PORTAGE — U.S. Rep. Fred Upton’s campaign announced that Portage Mayor Pete Strazdas will serve as his campaign chairman and Kalamazoo County Treasurer Mary Balkema will serve as the Upton Kalamazoo County chairwoman.
“Fred Upton’s commitment to growing our local economy to create jobs and working with the whole community to enhance the quality of life in southwest Michigan is unparalleled. Fred fights for hard-working taxpayers, listens to our concerns and supports our community, and I am delighted to chair his re-election campaign,” Strazdas said.
“I am honored to serve as Fred’s county chair. He has worked hard for his constituency and continues to serve the citizens of the 6th District well. I really appreciate his work on the fight against Obamacare, cutting trillions in spending and increasing American energy production to lower gas prices,” Balkema said.
“I am grateful to receive the active support of Mayor Pete Strazdas and Treasurer Mary Balkema, two Kalamazoo County leaders who care deeply about our community and making southwest Michigan the best place to raise a family, work and grow a business,” said Upton, R-Mich.
“I will continue leading the charge to encourage economic growth and job creation by working to repeal the government takeover of health care, and cut trillions in spending to move toward a balanced budget.”

and increase American energy production to lower gas prices and make us energy independent.”