member of the Michigan Senate since 2015.
Volunteer/community service experience: Ida Civic Club, Monroe County Vietnam Veterans Chapter 142, Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, National Rifle Association, Monroe County Vietnam Veterans Museum Historical Society, Food System Economic Partnership Regional Leadership Team, Roselawn Memorial Park board of directors, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 113, Capt. Norman Heck Memorial Park Committee and executive director of the Christmas in Ida Festival and Parade of Lights.
Why are you running for this position? I am running to continue serving my community. I’m focused on stabilizing the cost of living and offsetting the effects of inflation by ending the burdens of the state income tax and fuel tax. I will continue to strengthen the economy through good-paying jobs and focus on educating and training the workforce for today's skilled trades. If elected, I will build upon my record of bringing home to Lenawee County financial resources for the public.
What do you think is the main challenge facing Lenawee County/the districts you will be serving, and what should be done about it? From my experience, the main challenges facing Lenawee County are:
Sustaining and creating good-paying jobs, attracting job talent, cutting red tape and creating a better business tax structure to compete with other states.
Education and job training.
Maintaining our infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer to promote a greater quality of life and our downtowns for commerce, products and services.
My focus will be on continuing to promote skilled trade programs that provide grants to businesses and community colleges for employee training. I’ve also supported programs like Michigan Reconnect, which helps businesses find workers by assisting people over 25 seeking a trade certificate. I’ve voted to lower taxes on small businesses, but the governor vetoed the bill. I’ve also secured grant funding to protect our natural resources. Adding to these accomplishments will provide a solid base to work and call Lenawee County home.
How will you make yourself available to constituents? I currently and will continue to make myself available to constituents by telephone, cellphone, email, text, hard copy mail and social media. My office staff is trained to serve the community. I take great pride in responding to every constituent when they reach out to my office. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we responded to thousands of people battling against the governor’s failed unemployment system. I will also host town halls and coffee hours regularly.
Why should people vote for you? I have a demonstrated, proven track record of leadership and results. During my Senate tenure, I have brought Lenawee County over $100 million in state grants and spurred over $25 million in private matching investments. I’ve also fought for more investment into roads and education and led the fight to combat opioid abuse and cracked down on drug dealers. I have been a reliable conservative voice in Lansing while voting as the community desires. I take serving our community seriously. While in the Legislature, I have achieved a 100% voting and attendance record by not missing any of the 7,867 votes.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Election Profile: 34th District in Michigan House of Representatives
