About Lance

I am not a politician; I am a teacher, a parent, a grandfather, and a citizen of the State of Michigan and this great country!  I am an individual who understands firsthand the hardships being faced by most families, having being laid off from my teaching position, while at the same time still paying for my mortgage, my college loans and most importantly providing for my family. I understand the day to day stresses that effect everyday working people, because I am one.

I was born and raised in Lansing and graduated from Lansing Eastern High School in 1987. My father was a combat-wounded WWII Veteran, Lansing Police Officer and Small Business owner; my mother was an elementary teacher in the Waverly Public Schools for 37 years. Both of my parents provided examples of a strong foundation and belief in public service, and most importantly, doing what was right and fair.

I have been an activist in Democratic politics for many years, running for state office in 1998. Since running as a candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives in 1998, I continued my education; earning Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Secondary Education, from Lake Superior State University and a Masters degree in Special Education from Michigan State University, which included certification in both Learning Disabilities and Emotional Impairments.

In 2009, after working for a local school district as their Alternative Education Director/Instructor, I was laid off. The following year, while contemplating leaving Michigan for a teaching position elsewhere, I was presented with the greatest honor, privilege, and challenge that anyone could ever ask for. In June 2010, after the filing deadline, the Democratic Candidate for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District abruptly dropped out of the race, although his name still remained on the November ballot due to Michigan election law rules. As a result of this unprecedented situation, only two remedies were possible; the original candidate must register to vote in another state or someone could run as a “write-in” candidate.

As the weeks went by, it was apparent the original candidate was not going to register in another state, and there was no public discussion of anyone deciding to wage a write in campaign.  The idea that any candidate would run unopposed flies directly in the face of the Democratic process, and as someone who has taught the subject of Government to our young people, I could not in good conscience sit back and do nothing. So, in July of 2010, I filed as a write in candidate and began the adventure that has not stopped!  We ran a grass-roots write-in campaign, with a bare bones staff and no money. But, I had a good pair of shoes and the desire to make a difference. Every single person on our staff was a volunteer, freely donating their time and energy because they believed in the Democratic process and the people of Michigan’s 8th Congressional District. After receiving thousands of write-in votes in the primary, we were appointed the Democratic Candidate for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District when the former candidate finally did register to vote in another state. Even though we came up short in the November election, my staff and I were proud of the campaign we ran, and will be forever grateful to the thousands of people we met along the way, people who supported us as we traveled to each and every city in the 8th District.

Since the 2010 election, Michigan and the United States have continued to suffer.  We have the highest levels of unemployment since the Great Depression. Our educational system is failing our youth. Greed and corruption are destroying our natural resources. The wealthy pay less of a percentage in taxes than the working class while our leaders, Mike Rogers included, continue to balance the budget on the backs of the middle class, all the while offering even more incentives and subsidies to the already wealthy, and cutting the programs working and poor people depend on..

This is why I am continuing my fight for the working families and small business owners in Michigan who have been left behind and are continually asked  to carry the burden of our struggling economy brought on by the corrupt forces of Wall Street and Corporate America, who are not asked to contribute at all. Where is the sense of vision and leadership that made our country the greatest in the history of the world? We certainly have not received such from Mike Rogers for the past eleven years. I am willing to bring new and progressive ideas to the table, and have no interest in waiting for a public opinion poll or party leaders to tell me what to do; it is about doing the right thing, not the popular one! Over the winter I have been fighting side by side with working families and labor in Michigan to stop the Republican/corporate oppression that is sweeping across our country.  I have not been fighting from an office, or from behind a press release, but instead have been in the trenches, along with the working men and women of Michigan, and that is where I will always be!

The problems facing Michigan and America are serious and still remain; I pledge to lead by example and to stand up against everything that is wrong with our political process. I am not afraid to make the hard decisions that are needed, and will never forget who I represent. I want to be a voice of the people and not the special interests. Money should not be the dominant influence on our political process, it is imperative that we get back to the root of our great American experiment called Democracy. I am a free thinker who believes in doing the right thing, all the time. If given the privilege and honor to serve the People of Michigan and this great country of ours, it is my goal to bring integrity back to the office and do what is in the best interest of ALL people.

This is why I am running to be the next Congressman from Michigan’s 8th Congressional District in 2012!

The words “can't” and “impossible” do not exist in my vocabulary—this is America; anything is possible!  I will continue with my last breath to carry on these values!

Lance is our chance!

Education:

• BS Political Science- Lake Superior State University 1994.
• BS Social Studies/Secondary Education Certification - Lake Superior State University 2003.
• M.A. Special Education with a concentration in Learning Disabilities and Emotional Impairments- Michigan State University- 2010.

Employment

• Agriculture: worked on Bison, Elk and Christmas tree farms in Northern Michigan.
• Managed numerous Small Businesses.
• Restaurant & Hospitality industry experience.
• Non-Profit experience: Director of Cheboygan County Family Resource Center.
• Corporate experience in both the Automotive and Telecommunications industries.
• Special Education and Alternative Education Teacher, Coach, Mentor and Student Advocate.