State Senator Dale W. Zorn has announced he will seek re-election for the Michigan Senate representing District 17 which includes Monroe and Lenawee Counties.
“It has been a humbling honor to serve Monroe and Lenawee counties in the Michigan Senate. Serving has always been about community service. It’s not about politics; it’s about people,” said Zorn. “Escaping the great recession came with hard decisions. After losing 800,000 jobs, suffering the highest unemployment in decades and jobs leaving Michigan, we have put 540,000 people back to work in the private sector, created 123,000 more manufacturing jobs—the most in the United States and reduced unemployment from 14.6 % to 4.7 %.
“Michigan is on the move with six consecutive years of population growth, income growth is the sixth highest in the nation and our business climate is ranked 12th in the nation. Once again, Michigan leads the automotive industry in research, development and manufacturing. Michigan’s commitment to make the state business friendly and competitive is now welcoming back manufacturing and new industry.”
Since the devastating recession, state funding for K-12 education has increased by nearly $1.5 billion, and the infrastructure of roads, bridges, and broadband technologies are seeing record-high funding by state government and the private sector.
“Looking forward to the next four years, the state and local governments must continue to be innovative in the redevelopment of our downtown districts that promote business and jobs such as the PlaneWave project in Adrian. The 17th District has benefited from $70 million of state funding for economic development that has in turn generated $220 million of private investment.”
Other issues Zorn looks forward to continuing working on in the Senate include:
- Development of more career technical education that help provide students with well-paying careers in the skilled trades and provide more opportunities in education options.
- Hardening, securing and safeguarding Michigan schools against violence
- Preserving our state’s natural resources and improving public recreational opportunities, such as the recent funding of the Crystal Waters recreation development in Monroe County
- Furthering environmental safeguards such as the new DEQ policy for the use of agriculture biosolids that will help to protect Michigan waterways and enhance the quality of life for generations to come
- Combating substance abuse and opioid addiction at the grass roots level by getting the bad guy off the streets while recognizing substance abuse as a disease that demands treatment for the good of our society
- Continue to invest additional funding to roads and infrastructure.
“Our state cannot go backward into deficit spending. Setting fiscally responsible balanced budgets on time, paying down debt, reducing long term liabilities and investing in Michigan will continue to keep the state in good financial condition,” Zorn said. “I am convinced that our best days have yet to come, especially with today’s bright and talented youth who will find their pathway to success and meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
Since being in the Legislature, Zorn has introduced 30 bills that have been signed into law, 17 of which have been while in the Senate. Zorn has become known has the “get it done Senator” by his colleagues.
Zorn is Chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee; Vice Chair of the Senate Outdoor and Tourism Committee; member of the Senate Energy and Technology Committee, member of the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Homeland Security Committee, member of the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee, and a member of the subcommittee on The Michigan Merit Curriculum Subcommittee on Education.
Zorn was first elected to the Raisinville Township board in 1980 and served on the Monroe County Board of Commissioners for 20 years. Prior to being elected to the Senate in 2014, Zorn served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2011 to 2014. Zorn and brother Dean Zorn own the family business Zorn’s Service Inc. in Ida.
He is married to his wife Cindy and has four children and 11 grandchildren.
Media in this post courtesy of Michigan State Senator Dale Zorn. Tune into our local and state newscasts, anytime day or night, for this story and more.
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