Laurie Pohutsky
2019 - Present
2022
2
Laurie Pohutsky (Democratic Party) is a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing District 19. She assumed office on January 1, 2019. Her current term ends on December 31, 2022.
Pohutsky (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 19. She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Pohutsky completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Contents
Biography
Laurie Pohutsky was born in Detroit, Michigan. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 2010. Pohutsky’s career experience includes working as a microbiologist in the field of health care diagnostics.[1]
Committee assignments
2021-2022
Pohutsky was assigned to the following committees:
- Families, Children, and Seniors Committee, Minority vice-chair
- Health Policy Committee
2019-2020
Pohutsky was assigned to the following committees:
Elections
2020
See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 19
Incumbent Laurie Pohutsky defeated Martha Ptashnik in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 19 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Laurie Pohutsky (D) |
50.2
|
29,452 |
|
|
Martha Ptashnik (R) |
49.8
|
29,215 | |
|
|
Total votes: 58,667 |
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 19
Incumbent Laurie Pohutsky advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 19 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Laurie Pohutsky |
100.0
|
14,709 |
|
|
Total votes: 14,709 |
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 19
Martha Ptashnik defeated Penny Crider and Regina Gargus in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 19 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Martha Ptashnik |
51.6
|
5,870 |
|
|
Penny Crider |
42.7
|
4,856 | |
|
|
Regina Gargus |
5.7
|
651 | |
|
|
Total votes: 11,377 |
Campaign finance
Endorsements
To view Pohutsky's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
- LEAP Forward[2]
2018
General election
Laurie Pohutsky defeated Brian Meakin in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 19 on November 6, 2018.
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 19
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Laurie Pohutsky (D) |
50.2
|
23,454 |
|
|
Brian Meakin (R) |
49.8
|
23,230 | |
|
|
Total votes: 46,684 |
Democratic primary election
Laurie Pohutsky defeated Daniel Centers in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 19 on August 7, 2018.
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 19
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Laurie Pohutsky |
54.7
|
6,224 |
|
|
Daniel Centers |
45.3
|
5,152 | |
|
|
Total votes: 11,376 |
Republican primary election
Brian Meakin advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 19 on August 7, 2018.
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 19
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Brian Meakin |
100.0
|
9,541 |
|
|
Total votes: 9,541 |
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Laurie Pohutsky completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pohutsky's responses.
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I am a millennial microbiologist running for my second term in the Michigan State House of Representatives, where I serve on the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation and Health Policy committees. I have worked in the fields of toxicology, health care, and food safety and have experience with environmental testing. During my first term, I have introduced legislation to repeal the No Stricter than Federal law, which shackles Michigan's environmental regulations to federal standards. I also introduced bills to combat rising prescription drug prices and close a loophole in Michigan law that allows for marital rape in cases where a spouse has been drugged. While attending college at Michigan State University, I was a member of the gay-straight alliance and took part in community engagement and activism. I also volunteered at the local crisis hotline. I reside in Livonia, where I am a volunteer with Angela Hospice.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
Featured local question How would you close the talent gap in this state?
There are several reasons why the talent gap exists in Michigan and young people are leaving the state for other areas of the country. In order to retain talent, we need to prioritize things that will keep those workers here, including investing in our infrastructure, prioritizing public education so that residents will want to raise families in Michigan, and expand public transit in areas that lack it.
Featured local question In a time of strained resources, what should be the state’s spending priorities?
Michigan needs to prioritize funding the areas that we saw under the most strain during the COVID-19 crisis. This means making health care more accessible and affordable, funding our public schools so that they can adapt to the changes the pandemic has forced upon them, and assisting the departments where underfunding was most detrimental, such as UIA.
Featured local question Michigan has among the weakest ethics and transparency laws. How would you improve them?
I have voted in support of expanding FOIA to cover the legislature and Governor, and I supported legislation to expand financial disclosure for elected officials.
Featured local question Michigan’s budget has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 virus shutdown. How would you address the deficit? Do you prefer spending cuts or tax hikes?
We need to look at budgetary priorities through the lens of COVID-19. This means that district-specific spending, including some appropriations that I personally advocated for, may need to be put on hold. However, federal relief will be pivotal for our state's recovery.
Featured local question What’s the best approach for meeting Michigan’s roads and other infrastructure needs?
