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Mark Bignell
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Mark Bignell (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Michigan State Senate to represent District 33. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Bignell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Mark Bignell was born in Sheridan, Michigan. He earned an associate degree from Montcalm Community College in 2009 and a bachelor's degree from Grand Valley State University in 2022.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Michigan State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Michigan State Senate District 33
Incumbent Rick Outman defeated Mark Bignell and Joseph Gillotte in the general election for Michigan State Senate District 33 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Rick Outman (R) | 66.2 | 77,239 |
 | Mark Bignell (D)  | 31.7 | 36,915 | |
| Joseph Gillotte (L) | 2.1 | 2,438 | ||
| Total votes: 116,592 | |||
| = 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 State Senate District 33
Mark Bignell advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan State Senate District 33 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Bignell | 100.0 | 12,588 |
| Total votes: 12,588 | |||
| = 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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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan State Senate District 33
Incumbent Rick Outman advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan State Senate District 33 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rick Outman | 100.0 | 37,041 |
| Total votes: 37,041 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Michigan State Senate District 33
Joseph Gillotte advanced from the Libertarian convention for Michigan State Senate District 33 on July 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Joseph Gillotte (L) | |
| ||||
| = 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 finance
Endorsements
To view Bignell's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.
2018
- See also: Michigan State Senate elections, 2018
General election
Rick Outman defeated Mark Bignell and Christopher Comden in the general election for Michigan State Senate District 33 on November 6, 2018.
Timothy Prantle ran as a write-in candidate.
General election
General election for Michigan State Senate District 33
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rick Outman (R) | 58.7 | 49,856 |
| Mark Bignell (D) | 38.1 | 32,375 | |
 | Christopher Comden (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 3.1 | 2,633 | |
| Total votes: 84,864 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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
Mark Bignell defeated John Hoppough in the Democratic primary for Michigan State Senate District 33 on August 7, 2018.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan State Senate District 33
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Bignell | 57.9 | 8,293 |
 | John Hoppough | 42.1 | 6,025 | |
| Total votes: 14,318 | |||
| = 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
Rick Outman defeated Gregory Alexander in the Republican primary for Michigan State Senate District 33 on August 7, 2018.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan State Senate District 33
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rick Outman | 71.8 | 16,681 |
| Gregory Alexander | 28.2 | 6,554 | ||
| Total votes: 23,235 | |||
| = 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
2022
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released Dec. 3, 2021 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mark Bignell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bignell's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I was born in Montcalm County and raised in the village of Palo, under the values of the United Methodist Church and family imbued blue collar traditions. I came of age under the lessons of my father, who taught me the value of integrity, tradition, honesty and hands on work. A fierce independence was ingrained into me early on, which led to the fortitude necessary to endure many future unforeseen hardships.
Through the experience of enduring homelessness firsthand, I developed a perspective for advocacy and a thirst for overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges. This desire manifested as a personal need for self improvement, which led me to build up a wealth of experiences in the Stanton community while working to support my family. After graduating from MCC with an Accounting Degree, I enrolled in the Seidman School of Business at GVSU. I later withdrew and began training at West Michigan CDL. I then spent approximately 8-9 years in professional logistics and even returned to GVSU and completed my bachelor's degree and leadership certificate from the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies. Due to my personal experiences and interdisciplinary perspectives, I see the issues impacting the people Michigan from various multifaceted standpoints and know very well how mismanaged and poorly conceived domestic policy harms the people.
Restoring & preserving reproductive freedom.
Reforming education with policies inspired by successful historical models.
Reforming campaign finance regulations to remove the undue influence of money on Michigan politics.
The first area I am passionate about is special education policy, as it relates to testing and identification of services needed for students, school IEP compliance, student support structures, post secondary education support structures and post education support networks. Too many children pass through our education system and ultimately are set up for failure, because their learning disabilities go untested, undiagnosed and unaided.
Next, I am very interested in improving labor policy, living wages and career development. I would work to ensure that those who wish to seek professional development in preparation to a career, can obtain that education and training to fulfill that calling. There are many professions in Michigan, which see shortages of qualified people year after year. Without filling these positions, we ultimately hurt ourselves in Michigan, by accepting less services and lost economic potential. This is especially important, in education, as Michigan struggles to fill many teaching positions, support positions and administrative positions.
