Betsy Coffia

Betsy Coffia earned an associate degree from Northwestern Michigan College and a bachelor's degree in social work from Ferris State University. Coffia's career experience includes working as a newspaper reporter, a weekly newspaper editor, and a social worker with Head Start. She has been affiliated with the Grand Traverse Economic Development Corporation, Grand Traverse Leelanau Veterans Affairs, the Grand Traverse County Democratic Party, the Leelanau County Democratic Party, the Benzie County Democratic Party, the Michigan Democratic Party, and the Traverse Heights Neighborhood Association.[1][2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a Grand Traverse County Commissioner. In 2018 I flipped a seat held by a multi-term Republican incumbent by nearly 57% of the vote, and became the first Democratic woman elected to my Republican majority board in over 3 decades.

I grew up in a working class family in Kalkaska County. My mom is self-employed cleaning houses, and around age 11 I helped her clean homes. I’ve carried the work ethic she instilled into me with everything I do. I worked 3 jobs to put myself through college, and my professional background is in journalism and social work which has given me a nuanced perspective of the issues that folks in Northern Michigan face.

My family worked hard but couldn’t afford health insurance or regular medical care. I’m 44 now and too many families still can’t access needed care, and struggle to make ends meet.

I’m running because our elected leaders must do more to ensure all Michiganders enjoy life with dignity and opportunity. We need accountable and experienced leaders who have built long standing relationships in Northern Michigan and understand firsthand the challenges that those in our communities face. I believe that I am that candidate.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

A sense of community and functioning economy are intrinsically connected in Northern Michigan. We must address critical issues like housing; access to quality mental and physical healthcare; an expansion of rural broadband; and the necessity of a living wage. As someone who grew up in a working class family, I'm keenly aware of the struggles-- and possible solutions.There is no better voice for natural resources than representatives from Northern Michigan. Our economy and sense of place are defined by shorelines, fresh waterways, forests, farms and orchards. I want the 103rd to be seen as a leader in Michigan in clean energy, healthy drinking water for all, protecting the Great Lakes, and addressing climate change, one community at a time.As a social worker who served Head Start families of young children and 5 home and center based childcare centers in Benzie, Leelanau and Grand Traverse, I've seen firsthand the importance of funding early childhood education. I want to ensure our public school educators have the resources they need, and that students have access to mental and physical health care. As right wing extremists attack the foundational principles of public education funded by the DeVos family, I commit to standing with educators, students and families to ensure the highest quality education possible.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare - every person no matter their zip code, race, or wealth should be able to go to the doctor when they are sick without fearing financial ruin. We have a moral obligation to solve this issue, as most developed nations have done.

Voting Rights and Democracy - my grandfather and his 5 brothers fought fascism in WWII. They and millions of our predecessors served so that we could have greater freedom and democracy. I consider it a family honor to continue that work today and push back against the anti-democratic extremism that has seen a dangerous rise in the last few years.

Childcare - Removing barriers to families having quality childcare, no matter their income.

Reproductive freedom and privacy. Period.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

In the context of Michigan politics, former Gov. Bill Milliken, Republican of Michigan because he and his wife Helen were true public servants with deep integrity. I wish the current Republican party would follow their example. Bill was strong on the environment, standing up to corporate bullies and pro choice as was Helen. They are from where I live now and beloved for many reasons.

Shirley Chisolmn’s Unbought and Unbossed approach to politics is also very inspiring to me.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"To be of use" by Marge Piercy:

The people I love the best

jump into work head first

without dallying in the shallows

and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.

They seem to become natives of that element,

the black sleek heads of seals

bouncing like half-submerged balls.

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,

who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,

who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,

who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge

in the task, who go into the fields to harvest

and work in a row and pass the bags along,

who are not parlor generals and field deserters

but move in a common rhythm

when the food must come in or the fire be put out.

The work of the world is common as mud.

Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.

But the thing worth doing well done

has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.

Greek amphoras for wine or oil,

Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums

but you know they were made to be used.

The pitcher cries for water to carry

and a person for work that is real.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

We have an obligation inherent in the term ‘public service’ to always center our communities, rather than using politics for our own personal gain, power and self interest. We should be centering especially those in our communities most often harmed by systems flaws or outright failures and being guided by their needs for change; lifting the least of these lifts all and makes our community and world a better place.

We have an obligation to act in ways that are honorable and ethical, and I believe we owe transparency to our people since we are acting on their behalf as public servants.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like the people who know me to know I am a hard worker and a fighter for justice and life with dignity for all of my neighbors regardless of age, race, income level, zip code etc. I hope people see me as tenacious, strategic, collaborative and committed to acting in an ethical honorable way. And I hope they will see me as having made true impact with this one “wild and precious life” as poet Mary Oliver calls it.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

9/11. I was 24 years old and helping lay out the front page of our weekly newspaper. I remember the front cover was a photo I’d taken of a beautiful golf course and people peacefully playing their game and how jarring that was next to images of the towers falling.

