Democrat Christian Vukasovich and Republican Tim Walberg have filed to run for the 5th District U.S. representative in Congress seat. The term is two years.
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. May 14 is the deadline to submit proposals for the August election, said Annamarie Osment, Monroe County clerk. The Monroe News will report information on other races and proposals in the coming weeks.
Christian Vukasovich
Vukasovich, 50, of Monroe was a professor until September, “when I decided to devote myself full-time to running for Congress,” he said.
“My family and I, like so many of our neighbors, are fed up with a do-nothing Washington that seems more embroiled in petty politics instead of working on policies that make the lives of everyday Americans better; hard work should pay the bills. Leadership should be based on common sense, include engagement with a caring attitude and have an unwavering commitment to local communities,” Vukasovich said.
If elected, Vukasovich said, “I will not take dark corporate PAC money. I will only be funded through grassroots funding. I will make time to listen to the voters. I will hold regularly scheduled town halls to stay in touch with my constituency. I will seek committee assignments that align with my top priorities: affordability in housing and healthcare, strong education that will keep us competitive in the global market, good paying jobs and getting money and politics out of governance.”
Vukasovich organized a chapter of American Association of University Professors and served on the board of WMPG, a local public radio station. He has volunteered with food pantries across the district.
Tim Walberg
Walberg, 75, of Tipton is the incumbent representative for Michigan’s 5th Congressional District. He is currently serving his ninth term. He also is chairperson of the Education and Workforce Committee.
Walberg served southern Michigan as a state representative from 1983-98.
“I am running for re-election to continue the vital work that Republicans in Congress are doing alongside President Trump, including ensuring the border remains secure, reasserting U.S. leadership on the world stage, unleashing American energy dominance and offering vital economic relief to hardworking Michigan families. While we have made much progress from the failed policies of the last administration, we still have much more work to do to reduce costs for families and ensure that Michiganders can pocket more of their hard-earned money,” Walberg said.
If elected, Walberg said, “In the next Congress, I look forward to continuing to fight for Michigan families by expanding opportunity, revitalizing our economy and reigning in wasteful spending to better safeguard taxpayer dollars. To ensure that hardworking Michiganders can achieve their own American Dream, I remain committed to pursuing policies that lower the cost of healthcare, housing and energy. In my role as chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, I also look forward to continuing my efforts to encourage job creation, expand workforce training opportunities, lower the cost of higher education and create a brighter future for the next generation.”
Walberg had served as president of the Warren Reuther Center for Education and Community Impact and was a division manager for Moody Bible Institute.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Vukasovich, Walberg running for 5th District Congress seat
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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