I look up to my father Wilber Bignell. I try to follow his example everyday. He was the type of man who took care of his family, helped his neighbors, stood up for what was righteous, and sacrificed for those he loved. In Stanton Michigan, while people were struggling, he issued store credit for food and essentials to the local community. Although the unpaid balances forced his store to close, he knew it was right to help the community. He never put his own needs before those of his family. As children, we always had new school clothes, hot meals, and a roof over our heads. Looking back, I see a man who ensured this, with limited wages & 2 jobs, by sacrificing his own comforts. I look up to him, not just as his first born son, but as an example of what a good man should be.
The most important traits a representative can possess are empathy, compassion, understanding, and humility. Without empathy; you will struggle to relate to those you represent. Without compassion; you will struggle to care about those you represent. Without understanding; you will struggle to see the root causes of problems and their solutions will always evade you. Without humility; you will fail to see, understand, & accept your own failings—leading to stunted personal/professional growth.
In my personal life, I hold myself to the principles and life of integrity from my father. I value, scholarship, independence, liberty and my duty to care for my family and the people around me. My faith guides me through my life's moral dilemmas. I operate under a system of faith in action and opposition to all forms of oppression. These are my guiding principles I live by, in accordance with the United Methodist Church. My core values include: integrity, fidelity, professionalism, accountability and scholarship in the pursuit of excellence and execution of my own duties (regardless of the tasks or assignments of the moment).
My personal professional code of conduct includes the following pledge in addition to all oaths of office.
The legacy I wish to leave, in the wake of my stewardship is a truly reformed Michigan government that is more transparent and accountable to the people. By embodying that level of statesmanship, I believe the accomplishments I would leave behind in Lansing could inspire other legislators to choose dialogue as a means of resolving Michigan's problems. A government which discloses very little and brandishes it's authority for a vested few; accomplishes very little for the majority it represents. It's my wish to re-empower the people when I'm elected and foster a renewed sense of professional statesmanship.
April 20th, 1999; I was 20 years old and attending Journalism Class at Ionia Community Education's Alternative Education program. The teacher wheeled in the TV Cart and turned on the news. The massacre unfolded in our eyes with each new update. As the calls for action each day following it fell on apparently deaf ears in DC, it was incredibly apparent who those politicians held in allegiance and it was not the common people or the common good.
My first job was at Ionia McDonald's and it lasted 5 years.
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. I purchased my copy of this book, at Robin's Booklist in downtown Greenville (when it was still in business). I wanted a fantasy book that was not recently converted into a series of feature length films. I shown the owner a few different books and asked for her opinion on the titles. She immediately said I would enjoy The Sword of Shannara far more than the other books. So, I purchased it and read it straight through over the course of several days. The owner of Robin's Booklist was right and I immediately returned to buy the prequel and several sequels. I found the story of a talisman that could dispel the empowering factor behind a creature composed of lies to be enticing at the time. A sword that could obliterate lies, with the truth is the embodiment of "if it can be destroyed by the truth, then it deserves to be destroyed by the truth."
Life is seldom that simple and the truth needs people that believe it when they see it, in order to be empowered.
That happened this last weekend on August 20th. It was a song by Thirty Seconds To Mars and it is one of my all time favorite songs, "Walk On Water."
For years I have struggled to reconcile my own experience growing up in Michigan's education system, with the experience my own children are now navigating. For many years, I could sense for some reason I was considered different by my peers and I couldn't understand how or why. However, I did feel like an outsider all throughout that time in school. It was only recently that I had a breakthrough while advocating for my children's education needs, that I learned of the increased likelihood that I am on the spectrum. Because I am familiar with the condition and doctors suggested I seek a screening, I took the information and saw the many immediate parallels with my own childhood experiences. I found this to be a freeing experience, which gave me the how and why I was always lacking. I also learned through this experience, how difficult it is to find, schedule and arrange payment for an adult screening.
I do not want to speculate what my life may have been like, had screening and services occurred in my childhood, although I will use those experiences to advocate for solid public policy that ensures others are not forced through similar experiences.
I do not want to speculate what my life may have been like, had screening and services occurred in my childhood, although I will use those experiences to advocate for solid public policy that ensures others are not forced through similar experiences.
Michigan's greatest challenges over this decade revolve around the failed domestic policies of the last 40+ years. Thanks to the Supreme Court's fallacious ruling overturning the Roe V. Wade decision, all unenumerated rights stemming from the acknowledged privacy rights surrounding Roe are now in danger of also being overturned. Due to this; the Antiquated law from 1931 ACT 328 has come into potential enforcement. If State Court rulings and stays do not remain in effect, then Act 328 of 1931 CHAPTER III Penal Code Sections 750.14 (a felony) and 750.15 (a misdemeanor) may come into effect. I support a total repeal of these Penal Code Sections via abolishing ACT 328 of 1931, in order to restore women's freedoms over their bodily autonomy and self determination.
