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Cyndi Peltonen
Cyndi Peltonen (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 56. She lost in the Democratic primary on August 2, 2022.
Peltonen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Peltonen was a 2016 Democratic candidate for District 41 of the Michigan House of Representatives. She ran unsuccessfully for District 13 of the Michigan State Senate in 2014.[1]
Biography
Cyndi Peltonen was born in Toledo, Ohio. She earned an associate degree from Oakland Community College in 1996 and a bachelor's degree from Wayne State University in 2000. Her career experience includes working as a music educator and as a small business owner.
Peltonen has been associated with the following organizations:[2]
- Michigan Association of School Boards
- Oakland County School Board Association
- Michigan Education Association
- National Association for Music Education
- Michigan Music Education Association
- Clawson Chamber of Commerce
- Clawson-Troy Optimist Club
- Clawson Youth Assistance
Elections
2022
See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 56
Sharon MacDonell defeated Mark Gunn in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 56 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sharon MacDonell (D)  | 57.9 | 24,630 |
 | Mark Gunn (R) | 42.1 | 17,887 | |
| Total votes: 42,517 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 56
Sharon MacDonell defeated Cyndi Peltonen in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 56 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sharon MacDonell | 58.9 | 6,901 |
 | Cyndi Peltonen | 41.1 | 4,821 | |
| Total votes: 11,722 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 56
Mark Gunn advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 56 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Gunn | 100.0 | 6,628 |
| Total votes: 6,628 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ken Roberts (R)
Campaign finance
2016
Elections for the Michigan House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 2, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 19, 2016.
Incumbent Martin Howrylak defeated Cyndi Peltonen in the Michigan House of Representatives District 41 general election.[3]
| Michigan House of Representatives, District 41 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Martin Howrylak Incumbent |
56.45% | 26,708 | |
| Democratic | Cyndi Peltonen | 43.55% | 20,606 | |
| Total Votes | 47,314 | |||
| Source: Michigan Secretary of State | ||||
Cyndi Peltonen ran unopposed in the Michigan House of Representatives District 41 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Michigan House of Representatives, District 41 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Cyndi Peltonen (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Martin Howrylak defeated Ryan Manier in the Michigan House of Representatives District 41 Republican primary.[4][5]
| Michigan House of Representatives, District 41 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Martin Howrylak Incumbent |
83.46% | 5,251 | |
| Republican | Ryan Manier | 16.54% | 1,041 | |
| Total Votes | 6,292 | |||
2014
- See also: Michigan State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Michigan State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 5, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 22, 2014. Cyndi Peltonen defeated Ryan Fishman in the Democratic primary. Five candidates faced off in the Republican primary; Marty Knollenberg won, with Rocky Raczkowski finishing second. Knollenberg defeated Peltonen in the general election.[6][7][8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Marty Knollenberg |
58.1% | 59,570 | |
| Democratic | Cyndi Peltonen | 41.9% | 42,892 | |
| Total Votes | 102,462 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Cyndi Peltonen |
54.9% | 7,620 |
| Ryan Fishman | 45.1% | 6,252 |
| Total Votes | 13,872 | |
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Marty Knollenberg |
36.2% | 8,788 |
| Rocky Raczkowski | 35.9% | 8,716 |
| Chuck Moss | 20.3% | 4,929 |
| Ethan Baker | 6.4% | 1,546 |
| Al Gui | 1.1% | 276 |
| Total Votes | 24,255 | |
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Cyndi Peltonen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Peltonen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
In my 21 years on the Board, I’ve worked with dozens of school board members representing wide ranging political ideologies. To reach consensus we kept policy decisions focused on “what’s best for kids.” This is the kind of cooperation we need in Lansing.
I have experience developing and monitoring multi-million dollar budgets to reach common goals. The role of government is to provide collectively that which would be nearly impossible to do on our own - schools, roads, bridges, pubic safety, clean water, and public health, for example. Instead of giving huge tax cuts to their super-rich donors, legislators should use tax dollars to benefit everyday people.
I will speak up for under-represented voices and be a fierce advocate for diversity, equality, inclusion, and justice for all.- Proven Leader - Elected to the Clawson Board of Education five times serving my 21st year; Elected by teaching colleagues to be school’s Michigan Education Association (MEA) Union Representative - Elected by fellow county school board members to the Oakland County School Board Association’s (OCSBA) Board of Directors
- Fierce Advocate - Organized parents to form Clawson Early Childhood PTA; Built coalitions to recruit, campaign for and elect more parents to the School Board; Successfully spearheaded several school millage requests, including $33 Million Dollar Bond Issue
- Real Experience in Developing Public Policy, Representing Constituents , Overseeing the spending of public funds
Competence - experience and knowledge
Empathy - compassion, concern, and caring
At its core, the role of a legislator is to make policy, appropriate and oversee the spending of public funds, and represent their constituents. I’m the only candidate in this race that has experience in all three of these areas.
