Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Lisa Papas
Lisa Papas (Republican Party) ran for election to the Michigan State Senate to represent District 2. Papas lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Papas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2018
- See also: Michigan State Senate elections, 2018
General election
Adam Hollier defeated Lisa Papas in the general election for Michigan State Senate District 2 on November 6, 2018.
Yolanda James ran as a write-in candidate.
General election
General election for Michigan State Senate District 2
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Adam Hollier (D) | 75.7 | 53,920 |
Lisa Papas (R)  | 24.3 | 17,288 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 1 | ||
| Total votes: 71,209 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Michigan State Senate District 2 on August 7, 2018.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan State Senate District 2
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Adam Hollier | 25.2 | 6,938 |
 | Abraham Aiyash | 21.0 | 5,766 | |
 | Brian Banks | 17.2 | 4,725 | |
| Regina Williams | 9.5 | 2,598 | ||
 | LaMar Lemmons | 9.1 | 2,512 | |
 | John Olumba | 6.4 | 1,747 | |
 | George Cushingberry Jr. | 4.1 | 1,121 | |
| Anam Miah | 3.4 | 931 | ||
| Lawrence Gannan | 2.0 | 555 | ||
| William Phillips | 1.2 | 328 | ||
| Tommy Campbell | 1.0 | 265 | ||
| Total votes: 27,486 | |||
| = 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
Lisa Papas defeated John Hauler in the Republican primary for Michigan State Senate District 2 on August 7, 2018.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan State Senate District 2
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lisa Papas | 54.1 | 3,879 | |
 | John Hauler | 45.9 | 3,289 | |
| Total votes: 7,168 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Lisa Papas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Papas' responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Education Reform Protecting our water Infrastructure
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Education! I am a teacher, and have taught every age level, K-12. I know how badly broken our education system is, both in Michigan and nationwide. I want to eliminate Common Core State Standards, eliminate much of the standardized testing, reduce top down mandates, eliminate the 3rd grade reading requirement, and reform the Michigan Graduation Standards. Classrooms sizes need to be limited , especially at the lower grades. Any school receiving tax dollars needs to be equally accountable.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Senator Pat Colbeck has been a bright light in our State Senate, leading with dignity and thoughtful ideas. Senator Colbeck has worked hard to protect the interests of ordinary citizens, sometimes at the expense of power. His leadership against utility companies and technology like 5G has been impressive.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
I think everyone should read 1984 and Brave New World. We are living the stories in these books now in many ways. The dystopian musical "Urinetown" is a good description of what life might be like if we allow our precious water to be polluted and if we give ownership of our water to corporations.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Integrity , honesty and humility. We should be servants to the people that elect us, not profiting at the expense of the people we represent.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
As a teacher and a person that has worked in a family business, I see how government has the capacity to help and to hurt. I look at laws and regulations from multiple angles. They must benefit the majority of the citizens, and not be used to push small businesses and average people out, while allowing big corporate interests to get around the rules.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To listen to the people they are representing. While it is impossible to please all the people all the time, it is crucial to listen to differing interests and opinions and always keep an open mind. It isn't always about what you personally want, but what is best for the people you represent. It is also important to represent yourself in office as you did when you campaigned, so that you are not betraying the intentions of the voters that elected you to office.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I want to leave office knowing that I made a substantial difference in people's lives. I want to leave our communities better off, with a government that is working for them in a way that they can tangibly notice.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I can still remember watching the press coverage of the moon landing with my parents, on our black and white tv set, sitting on my Dad's lap. I was 2 1/2 .
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I briefly worked at a Duncan Donuts for a few months in high school. I couldn't continue as I had too many extra curricular activities. I remember my Dad taught me how to make change, and also how I couldn't stand the smell of a donut shop for years afterward.
What happened on your most awkward date?
I went to a Homecoming Dance with a really nice and very shy guy. He gave me the most awkward kiss at the end of the night. We were both really shy and uncomfortable.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Thanksgiving. Just being thankful for a wonderful meal and enjoying family without any gifts involved.
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Bible. Every time in my life I have fallen away from it, I have returned, only to realize how much wisdom there is in it.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
I grew up reading Nancy Drew and always wanted to be her.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My bed. I love snuggling in the covers and spending time just reading a book. I don't sleep enough, so I appreciate the times when I get to truly relax.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
I am a music teacher, so I regularly have a song or two stuck in my head after I have been teaching it. It changes with the class and the concert season.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Always feeling like I am not doing enough. Finding time to relax and smell the roses. I tend to go and go and go.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
I think the 2 year terms for the House are too short. It feels like they are always running for office, and the candidates are not very connected to their districts.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
No. I think that is what is the problem. We have people as representatives that make a career out of politics, and we have far too many lawyers and political science oriented people. We need more teachers, engineers, doctors and ordinary people in government so that we get a variety of perspectives.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Protecting our Great Lakes and our drinking water and farmland.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
The Governor should lead, but most policies should ultimately be decided by the legislators.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Absolutely. In order to really accomplish something significant, you must know the other representatives in government, on both sides of the aisle. You must be able to negotiate and compromise with others to pass legislation.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
I believe it should be up to the elected representatives in Congress. This way the people have voted on who is elected, and that vote of confidence should be enough to create the districts. I think spending money on an unelected election commission that the citizens cannot vote out is dangerous.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
Education! After that, agricultural.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
Yes. I am quite comfortable in leadership roles.
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Senator Pat Colbeck in terms of personal dignity and humanity. In terms of strength and intelligence and leadership, both John F. Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
Perhaps. I wouldn't rule it out.
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?
I have heard so many stories, but just hearing how many times laws and regulations have hurt the very people they are supposed to help. That is my frustration and what I hope to improve upon.
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.
See also
External links
Footnotes