Next, I support reforming Michigan's education system, by reforming the school funding formulas in our state to allocate funds based on needs, over a arbitrary head count; instituting a moratorium on standardized testing (returns class instruction time to teachers, for subject lessons, instead of focusing their attention on preparing for a test); instituting an oversight committee for special education compliance of Charter Schools; improving district funding models, so districts can focus on smaller class sizes; improving funding for the school lunch/breakfast program, institute feeless breakfasts & lunches; and adopting a moratorium on homework, in order to return family time to the family.
As a legislator, I will prioritize facilitating a commission on fixing our state’s broken and underfunded education system. It must be composed of teachers, administrators, disability advocates and education professionals; which will be invited to Lansing to lead the dialogue.
I think it's crucial to develop relationships across all partisan boundaries, in order to remind ourselves of the differing perspectives of the people we represent. It's my core belief we are all people first and we should see ourselves as all belonging to the tribe of humanity first. This is a spirit of unity and camaraderie that I believe has been lacking in Lansing for decades. In restoring it, I believe we can restore responsive representation in Lansing and a renewed sense of common purpose.
I prefer the non-partisan independent redistricting commission, favoring redistricting based solely on simple natural district boundaries and focused on keeping districts sensibly sized and closely contested (favoring no one party).
I think it's crucially important for everyone to be capable of compromise, in order to ensure the needs of the people are met and that solid domestic policy is enacted. For too long, hyper-partisan demagogues have hurled convenient excuses and whipped up discontent, when the ire of public scrutiny gazes towards them. Scapegoat Politics are nothing more than presenting a distraction and an excuse for one's own personal failings as a leader. Finally, holding party loyalty above the duties to the public is a failing of leadership of the highest caliber. From a worldly perspective, individuals that ignore the people's needs and choose to focus on party or their own wants and needs, are politely referred to as incompetent despots.
To conclude, compromise is the natural state of a well matured adult, who seeks to problem solve and respects the viewpoints of their fellow peerage. This is typically fostered naturally as relationships are developed in the legislature, which is difficult in Michigan, due to tight term limits, which ensure the most experience in Lansing resides with lobbyists and special interests. However, it is imperative that these relationships begin anew and that compromise ceases to be a word associated with weakness. It only becomes undesirable, when the compromise itself ignores the duty to fulfill the needs of the people and the duties of the office.
To conclude, compromise is the natural state of a well matured adult, who seeks to problem solve and respects the viewpoints of their fellow peerage. This is typically fostered naturally as relationships are developed in the legislature, which is difficult in Michigan, due to tight term limits, which ensure the most experience in Lansing resides with lobbyists and special interests. However, it is imperative that these relationships begin anew and that compromise ceases to be a word associated with weakness. It only becomes undesirable, when the compromise itself ignores the duty to fulfill the needs of the people and the duties of the office.
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.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Mark Bignell participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on August 24, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Mark Bignell's responses follow below.[2]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | My top 3 issues are government reform, education reform, & Infrastructure. For government reform, I’ll introduce legislation complying with my CWAC agreement with the people: by improving campaign finance disclosure laws, implementing a 7 year lobbying ban, tying legislature salary to state median income, and expanding public campaign financing of elections. I will prioritize facilitating a commission on fixing our state’s broken and underfunded education system. It must be comprised of teachers, administrators, education professionals, and parents; which will be invited to Lansing to lead the discussion. I believe that by listening to these professionals, Michigan can innovate & reform education, while finally restoring a quality, accessible education for all Michigan students. I proposal in education we reform the school funding formulas to allocate funds based on needs, institute a moratorium on standardized testing (to return instruction time spent on preparing for the state tests), improve funding for the school lunch/breakfast program (feeless), & adopt a moratorium on homework in order to return family time to the family (in home emotional development time). My top infrastructure priorities are roads & water systems, I propose we increase funding for roads by a mix of bonds, new tax formulas, & lowering the gas tax while shifting the lost revenue to a negligible increase to sales tax. Last; we address the tax anxiety by implementing full disclosure on sales prices; whereas all prices displayed must be the after tax price on all products statewide.[3][4] |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | I'm passionate about the tenets of my Candidates With A Contract agreement, because these bold sets of government reforms will make the Michigan Legislature more accountable, more transparent, and more responsive to the people of Michigan as a whole. With Michigan currently 50th in government transparency and accountability, it's clearly time to reform Michigan's government. In addition, I'm very passionate about the prospect of Michigan based Universal Single Payer Healthcare. I have many reasons I support this; such as ending healthcare rationing, reducing costs, and providing comprehensive coverage across all specialties. By stabilizing coverage to all Michigan residents, children like my daughter wouldn't have their medical care interrupted, or their meds inadvertently started or stopped. They would be able to focus more on their own health and education, which is necessary to maturing into productive and healthy adults.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[4]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Mark Bignell answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?
