Q&A with the candidates for the 38th district senate race
Michigan's 38th State Senate district has four candidates running for the position, three of the candidates are Republicans and one of them is a Democrat.
In the upcoming Aug. 2 primary election, voters will decide which Republican candidate will advance to the general election in November.
The 38th district covers the entirety of the western half of the Upper Peninsula, including all or parts of Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, and Schoolcraft counties.
Legislative maps are available to view at www.michigan.gov/micrc.
The Sault Evening News sent questionnaires to all of the candidates to learn more about them. Candidates Matthew Furyk and Kayla Wilkstrom did not respond to the questionnaire by press time.
John Braamse (D)
Q: Introduce yourself.
A: My name is John Braamse, I am 55, I have been married to my wife Donna for 27 years and we have two teenage kids, age 17 and 15.
Q: How long have you lived in the community?
A: I live in Marquette where I was raised as a fifth generation Yooper. I served in the army from 1987-2012 and returned home where I now work in the Marquette Area Public Schools since 2015 as a special education aid. I am a member of the MEA Union.
Q: Have you ever run for public office before?
A: I ran for local municipal office (Marquette Board of Light & Power) but was not elected. I am also a Marquette County Democratic precinct delegate since 2012. I have been a member of the local American Legion post for five years.
Q: Why are you running for office?
A: I am running to promote quality living conditions and better economic conditions for our current next generation of citizens who live in the U.P. and elsewhere.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today? What could the county government do better?
A: Near term I feel like there is a lack of faith and trust in the political system to accomplish policies people believe in. There are too many lies about a “stolen election” by the past president who used terrorism when he did not win, and the belief in those lies still persist at the state and local levels among some of his supporters.
Q: What will be your top priorities, if elected?
A: If elected to the 38th State Senate I will support reproductive rights including access to safe abortions. I also support universal health care by expanding Medicare paid with higher taxes on tobacco and vape products.
I believe in expanding optional public school access to ages three and four that will improve childhood development and lessen the burden of child care expenses for young families. I oppose all school vouchers and all charter schools paid with public funds.
I also support using the extra $7 billion state surplus for infrastructure improvements to include more renewable energy investments in our power grid. I would only support tax breaks that go to earned income tax credits, not a general income tax cut that helps the wealthy at the expense of working people.
The issue of Line 5 is no longer a decision for the lawmakers of the State of Michigan as it is an international (federal) issue. Personally, I think Enbridge should only be allowed to use the line for propane until a tunnel is built to prevent an oil spill while still providing propane.
Finally, I support a $15/hour minimum wage indexed to inflation and I personally support both the abortion rights and Promote the Vote proposals to the Michigan Constitution.
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Edward McBroom (R)
Q: Have you ever run for public office before?
A: I served as 108th District state representative for six years before being elected to the Michigan Senate in 2018. As the 38th District state senator, I currently chair the Oversight and Natural Resources committees, where I hold various state government actors accountable.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today?
A: One of the biggest challenges is the increasing cost of living. The state has a multi-billion dollar surplus right now, and I am working to ensure that those dollars are returned to taxpayers — not government agencies. Tax relief at the pump is another avenue of relief that I support.
The lack of good-paying jobs is also a big challenge. In my second term, I'll keep working to bring opportunities to the eastern U.P.
Q: What will be your top priorities, if elected?
A: In addition to supporting new jobs and lowering the cost of living, much work remains in the realm of government reform.
I voted to repeal the law that gave the governor excessive power. I'll continue to reign in the executive branch in Lansing — whether it be the governor, bureaucrats, or agency heads. Another priority, in light of Roe's reversal, will be protecting life from conception until natural death. I will continue to fight for pro-life policies.
Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com