Frank LaFata

Frank LaFata earned a high school diploma from Grand Rapids Central High School. He graduated from the Northern Midwest Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters Trade School in 1978.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a retired union carpenter who has lived in MI House District 91 for over 30 years. I am married with 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

I'm running for Michigan House Representative because I firmly believe our current leaders have lost touch with the everyday working men and women. They are too closely aligned with and influenced by large corporations, utility companies and special interests. Unlike my opponent, I do not take money from any of these PACs, -- nor will I ever.

My main concern is that the voices of the people whose hard work and sacrifices have built this country get heard. I've walked in their shoes.

I've worked on many large projects around our state, and I know how to work alongside people from different backgrounds and beliefs to build something that benefits all of us. I've seen innovation in diversity, comradery in equality and strength in inclusion. I'm ready to work together to make thing better for all Michiganders.

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?

We have got to bring down costs and get our economy back on track.

Help farmers get their products to market easier, faster and cheaper by fixing local roads and bridge and encourage grocery stores to buy from local farmers and cut out the middlemen.

We need to consider suspending fuel taxes instead of raising them like my opponent has. We need to investigate fuel pricing policies and lack of competitive pricing.

Let's increase access to affordable public transportation.

Let's make the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share of taxes.Stop talking about healthcare and insurance costs and do something about them.

Require insurance providers to include vision, dental and mental health coverage in their policies and simplify coverage language so you know what you're getting for your buck.

Put medical decisions back into the hands of the doctor and patient. Eliminate red tape and cut down on administrative costs. Reduce pharmaceutical costs across the board.Bring down the cost of housing. I will support measures to encourage the construction of moderately priced housing, such as targeted tax breaks and working with local units of government to see where we can revise zoning laws to allow smaller lot size and multiple housing units and adopt measures to encourage the restoration of vacant land or buildings for additional housing.

I will work to cut bureaucratic red tape and reduce closing costs. Prohibit corporations from buying up family homes and driving up the costs. Support programs to help first time buyers obtain home financing.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

There are several areas of public policy that concern me. We need more help for seniors and veterans, better funding for public schools, widespread public transportation, accessible, affordable and inclusive healthcare, money out of politics, spending limits on political campaigns, a return to DEI, and more, much more government transparency!

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

NMRCC, West MI Pipefitter Union, MDP Rural Caucus, Planned Parenthood, UAW, MI Building and Construction Trades Council, United Steel Workers, MEA, Montcalm, Ionia, Kent and Northeast Kent County Democratic Parties. I have also been identified as a candidate of distinction by Moms Demand Justice and Voters Not Politicians

Note: LaFata submitted the above survey responses to [the profile publisher] on September 22, 2026.

December 26 submission

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a retired Union Carpenter, proud husband, father, and grandfather. With decades of hands on experience, as a Carpenter, and a deep commitment to working-class values, I know what it means to put in an honest day's work. I believe that politicians have lost touch with the people they serve. I am ready to change that. My campaign is built on the simple idea that government should work for everyday folks, not special interests. Whether it is protecting jobs, supporting families, or standing up for rural communities, I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I'm not a career politician, I'm one of you.

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?

As a Representative, we deal with the budget. That hasn't gone so well in the recent past. Current Reps focus too much on how to cut taxes for the wealthy. Our families are being forced to make tough budgetary choices every day. Do they cut their Netflix bill, shop at thrift stores, put in overtime at work, or simply do without?

As a State Rep I will help make tough decisions so the budget is ready on time. My focus will be "how does this decision affect families in the 91st?The 91st District is mostly rural. Farming is valuable to our communities. Family farms are in danger of becoming extinct. We need to get back to making family farms a viable way to raise one's family. If elected I would direct the departments of labor and economics to strengthen programs that keep these farms in the family. Let's make the requirements to farm reasonable, affordable and focused on future generations ability to keep them going.Currently, there is a huge focus on Data Centers and general use of our properties. We have seen water and electricity bills increase dramatically. If Data Centers are truly the billion dollar industry that they claim, why do residents have to pay more? If Data Centers want our water, our data, and our electricity , they should pay for it!

The lives and livelihoods of our farmers, sportsmen/women, children, students, and everyone else who lives in the district will always come first for me.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Policies that focus on Citizen's Bill of Rights.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Frank Lafata. I’m a husband, a father of three,a

resident in district 91, I’m a retired carpenter, and also Democrat. I like to *build things*. It was my job I’ve been a Builder for most of my life, I’ve worked on bridges , power plant, infrastructure all over the state. But I drive around our neighborhood, and I feel like we could be building more. There is so much we need to build! And the funny thing is that the money is there with those infrastructure bills. It’s already been allocated for these big projects. But politicians in Lansing are too busy fighting their big political battles. They’d rather build political brands than bridges! I’m running to actually build things for the people in our community. I want to build roads. I want to build hospitals ,schools and power plants in our district. I just want to build Let’s build these things together! That’s why I’m running for state house of Representative District 91.

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?

I support women’s right to choose and I will fight for those rights!do not support Right to Work. Unions have historically protected the worker and ensured wages and safety benefit the worker. I support a Living Wage and believe the tipped wage undermines a workers ability to improve their economic status. I support protections and access to low income housing and ways to protect individuals from becoming homeless. I support childcare supplements to assist working mothers either through tax incentives or through public/private partnerships so that someone wages are exhausted to pay for safe childcare.I support of public education is critical

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I support the protections currently in place by Michigan to protect water, air and land. I will work with local governments in District 91 to assist them in making local ordinances and zoning tools to ensure the natural resources are protected. Using the Guidebooks offered by Michigan.gov, I will work to educate the local governments and citizens in District 91 for the benefits in protecting and improving conditions in our water, air and land use. I support bringing renewable and efficient energy resources to District 91. Again, educating the citizens of District 91 to the benefits of renewable energy resources is critical.