I walked across the street to a barber shop to find a TV and stood with the barber and watched. Then I called my sister who lived in Chicago frantic to find out if she was okay because all I could think was they might target other places with skyscrapers.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

As an adult my first job was a reporter for a weekly newspaper in northern Michigan. Within a year or so I was promoted to editor and served as a reporter then editor for 6 years. I won Michigan Press Association awards every year for my work in multiple categories.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

It can be very beneficial, but should not be a barrier to entry.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

We have many but a huge challenge is to address the rise in political violence and conspiracy theory driven undermining of our vote that threatens our civil order entirely. When we have violent groups plotting kidnapping of our own Governor, showing up with guns outside our Secretary of State’s home where she was with her young children and local election workers, health officials, school board members etc. facing violent threats and acts, we have a fundamental problem that must be addressed if we are to see progress on any others. When we have open Big Lie believers who refuse to accept the 2020 presidential outcome running for our top state elected positions and Big Lie conspiracy theorists actively coordinating to try to disrupt and undermine the 2022 and 2024 elections, we have a 5 alarm crisis of democracy.

I have been horrified to see both local electeds and state legislators including the Republican state representative now running for the 103rd House seat, use their positions of authority to fan these flames of misinformation, conspiracy theories and nod and wink at extremist groups that embrace political violence. This disqualifies them from serving in any level of public office.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Shirley Chisolm, Bill Milliken.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, as it is in life. We are constantly navigating relationships with other humans and any of us trying to insist on getting exactly what we want at all times is immature and toddler-worthy.

I was the only woman and first Democratic woman elected to my county commission in over 3 decades back in 2018, on a board of 5 Republicans. I’ve had repeated success in finding local issues on which I can team up with a Republican member of our board whether it is advocating for victims of auto accidents and the impact of a no fault insurance decision, or standing up for a free press after one of our area reporters was physically attacked at an anti mask rally, or getting my board to unanimously approve Hazard Pay for our health department in 2020. That took 3 tries and it failed the first 2 when I put it forward; it was after I reached out and teamed up with a longtime R member of the board to address his questions then put it forward with him, that it passed.

However, the balance to compromise in policymaking is knowing your own personal values and bright lines. Remembering who you’re there to work for because it is not lobbyists or big dollar corporate donors. In politics, especially with so many forces wanting you to conform to broken and even corrupt systems, and so much ‘normalcy’ around doing so, it is vitally important to know where you cannot cross without giving up something fundamental to the kind of leader you want to be. This requires regular gut checks and is essential to be able to navigate modern politics with integrity.

Coffia's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[13]

Money in politics

Excerpt: "I stand for accountable, honest public service. I am running to be your State Representative because I grew up here and the issues that affect our community affect me too. I know that it is not enough to recognize problems. We need to elect people who are truly accountable to US, the citizens of Grand Traverse County, not party bosses and special interest donors. That is why I will champion campaign finance reform and accountable government in the State House. We need people who work for us, and no one else."

Clean air and clean water

Excerpt: "A high-quality environment is vital for the health and well-being of ourselves, our families, and our future. Our current representative has not acted to protect the Great Lakes which risks our community’s security, including our economy. I believe it is time to take responsibility for protecting our way of life."

Safe and modern infrastructure

Excerpt: "Michigan has some of the worst roads in the country. Failing roads & bridges risk the safety of our families, while damage to our vehicles from endless potholes harms our budgets with yet another expense. Lansing’s neglect of our infrastructure also discourages badly needed economic investment in our state when companies see how poorly we maintain the infrastructure they need as they decide whether to create jobs and invest here. I am committed to multi-pronged solutions and to finally closing the gap between the roads we have and the roads we need."

Investing in our children

Excerpt: "Every child in our community deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and that starts with high quality public education. As every parent knows, there is no such thing as a standardized child. Art, music, science, and plenty of 1:1 attention from professional educators are all crucial if we are to truly invest in our children. I am committed to public education policy that helps all our children succeed."

Coffia's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[14]

Let's Make Politics about People.

Excerpt: "It's time that our politics works for those of us who don't have a million dollars to spare and who cannot hire an army of lobbyists."

A Stronger Economy

Excerpt: "Breaking barriers to economic growth through investment in long-lasting roads, bridges, and technology upgrades"

A Stronger Community

Excerpt: "Protecting our natural resources and quality of life"

Real Representation for Your Priorities

Excerpt: "We know there is too much money in politics. Betsy believes politics is about people, not money. This principle is the foundation of the campaign. Betsy is doing her part by not accepting donations from anyone other than individual voters. I am not in anyone's pocket. "