| “ | I look up to my father Wilber Bignell. I try to follow his example everyday. He was the type of man who took care of his family, helped his neighbors, stood up for what was righteous, and sacrificed for those he loved. In Stanton Michigan, while people were struggling, he issued store credit for food and essentials to the local community. Although the unpaid balances forced his store to close, he knew it was right to help the community. He never put his own needs before those of his family. As children, we always had new school clothes, hot meals, and a roof over our heads. Looking back, I see a man who ensured this, with limited wages & 2 jobs, by sacrificing his own comforts. I look up to him, not just as his first born son, but as an example of what a good man should be.[4] | ” |
| “ | The most important traits a representative can possess are empathy, compassion, understanding, and humility. Without empathy; you will struggle to relate to those you represent. Without compassion; you will struggle to care about those you represent. Without understanding; you will struggle to see the root causes of problems and their solutions will always evade you. Without humility; you will fail to see, understand, & accept your own failings—leading to stunted personal/professional growth.[4] | ” |
| “ | The legacy I wish to leave, in the wake of my stewardship is a truly reformed Michigan government that is more transparent and accountable to the people. This is by far the most important task I hope to accomplish in Lansing. A government which discloses very little and brandishes it's authority for a vested few; accomplishes very little for the majority it represents. It will be my task to re-empower the people when I'm elected.[4] | ” |
| “ | My first job was at Ionia McDonald's and lasted 5 years. Afterwards, I went back to work for McDonald's a couple other times as well. In all, I've put in almost 8 years to McDonald's.[4] | ” |
| “ | The last song that was stuck in my head was Lions, by Skillet.[4] | ” |
| “ | Michigan's greatest challenges over this decade are rebuilding our roadways, water systems, the Soo Locks, reforming our education system, and reforming our state government.[4] | ” |
| “ | I think it's crucial to develop relationships across all partisan boundaries, in order to remind ourselves of the differing perspectives of the people we represent. It's my core belief we are all people first and we should see ourselves as all belonging to the tribe of humanity first. This is a spirit of unity and comaraderie that I believe has been lacking in Lansing for decades. In restoring it, I believe we can restore responsive representation in Lansing and a renewed sense of common purpose.[4] | ” |
| “ | I prefer the non-partisan independent redistricting commission, favoring redistricting based solely on simple natural district boundaries and focused on keeping districts sensibly sized and closely contested (favoring no one party).[4] | ” |
| “ | When I'm elected, I would like to join the Senate Transportation, Elections and Government Reform, and Education Committees. I feel with the issues I'm advocating for; these three committees would be the places to best advance those causes.[4] | ” |
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Michigan State Senate District 33 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 24, 2022
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Mark Bignell's responses," August 24, 2018
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
Current members of the Michigan State Senate
Senators
District 1
Erika Geiss (D)
District 2
Sylvia Santana (D)
District 3
Stephanie Chang (D)
District 4
Darrin Camilleri (D)
District 5
Dayna Polehanki (D)
District 6
Mary Cavanagh (D)
District 7
Jeremy Moss (D)
District 8
Mallory McMorrow (D)
District 9
Michael Webber (R)
District 10
Paul Wojno (D)
District 11
District 12
Kevin Hertel (D)
District 13
Rosemary Bayer (D)
District 14
Sue Shink (D)
District 15
Jeff Irwin (D)
District 16
Joseph Bellino (R)
District 17
Jonathan Lindsey (R)
District 18
Thomas Albert (R)
District 19
Sean McCann (D)
District 20
Aric Nesbitt (R)
District 21
Sarah Anthony (D)
District 22
Lana Theis (R)
District 23
Jim Runestad (R)
District 24
Ruth Johnson (R)
District 25
Dan Lauwers (R)
District 26
Kevin Daley (R)
District 27
John Cherry (D)
District 28
Sam Singh (D)
District 29
Winnie Brinks (D)
District 30
Mark Huizenga (R)
District 31
Roger Victory (R)
District 32
Jon Bumstead (R)
District 33
Rick Outman (R)
District 34
Roger Hauck (R)
District 35
Vacant
District 36
Michele Hoitenga (R)
District 37
John Damoose (R)
District 38
Ed McBroom (R)
Democratic Party (19)
Republican Party (18)
Vacancies (1)
