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Michigan House of Representatives District 5 candidate surveys, 2022
From Ballotpedia
This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Michigan House of Representatives District 5 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 5
Natalie Price defeated Paul Taros in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 5 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Natalie Price (D)  | 78.4 | 30,699 |
 | Paul Taros (R) | 21.6 | 8,481 | |
| Total votes: 39,180 | |||
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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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Natalie Price (D)
We must prioritize education. As a former high school English teacher, I’ve seen how subpar education policy has a direct impact on students’ lives and futures—and how improving funding and policy can benefit kids in every classroom across Michigan. I support increasing per-pupil funding and making our funding models more equitable to boost the most under-resourced schools and students with the greatest needs. I also believe we should implement several recommendations from the School Finance Research Collaborative, including reducing class sizes, holding charter schools to the same standards as public schools, and abolishing for-profit charter schools that divert our valuable tax dollars.
We must protect our environment. My plan for preserving Michigan’s vast natural resources and green spaces includes: investing in renewable energy to promote sustainability and create new, high-quality jobs for Michigan workers; holding corporate polluters accountable for the contamination they cause, making them cover the cost of mitigation, and increasing reporting requirements; increasing staffing and funding for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
We must create intentionally inclusive communities. I will fight for fair wages and affordable health and mental health care for all, including protecting access to abortion care. I will advocate for our legislature to both acknowledge and address disparities in health care and employment among people in protected classes and underserved populations. I will also collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services to draft bills that strengthen the safety net for children, seniors, families and those needing mental health treatment.
We must protect our environment. My plan for preserving Michigan’s vast natural resources and green spaces includes: investing in renewable energy to promote sustainability and create new, high-quality jobs for Michigan workers; holding corporate polluters accountable for the contamination they cause, making them cover the cost of mitigation, and increasing reporting requirements; increasing staffing and funding for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
We must create intentionally inclusive communities. I will fight for fair wages and affordable health and mental health care for all, including protecting access to abortion care. I will advocate for our legislature to both acknowledge and address disparities in health care and employment among people in protected classes and underserved populations. I will also collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services to draft bills that strengthen the safety net for children, seniors, families and those needing mental health treatment.
Paul Taros (R)
The Michigan Strategic Fund and MEDC are responsible for doling out more than $250 million every year and yet was unable to keep Ford from deciding to build two new electric vehicle campuses, one in Tennessee and one in Kentucky. This was despite huge incentives offered by the state. An electric battery plant consumes 5 times more electricity than a traditional factory. Michigan has the highest utility rates in the region and some of the most unreliable service. Let’s end corporate welfare and make Michigan a more desirable place for all businesses to expand and relocate to.
An educated workforce is vital for a thriving economy. 2/3 of high school graduates are not college ready In 2019 Michigan students scored in the bottom third nationwide in math on the National Assessment of Educational Progress tests Experts say early success in mathematics predicts later success in almost all subjects and college. We are spending the most we ever have on educating our children and getting some of the poorest results.
For far too long the State has neglected our infrastructure. We need to make sure we spend the appropriate amount of money each and every year to maintain our infrastructure. In addition, the State needs to get the best value. Longer lasting roads with warranties which utilize new materials should be sought. The same approach should be applied to our bridges, water systems, and broadband.
An educated workforce is vital for a thriving economy. 2/3 of high school graduates are not college ready In 2019 Michigan students scored in the bottom third nationwide in math on the National Assessment of Educational Progress tests Experts say early success in mathematics predicts later success in almost all subjects and college. We are spending the most we ever have on educating our children and getting some of the poorest results.
For far too long the State has neglected our infrastructure. We need to make sure we spend the appropriate amount of money each and every year to maintain our infrastructure. In addition, the State needs to get the best value. Longer lasting roads with warranties which utilize new materials should be sought. The same approach should be applied to our bridges, water systems, and broadband.
Natalie Price (D)
In addition to education, environment, and equity (see above), I am passionate about improving our state’s support of local governments. Current conflicting tax laws (Prop A and Headlee) improperly restrict how local governments can collect the money they need. The state has also diverted $8.6 billion in revenue sharing away from our cities. We must fix this broken system in order to give all our cities the resources they need to provide essential services to our residents.
Paul Taros (R)
The legislature needs to be good stewards of our tax dollars. We need to insure that we are getting the most value for every dollar we spend. If a program is not achieving its intended results we need to eliminate it and try another approach. The idea that every existing program just needs more money to achieve its goals is ridiculous and must stop. Michigan needs to eliminate corporate welfare, improve education, fix our roads and infrastructure, lower energy costs and limit out-of-state students at our universities.
