Paul Clements (D)

Age: 55 years old

Residence: Kalamazoo

Education:

• Harvard University, bachelor’s in social studies (magna cum laude), 1984

• Princeton University, master’s in public affairs, 1992

• Princeton University, doctorate in public affairs, 1996

Professional background: At Western Michigan University I teach national economic development, economic development theory and program evaluation. In the summers I have carried out program evaluations and worked on evaluation systems in the U.S. and around the world. I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Gambia, West Africa, and worked for Action Aid and for the US Agency for International Development in the Gambia.

Political experience: 

• Candidate for Congress

Civic involvement: 

• Member of First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo, where I served on the governing session and chaired the outreach committee.

• Former board member, Michigan United and the Michigan Organizing Project

• Former advisory board member, Dispute Resolution Services of Kalamazoo

• Founding chairperson, Kalamazoo Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice

What will be your top priority if elected to office? I aim to bring new, good-paying jobs here to southwest Michigan. We need to do more to give a hand up to people who have fallen behind and change the policies that benefit only those at the top of our economic pyramid.

What makes you the best candidate for the job? For the last 20 years, I have studied what drives economies and what programs governments and nonprofits should implement to maximize economic growth — those skills are what we need in Congress right now. To do this it is going to take a change. I represent that change.

What professional/political accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?  I am most proud of building academic programs at Western Michigan University that train the next generation of leaders in economic and social development, leaders who can build government and nonprofit programs that are effective, accountable and transparent. Also, contributing to significant improvements in evaluation practice in international development assistance.

What is the biggest challenge our region faces? How would you address it? Our biggest challenge is how to modernize our job growth to create long term, sustainable careers that can’t be sent overseas. To fix this, we need to invest in sectors that are growing and modernize our outdated infrastructure, but we cannot allow Congress to accept unfair trade deals.

Other comments: We need to change the culture in Washington, and that starts by electing new people. For the past 35 or so years, our government has enacted policies that have benefited those at the very top of our economic scale. We have to change this.

 

Fred Upton (R)

Age: 63 years old

Residence: St. Joseph

Education: University of Michigan, bachelor’s degree in journalism, 1975

Professional background:

• Aide to U.S. Congressman David Stockman (1976-1980)

• Office of Management and Budget, 1981-1985

Political experience:

• U.S. House of Representatives

Civic involvement: 

• Southwest Michigan First

• Cornerstone Alliance

• Rotary International

• Honorary degrees from Andrews University and Olivet University

What will be your top priority if elected to office? My top priority will remain bringing in jobs and improving our southwest Michigan economy. Our state has made tremendous progress in the last few years, but more can and should be done to ensure everyone has opportunities to succeed. By working together, we can move our economy forward.

What makes you the best
candidate for the job? I am one who prides myself on listening to all perspectives and have always worked with Republicans and Democrats. Our country is facing enormous problems, no doubt about it, but we won’t get anywhere by finger pointing and passing the buck. We need to work together and achieve real results.

What professional/political accomplishments are you most proud of in your life? Professionally, it would be what we’ve accomplished in our quest to get faster cures to patients in need. In 2015, we got my bipartisan initiative, 21st Century Cures, through the House of Representatives by an overwhelming 344-77 vote. It is currently in the Senate where the prospects look equally promising.

What is the biggest challenge our region faces? How would you address it? The biggest challenge we face is making sure that our region is up to the economic challenges of the 21st century. There is no doubt that we currently live in a global economy and we must be an active participant, from manufacturing to agriculture, in that economy.

Other comments: It is an honor to serve our community as your elected representative to Congress. I have always fought hard for common-sense solutions to problems big and small. And no matter the issue, I’ve always worked hard to represent our values with dignity and a strong work ethic. If re-elected, I will continue to fight hard for southwest Michigan. I ask for your vote on Nov. 8.