Besides the practical experience I gained, the Michigan Association of School Boards’ classes, workshops, seminars, and conferences I attended were essential to being an effective board member. Developing a deeper understanding of school finance, school law, school safety and security, data-informed decision making, the Open Meetings Act, parliamentary procedure, reporting and monitoring organizational performance, strategic planning and goal-setting, conflict resolution, and labor relations gives me a solid foundation in quickly becoming a contributor to the legislative process.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2016
Peltonen's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[10]
| “ | Education
We must increase our investment in education at every level, starting with early childhood. Academic success is a direct result of family income. With over 22% of Michigan children living in poverty, we must break the cycle. High quality pre-school programs for children living in poverty return $8 for every dollar invested. Our community-governed K-12 public schools cannot afford to absorb any more budget cuts or implement any more unfunded mandates. Diverting funds to private schools is unconstitutional. Funneling our tax dollars to for-profit charter schools has got to stop. Likewise,we must better support our community colleges and state universities. The state once covered 75% of the cost of college and 25% was paid for by tuition. Now only 25% is paid by the state, leaving students and their families on the hook for 75% of the cost. We must renew our commitment to regain our status as a top education state. Read more… Environment It is our responsibility to protect our air, land, and water resources for our children, grandchildren, and beyond. Conservation of our abundant natural resources must become a top priority for Michigan again. To this end I will work to:
Tourism, fisheries and agriculture are dependent on the vitality of the Great Lakes. I will work to hold polluters accountable so that they are responsible for their mistakes – not Michigan taxpayers. Energy Continuing to increase Michigan’s clean energy targets creates jobs, controls energy costs and protects the health of Michigan kids, families and seniors – and continues our path to energy independence. Michigan’s successful energy laws have spurred more than $3 billion in investment since 2008 and support over 87,000 jobs in the clean energy sector. Besides lower utility bills for everyone, renewable energy and energy efficiency policies are tools for economic growth. Infrastructure In 2004, the cost of returning all roads to good condition was $3.68 billion. By 2011 the cost had ballooned to $11.5 billion. Because of the legislature’s failure to appropriate adequate funds in FY2014, current estimates now peg the additional revenue needed to bring Michigan’s roads in line with national standards at $1.4 billion to $2.2 billion per year for 10 years![11] |
” |
2014
Peltonen's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[12]
Education
- Excerpt: "Cyndi is alarmed by legislation passed in the last three years that demeans and discredits education professionals. Budgets that funnel money out of comprehensive, community governed schools to corporations is not fiscally responsible. Public policy decisions need to be data-driven, include input from those in the field, and reflect legitimate best practices. It is our job as a community to work together to create the best possible environment for our children to learn and develop lifelong skills."
Energy, Environment and Infrastructure
- Excerpt: "Cyndi acknowledges Michigan's need for comprehensive solutions to meet our long-term energy needs. She knows this cannot be done without a transition to clean energy. In the legislature, Cyndi will vote for greater investment in renewable energy sources so that Michigan can be less dependent on foreign oil, while simultaneously creating sustainable jobs within the state."
LGBTQ Equality
- Excerpt: "She firmly believes no one should be discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Discrimination in any form violates core American values of fairness and equality.As the 13th District’s Senator, Cyndi will fight alongside the people of Michigan to make sure every voice is not only heard, but also recognized."
Women
- Excerpt: "When elected to office, Cyndi will call on fellow lawmakers to join her in the fight to advance equal pay legislation. She believes this can be accomplished through such common sense approaches such as requiring employers to be more transparent in their salary reporting for similarly situated positions, and by penalizing those who are uncooperative or who pay disparate wages for similar job descriptions and experience. Cyndi will work to make sure all will work to make sure all Michigan women and their families are protected against unequal pay practices."
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, “2014 Unofficial Michigan Primary Candidate Listing,” accessed May 1, 2014
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 19, 2022
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2016 official general election results," accessed May 2, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Michigan Secretary of State, "2016 Michigan Candidate Listing," accessed April 22, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Michigan Secretary of State, "2016 Michigan Election Results," accessed August 2, 2016
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "State Senator," accessed August 6, 2014
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "State Senator," accessed December 5, 2014
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2014 Official Michigan Primary Candidate Listing," accessed May 27, 2014
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2014 Official Michigan General Candidate Listing," accessed September 8, 2014
- ↑ Cyndi Peltonen, "Issues," accessed October 17, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ cyndi4senate.com, "Issues," accessed June 18, 2014
