Michigan House of Representatives District 38 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Michigan, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Michigan House of Representatives District 38 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 38

Joey Andrews defeated Kevin Whiteford in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 38 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joey Andrews (D)	51.8	21,757
		Kevin Whiteford (R)	48.2	20,252

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,009
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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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.

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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?

Joey Andrews (D)

A common and urgent problem for coastal communities is the rising water levels. Homes have fallen into the lake, basements are constantly flooding, water is standing in yards or fields, and backed-up sewer systems are flooding the streets. High water levels and erosion in our area affect the people who live in these communities and threaten small businesses that rely on the tourism of Lake Michigan. New infrastructure is needed to handle these issues, from replacing pipes and upgrading sewer system

Affordable Housing has become a critical issue in our communities. Much of this has been driven by the explosion of the short-term rental industry which has sent prices spiraling upwards and broken up neighborhoods and communities. Our local communities need to be able to retain control to properly regulate this industry and we must pass new laws to give the municipalities more tools

While tourism has brought many benefits, investments, and prosperity to our region; the scales have since tipped too far. The tourism and service industry do not provide sustainable middle class jobs to our residents seeking to live here year round and raise a family. We must work to rebalance the scales and work to bring more permanent jobs and opportunities to our residents. This starts with bringing the skilled trades back to our high schools, providing training to students and offering them a pathway to good paying careers with benefits that built our middle class in the first place.

Kevin Whiteford (R)

Kevin is a CPA with a Masters in Taxation & has been a successful businessman for over 35 years. He understands the effect of rising inflation and taxes and will work to strengthen communities while working with small businesses of the district by ensuring that everyone can keep more of their hard earned money.

To protect our community, Kevin knows it is essential to back our brave men and women of law enforcement. Kevin will also prioritize measures to keep our most volnerable populations safe such as the unborn, victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.

Kevin understands the ways that the pandemic has changed many facets of our lives. Just like for his own family, Kevin is ready to work hard to make positive change through conservative legislation, empowering our communities for today and future generations.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Joey Andrews (D)

I am passionate about labor policy, particularly repealing right to work and strengthening our labor unions while protecting working people and giving them the fair shot at raising their families and retiring with dignity. I am passionate about energy policy, particularly expanding renewable and sustainable energy sources. I am also passionate about civil rights and criminal justice, this includes expanding Elliott Larsen, enshrining protections for a woman’s right to choose, and fixing a broken criminal justice system that focuses more on punishment than rehabilitation.

Kevin Whiteford (R)

1. Helping the small busineeses in the 38th District of the State of Michigan, so that they can focus on what they do best, their businesses and taking care of their families. This will include working on reducing the individual income tax burden as well as regulations placed on the owners on a daily basis.

2. Empowering the Next Generation population (our children and grandchildren) so that they have the right to gather freely in groups and talk business or political views they may have, and being allowed to openingly pray in public when they wish to.

3. Support the men and women in Law enforcement so that they can get back to what they love to do and that is to assist the people of their communities.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Joey Andrews (D)

The first historical event I can clearly remember is the Oklahoma City Bombing, I was about 7 years old.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Joey Andrews (D)

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Joey Andrews (D)

Here Ever After - Red Hot Chili Peppers

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Joey Andrews (D)

Michigan sits on the largest freshwater body in the world. Our challenge for the next decade is protecting and preserving these natural resources while rebuilding our infrastructure and preparing for the future.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Joey Andrews (D)

Absolutely. Other legislators are your coworkers, and no laws are written in isolation. Different perspectives are important, and being able to work collaboratively to achieve goals that benefit not just my constituents, but the entire state cannot be achieved by me alone. I look forward to building relationships with my future colleagues as we work to make Michigan a better state.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Joey Andrews (D)

I favor independent redistricting commissions for redistricting. I strongly believe that politicians and parties shouldn’t have control or final say over the districts they represent. I do believe they should have an equal voice at a table of citizens who can evaluate the information and create districts that seek to achieve fairness.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Joey Andrews (D)

What did the fish say when it hit the wall?

Dam

See also

More about these elections:

• Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2022

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