Republican Mary Whiteford heads to Lansing as the 80th District’s new House representative.
Whiteford maintained an early lead among Allegan and Ottawa County residents. She ended the evening with close to two-thirds of the vote, according to unofficial election results.
The Casco Township Republican and vice chair of the Allegan County GOP also serves on the Ottawa-Allegan County Human Trafficking Task Force and Allegan County Mental Health Authority among other commitments.
She says her first priority is being an advocate for her community.
"And then I want to be a voice for so many people, to set legislative priorities. Our judges, our prosecutors, our sheriffs’ departments dealing with community mental health and drug addiction and human trafficking."
"There’s so many things that we need to address in our county, and I really want to be that liaison and that conduit for them."
Whiteford ran against Democratic candidate David Gernant and Libertarian Arnie Davidsons.
She’s previously worked as a nurse and owns a financial planning business with her husband.
The seat became vacant after Cindy Gamrat’s expulsion following news of an affair and cover-up with fellow former lawmaker Todd Courser.
Whiteford will serve the remainder of Gamrat's term.