Lowering weight limits on trucks in Michigan while also eliminating some corporate tax loopholes and mandating that money go towards roads will drastically cut the amount that needs to be produced through other revenue, such as gas taxes or registration fees.
Featured local question What’s your one big idea for improving public schools?
Although this is by no means a novel concept, it does seem to be one the state has consistently struggled with: we need to fund our public schools equitably. Not every district faces the same challenges, and we must meet them where they are rather than assuming they can each reach the same goals with the exact same resources.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am extremely passionate about environmental and health care policy. Michigan is home to a wealth of natural resources and beauty, but we have not been good stewards of these resources. I've made it a priority to advocate for evidence-based environmental policy to protect our state for generations to come. Additionally, we know that the current health care system in Michigan is inequitable, and the COVID-19 crisis has made that more evident than ever. No one should have to decide between going to the doctor or filling a prescription and putting food on the table.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to my niece. She's thirteen years younger than me and is so passionate and driven that she inspires me on a daily basis to be a better person and fight for the things I believe in.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I'm determined, curious, tenacious, and honest. I am comfortable admitting what I don't know and eager to learn more.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I want to leave anything I do in a better condition than the one I found it in.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The first historical event that I truly remember having an impact on me was the death of Matthew Shepard, who was tied to a fence and beaten to death because he was gay. I was ten years old and I so vividly remember being horrified and heartbroken that anyone could do this to a person simply because of who they are and who the love.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My first job was waiting tables at Checker Bar and Grill in Detroit. I only worked there for the summer, but I waited tables off and on for around ten years, including while I was in college and after I moved back home and had trouble finding a job due to the recession.
What is your favorite book? Why?
My favorite book is Catch 22. My dad fought in WWII, so there's a little bit of a personal connection, but I love the writing style and how it conveys the chaos of the situation.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
"Rain on Me" by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Watching my best friend in high school and college try to cope with mental health issues was a struggle. When I was eighteen, I became her caregiver, a task neither of us was prepared for. The situation only made things more stressful and exacerbated her issues. The lack of resources was, and still is, tremendously infuriating. Trying to help her navigate the health care system was one of the most difficult things I have ever done and is part of the reason I'm such a staunch advocate for health care reform.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
The Senate adheres more to rules around legislation taking immediate effect, which is a point of contention in the House that has even been taken to court. Although this is a little "inside baseball," it is an important distinction.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
There are benefits to state legislators having political experience, particularly when it comes to having pre-established relationships or being ahead of the learning curve. However, I think one cannot underestimate the importance of having people from different backgrounds with varied experiences and types of expertise represent our state.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
We have massively underfunded critical areas of our state, such as infrastructure and education, and now that we are facing budgetary shortfalls due to the COVID-19 crisis, playing catch-up is going to be more difficult than ever.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
As co-equal branches of government, the two need to work together to better the state. However, it is critical for one to challenge the other from time to time.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
It is not only beneficial to build relationships with other legislators, it is crucial, and that includes relationships across the aisle. These relationships give insight into different perspectives that are important to consider when it comes to decisions that will affect the entire state.
If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?
I serve on the Health Policy and Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation committees. Because of my background as a scientist, I felt I would be well-suited for the issues that would come before these committees.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
At this point, I'm only concerned about doing the job I've been elected to to the best of my ability.
Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
My district has vinyl chloride contamination in the groundwater in one particular neighborhood. When I met with the residents of that area, one woman told me one of her children asked if they would be safer from the vapor intrusion in the top or bottom bunk because they were afraid to get sick. After that meeting, I repeatedly met with the corporation responsible and demanded they perform more accurate testing and expand it as necessary. I also introduced legislation to allow the state to develop its own standards for such contamination rather than being shackled to the federal standards and co-sponsored a bill to require corporate polluters to clean up the contamination they create. That story has always stuck with me and reminded me that these policies have very real consequences for the people I represent.
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Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Michigan scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Michigan State Legislature was in session from January 8 to December 31.
- Legislators are scored on labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to agriculture.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Michigan State Legislature was in session from January 9 through December 31.
|
See also
2020 Elections
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Profile from the Michigan House of Representatives
- Michigan House of Representatives
- Michigan Legislature
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 20, 2020
- ↑ LEAP Forward, "6. ENDORSEMENTS," accessed June 30, 2020
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Laura Cox (R) |
Michigan House of Representatives District 19 2019–present |
Succeeded by N/A |
 |
State of Michigan Lansing (capital) |
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