Natalie Price (D)
I lived less than a mile away from my paternal grandparents and was very inspired by my Grandma Marie. She was a former teacher and a realtor, the oldest of nine and raised five boys of her own. Grandma Marie knew everyone in town, their skills/abilities and needs, and her landline was constantly ringing as she connected people with each other and helped solve their problems. She is my model of an effective community organizer – before social media and crowdfunding, Marie’s mental rolodex kept a community going, through good times and bad.
Paul Taros (R)
Ron Paul has always been someone who I admire. His philosophy of a smaller less intrusive government and staying out of foreign entanglements is something America should strive to achieve.
Paul Taros (R)
Honesty and integrity
Natalie Price (D)
We need leaders in Lansing who are well-poised to fight for the issues that matter most. As the only elected official in this race, I provide a clear voice of proven leadership. My voting record reflects our values of equity and inclusion, environmental protections, and support for local businesses. As a former teacher, I will advocate for strong schools throughout our region, ensuring that all districts have the resources they need. And as a mom, I will fight to keep all of our kids safe by fighting for common-sense gun laws and intentionally inclusive communities.
I am grateful for the endorsements and support of Oakland County Treasurer Robert Wittenberg, Former State Senator and State Representative Gilda Jacobs, State Representative Lori Stone, Oakland County Commissioner Charlie Cavell, as well as mayors and fellow city councilmembers/commissioners from throughout our region. I will continue to build community as a trusted leader in Lansing.
Natalie Price (D)
As State Rep, I will advocate on behalf of my constituents in Lansing. I will help craft, lobby, and vote for or against laws according to their impacts on the people and environment in Michigan. I also hope to serve on an appropriations committee because I know that budgets reflect our values, and I want to ensure that the state is allocating resources appropriately.
Paul Taros (R)
I remember the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I was 7 years old at the time
Paul Taros (R)
Worked for my father's janitorial service cleaning offices and performing landscape work. I did this every summer from when I was 16 until I graduated college.
Paul Taros (R)
Atlas Shrugged - because it has so many similarities to what is happening today it is scary. It is a cautionary tale that we seem to be ignoring.
Paul Taros (R)
Highway to Hell
Paul Taros (R)
These are two of the three branches of government designed to keep each branch from overreaching and exceeding their authority. So each branch should have a healthy wariness of each other.
Paul Taros (R)
Our biggest challenge is to foster a great business environment. This would require that we reduce taxes, improve our workforce education, reduce energy costs and improve our roads and infrastructure.
Paul Taros (R)
While it might be easier to get legislation passed, you do not have the healthy checks and balances that you achieve when there are two chambers.
Natalie Price (D)
Yes. As a councilmember for the City of Berkley, I have learned how to research an issue, make a case, build consensus, and move things forward for the benefit of our residents. I understand how to form coalitions between partners with complementary goals, how to get work done despite personal differences, and how to speak up with passion and respect on the issues that matter most. My experience on Berkley City Council has helped prepare me to serve as the state representative for the new House District 5.
Paul Taros (R)
No I do not. We need fresh blood and not career politicians.
Natalie Price (D)
Yes. Since moving to this region in 2015, I have worked hard to build relationships with other community leaders and legislators throughout the region and state. Relationships help us understand the strengths of one individual and connect them to the needs of another, and relationships with fellow leaders enable the same kind of connection on a larger scale. I already have relationships with many legislators in Lansing, and I will use and expand on those connections for the benefit of my constituents and all Michiganders.
Paul Taros (R)
All I can say is the current system created even greater gerrymandered districts than before.
Paul Taros (R)
As a Certified Public Accountant I think my skills would be most beneficial serving on the Tax and/or Budget committees.
Paul Taros (R)
Ron Paul
Natalie Price (D)
I recently connected with Valencia, a Detroit resident in my district who is a full-time caregiver for her adult son. He experienced a traumatic brain injury while serving our country in the Navy. His frequent seizures make it difficult for him to work, and his memory-loss poses a challenge as he tries to navigate the federal and state systems of support. When he ventures out alone, Valencia worries about how he will be treated by police who have had minimal training on the behaviors exhibited by people with her son’s combined disabilities. Valencia has a degree in inclusionary education, and she actively advocates on behalf of her son and others with similar struggles; nevertheless, we need to promote more inclusive systems of support for veterans and their families. We also need to provide more training and resources for local law enforcement so that they can keep all members of their communities safe.
Natalie Price (D)
What did the fish say when she hit a wall?... Dam!
Paul Taros (R)
The legislature should grant this only in the most extreme instances and I do not think that there have been any extreme instances in my lifetime that would warrant granting such powers.
Paul Taros (R)
I will not compromise on my core values. However, I would be willing to take a different approach if we end up achieving the desired goal.
See also
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