Jeff Irwin running against Scott Price in Michigan Senate's 15th District race
Voters in the northeast corner of Lenawee County will have a new state senator in 2023, but that person might have 10 years of legislative experience.
Democratic state Sen. Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor is running against Republican challenger Scott Price of Ypsilanti in the 15th state Senate District race. The new 15th District covers Clinton, Macon and Tecumseh townships, the city of Tecumseh, and parts of Washtenaw and Monroe counties. It was created by the state's redistricting commission following the 2020 census.
The economy, inflation, funding for schools and local governments are issues that will face the candidate who takes on the role of state senator.
The Daily Telegram reached out to both candidates with questionnaires on what they think are the most important issues facing the state. Irwin responded, but the Telegram was unable to reach Price after several attempts.
Here are Irwin's responses, lightly edited for clarity.
Jeff Irwin
Age: 45.
Occupation: State senator.
Spouse/kids: Wife, Kathryn; kids, Sylvia and Mackinac.
Government experience: Washtenaw County commissioner, 1999 to 2010; state representative, 2011-2016; state senator 2019 to present.
Volunteer/community service experience: I've volunteered for many organizations including but not limited to: Meals on Wheels, Boy Scouts of America, Washtenaw Shelter Organization, Partners for Transit and Milan Cares.
Why are you running for the state Senate? I want to make Michigan a great place to live and work and to protect the great things about our Great Lakes State. I will advocate for better funding for our schools, improved protections for clean air and water, and an economy that is fair to everyone no matter where they come from, how they look or who they love.
What do you think is the main challenge facing the state and what should be done about it? Our economy serves the wealthy at the expense of working people. Federal monetary policy has led to inflation, and the unwillingness to make responsible choices years ago is hurting many people. Locally, our state Senate is suffering from decades of leaders who believe that government doesn't and won't work. We need leaders with a proactive and forward-looking vision who will work to fix problems, rather than use them for their personal, political benefit.
How will you bring funding into Lenawee County? What are some important projects? Lenawee would benefit from a number of important transportation projects as well as additional subsidy for rural broadband users. In addition to broad needs around roads and broadband, there are significant projects that need state involvement to improve recreational and health care opportunities.
Why should people vote for you? I hope to earn the votes of people who want a serious approach to solving problems and building community. Rather than getting distracted by the latest culture war, you can expect me to focus on great schools, a clean environment, and an economy that works for working people. I have a long record of service and a voting record to examine on a range of issues.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Jeff Irwin running against Scott Price in 15th Senate District race
