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A little about me

Currently, I'm your State Representative for the 80th House District, which includes Kentwood, East Grand Rapids, Cascade Township, and parts of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Township.
 

My Story

I grew up in Ohio before attending the University of Michigan where he received degrees in Russian history. After finishing college, I worked as a professor of history at Goucher College, Grand Valley State University, and Aquinas College. Leaving academia in 2010, I managed numerous campaigns, worked for an environmental organization, and served as Legislative Director for State Representatives Brandon Dillion and David LaGrand. As a staffer, I worked to enact meaningful criminal justice reform and increase government transparency.

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I'm proud of my history of public service as an elected official. Before coming to the House, I served on the Kent County Commission (2017-2022) and East Grand Rapids City Commission (2012-2016). As an East Grand Rapids Commissioner, I protected our LGBTQ+ community by passing the county’s first non-discrimination ordinance and helped fix East Grand Rapids’ city infrastructure. As a Kent County Commissioner, I helped pass an early childhood millage that ensures kids are ready to enter kindergarten, protected public health, supported small businesses and non-profits during the pandemic, and defended democracy.

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Disclosure

I believe in being transparent because you deserve to know that your state representative is working for you. Because of this, I authored bills to require personal financial disclosure that has similar requirements to the federal government's required disclosures for federal elected officials and their immediate family members. To continue to live up to my commitment to transparency, I want to put both my campaign finance and personal financial disclosure, on my website so that this information can be easily accessible to my constituents.

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Campaign Finance Disclosure

You can find my campaign finance reports that I have filed with the Michigan Secretary of State: https://cfrsearch.nictusa.com/committees/520206

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Personal Financial Disclosure

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Employment

  • State Representative, State of Michigan, 124 N. Capitol Ave, Lansing MI 48909, salary of $71,685

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Assets, valued over $1000:

  • Fidelity 500 Index Fund

  • Michigan Education Savings Plan

  • Checking and Savings Accounts, Fifth Third Bank

  • Voya State Street Target Retirement 2035, State of Michigan
     

Real Estate, valued over $1000:

  • Primary Residence: Hall St SE, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506

  • Non-Homestead Property: Festival Ln, Brutus, MI 49716
     

Liabilities, valued over $1000:

  • Mortgage, PNC Bank

  • Auto Loan, Ford Credit
     

Gifts, Food, and Beverages Received from registered lobbyists:

  • William Zaagman, $144.76
     

Compensated positions in any organization:

  • None
     

Agreements for future employment:

  • None
     

Business ownership:

  • None
     

Immediate Family Members employed by or engaged in contracts with the State of Michigan

  • None
     

Transfers above $50,000 in value to any Immediate Family Members in the past 2 years

  • None
     

Spouse

  • Kate Skaggs

  • Business Ownership: Partner, The Winmatt Group, Lansing, MI

  • Occupation: Government Relations, Registered Lobbyist

  • Financial Assets, valued over $50,000:

    • Johnson Equity Income Fund

    • Johnson Institutional Core Bond Fund

    • Michigan Education Savings Plan

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Dependents

  • EWS and JKS do not have any employment, businesses, financial assets, or real estate valued over $50,000.

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