Velasquez running for state Senate, challenging Glenn, Kelly
MIDLAND, Mich. — Christian Velasquez will run for the state Senate seat representing the newly-created 35th District, which includes parts of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties. Mr. Velasquez joins current State Rep. Annette Glenn and former State Rep. Tim Kelly in vying for the Republican nomination. Former Greater Midland CEO Kristen McDonald Rivet is running as Democrat. The primary election is Aug. 2.
Locally, Mr. Velasquez’s entry in the race pits Midland’s establishment bloc against the rising populism of the Glenn family. Mr. Velasquez is a retired Dow and Dow Corning executive. His wife, Jenee, is executive director at the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. He is active in partisan politics, serving as a precinct delegate in Ward 3’s third precinct for the Republican Party and on the executive committee of the Midland County G.O.P.
“I love this new district. It is my chosen home. I want to see it succeed, I believe in the people, and I think our possibilities are great and our future is brighter,” Mr. Velasquez, who goes by ‘Chris,’ said in a press release issued by his campaign.
Mr. Velasquez’s campaign says that he “values limited government and will work to promote freedom and self-governance at every opportunity.”
“He will also grow economic strength in the region; as a business owner Chris understands the red tape that governments produce to get in the way of a business’s success and will tirelessly work to remove barriers to make success more attainable for all community members. Chris is also a strong supporter of education, which allowed he and his wife to pursue prosperity through hard work and dedication to their strong conservative values,” the release said.
Mr. Velasquez was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder, and re-appointed twice by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, to the MiSTEM Advisory Council, where he serves as co-chair. The council makes recommendations to legislators in order to “help make Michigan a world leader in STEM education.”
Michael Westendorf is the chairman and executive editor of Chemical City Paper. As Executive Editor, he leads the City Paper’s news coverage and editorial team.