Democrat Shannon Wayne and Republican Laura Perry are going head-to-head for the office of District 31’s state representative. They’re looking to take over from incumbent State Representative Reggie Miller, who is not running for reelection.
The primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 4. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Several other races and proposals also will be on Monroe County ballots.
Shannon Wayne
Wayne, 50, of Milan has served on the Milan City Council for over four years, including as Mayor Pro Tem. She said she’s been able to raise $7 million for her city in the time she’s served it. Now, she’s looking to use the state representative office to help her district.
“What I really want to do is stay focused on what the community needs,” she said.
“Families are being squeezed, whether it’s groceries, costs, gas, childcare,” she added.
Wayne currently works as the cost reduction manager for Ford Motor Company, experience which she believes would help her if she were elected. She said that at Ford the company is focused and efficient, and she wants to do the same for the state and region.
Laura Perry
Perry, 38, of Dundee Township has balanced being the small business owner of All Heart Athletics and a mother with being on Dundee and Monroe’s Downtown Development Authorities. Now, she hopes to use that experience to benefit those in her district.
“I decided to run for State Representative because I believe the people of the 31st District deserve a representative who brings real-world experience, practical problem-solving skills, and a commitment to public service,” she said.
She believes that her position has allowed her to see the opportunities and challenges people face in their day-to-day lives.
“What I’m hearing when I’m talking to people at the door is that affordability is a number one issue and transparency within the government,” she said. “So, looking at our budget and honestly sitting down with the auditor general’s position and trying to create a ranking system as to how are our dollars actually impacting our community.”
She also wants to focus on education.
— Contact reporter Connor Veenstra at CVeenstra@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County natives vie for State Rep. seat
Reporting by Connor Veenstra, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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By Connor Veenstra, The Monroe News | USA TODAY Network
