ELECTION UPDATE

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
Next Tuesday’s primary election features a full slate of races and proposals for people to vote on. In addition to the gubernatorial race and proposals highlighted last week, people will choose Republican nominees for four area state legislative races.
Redistricting has changed the boundaries for area state senate and state house districts in addition to the congressional district changes. Berrien County is now home to two congressional districts. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton is retiring and fellow incumbents are running for the newly created seats.
The north end of Berrien County is in the new fourth congressional district. The southern half of Berrien County along with Cass County will be in the fifth Congressional district that runs east to Lake Erie along the state’s southern border.
Incumbent Republican Bill Huizenga will face Democrat Joseph Alfonso in November for the fourth district seat. Both are residents of Holland. In the fifth district, incumbent Republican Tim Walberg will face two challengers in the August Republican primary, Elizabeth Ferszt of Jackson and Sherry O’Donnell of Stevensville. The winner will face Democrat Bart Goldberg of New Buffalo.
The new state senate district boundaries split Berrien County in half as well. The current 21st state senate district which LaSata represents covers Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph Counties along the state line.
The new 20th state senate district covers the northern half of Berrien County, most of Van Buren County and parts of Allegan and Kent Counties. The new 17th state senate district covers the southern half of Berrien County, all of Cass, St. Joseph and Branch Counties and parts of Calhoun, Jackson and Hillsdale Counties.
State Sen. Kim LaSata has moved to the 17th state senate district so as to not have to run against fellow

incumbent State Sen. Aric Nesbitt in the new 20th state senate district. She faces Jonathan Lindsey of Bronson in the Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat Scott Rex Starr of Coldwater in November.
LaSata is married to Berrien County Trial Judge Charles LaSata and they have four children: Sarah, Ann, Chas and Claire. Before being elected to the Michigan House representing the then 79th district in 2016 and the State Senate in 2018, she was an elementary teacher at Lake Michigan Catholic, now Our Lady of the Lake schools.
She said she decided to run for a second and final term in the state senate because she wants to continue to help the people of Southwest Michigan. She noted that 70 percent of her former state senate district is in the new district.
If re-elected, she wants to focus her efforts in three areas: broadband, putting academic and mental health counselors in all schools and continuing to ensure money is there for infrastructure projects including roads, bridges and dams.
Lindsey is making his first run for public office and has garnered the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. He touts his military service as a combat veteran serving three tours of the Middle East, his Christian faith, love of country and his desire to make the work better for his two young children.
“The people of Michigan deserve leaders who will fight for them,” he said. “We need new, fearless, bold leadership that is unafraid to stand up for all Michiganders. Our state, once one of the greatest economic engines of the republic, has long languished as our leaders have quietly accepted perpetual decline.”
With the State House, Berrien County will be home to three rather than two districts with the creation of a new lakeshore district that runs from New Buffalo to Saugatuck. That district will be the 38th state house district.
The 38th state house district is the new lakeshore district. Republicans George Lucas of Harbert, Troy Rolling of Benton Harbor and Kevin Whiteford of South Haven will face off in the August primary as will Democrats Joey Andrews of St. Joseph and Annie Brown of South Haven.
People can view the recent candidate forum for the 38th state house district sponsored by Midwest Family Broadcasting and the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce. All five candidates were in attendance and addressed several topics, ranging from abortion and guns to the state budget and income tax cuts.
The link for the video for that forum is https://www.facebook.com/SMRChamber/videos/1087121145562336/ –

The current 78th state house district which Brad Paquette is seeking a third term will now be the 37th state house district and cover southeastern Berrien County and western Cass County. He is facing J.D. Haughey of Three Oaks for the Republican nomination with the winner facing Democrat Naomi Ludman of Dowagiac in November.

Paquette, 35, is currently finishing his second two-year term in the state house. If re-elected, this upcoming term would be his last in the state house due to term limits. He was named to a leadership post in late 2020 and is the associate speaker pro-tem in the state house.
He is seeking re-election to continue the work he’s been doing the last four years in Lansing. “I want to ensure that government is limited and the rights of citizens are not further infringed upon,” he said.
He said accomplishments he’s most proud of are closing the gap for student funding in Michigan, creating a Troops to Teachers program to make it possible for veterans to serve in the classroom and opposing the Governor’s overreach within the Emergency Powers Act during the pandemic lockdowns.
Haughey, 27, of Three Oaks is making his first run for public office. He is single and his family owns the

Featherbone Restaurant in downtown Three Oaks. He’s proud of working in his family’s business and making it a success.
He has served previously on the Three Oaks Downtown Development Authority and was also a precinct delegate. He belongs to Betty’s Buddies and the Three Oaks Church of Christ. His hobbies include traveling, spending time with family, going to the beach, gaming and hanging out with friends.
He said he’s running to make a difference. “I would like to make a difference in the community,” he said. “I have been in business and see things I would like to have changed. The best way to enforce or effect change is to get involved.”
The current 79th state house district represented by Pauline Wendzel will now be part of the 39th state house district that covers northern Berrien County north to Allegan County. She is also seeking a third term in Lansing. Wendzel of Coloma is facing off with Matt Nilson of Hartford for the Republican nomination with the winner facing Democrat Jared Polonowski of Otsego in November.