Jim Haadsma

Jim Haadsma previously served on the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

State Representative Jim Haadsma is a native of Muskegon who has lived in Battle Creek since 1994. In his 36 years as a lawyer specializing in labor relations and workers' compensation, Jim has always fought for hardworking people and their families to ensure equal opportunity for all.

Since taking office in January 2018, Jim has worked to bring the voices and concerns of HD62 to Lansing and serve the district's immediate needs at home.

In response to COVID-19, Jim and his staff have reliably helped constituents resolve snags in unemployment compensation claims processing and clarify confusion in Governor Whitmer's emergency orders and federal initiatives such as the Paycheck Protection Program.

With Jim's decades of experience in unemployment law, dedication to serving on the board of vital local community organizations, the experience of raising his kids in Battle Creek, and time spent volunteering in the district, he's deeply engaged in the community and knows how to tackle the challenges at hand.

Jim is the son of foreign missionaries and spent a good portion of his early years in Africa. He returned to Michigan to attend college and law school. He has four grown children, all of whom have gone through Battle Creek's public schools from K-12, with the youngest still in college in the district at Albion. Prior to running for office, Jim served as a member of the Calhoun County Board for four terms, and he still serves on numerous boards and committees.

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?

Jim has spent his whole life -- as a lawyer specializing in labor relations and workers' compensation and as a public official -- focused on making sure everyone has an equal shot at success.Jim understands our district's economic struggles. Jobs are disappearing, the leftover jobs are paying less, public schools are underfunded, and health care is unaffordable for many. Jim has worked to improve the lives of people in his district for decades and he isn't stopping now. Jim works tirelessly to help his constituents. No only by focusing his office on constituent services during this pandemic but also by regularly volunteering within his community.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Creating Jobs and Economic Equity

Everyone should have access to good-paying jobs that allow them to earn a good living, raise a family, and retire. COVID-19 has only made this more difficult. Jim will help our community safely return to work and get the support they need until they can do so.

Fighting for Equal Education

COVID-19 has set our children months behind in their education. But even before this pandemic, our schools faced challenges. I will work to ensure our public schools are adequately funded to meet these challenges and teachers are paid the competitive salaries they deserve.

Investing in Affordable Health Care

Medical treatment is costly, and many can't afford deductibles or copays. Medicaid has provided lifesaving coverage for our community. I will fight to expand Medicaid coverage and ensure everyone has access to affordable, quality care.

Haadsma's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[5]

Jobs and Economy

Despite the rosy economic forecasts, anyone who has truly spent time in the 62nd House District knows that our middle-class families are hurting. Our tax credits have evaporated, our small businesses are shrinking and parents with young children wonder how they’ll be able to afford sending their kids to college. While families struggle to make ends meet, Lansing politicians are giving tax breaks to big corporations, meaning that Michigan’s economy is only working for the wealthy and well-connected. Calhoun County needs someone willing to stand up for its families, who will make sure that we’re bringing quality jobs with good wages and benefits back into the district. As your state representative, I will fight to protect the middle class and rebuild our economy.

Education

When it comes to schooling, it is important to remember that not only do we want to see our children learn and grow, we’re also helping to train Michigan’s workforce of tomorrow. That’s why it’s important that we provide quality education to our children at every available opportunity, from pre-school to graduation, paving the way toward the bright future they all deserve. This also includes supports for higher education, whether it means going to a traditional four-year university or finding the down payment for a vocational program. As your state representative, I will be committed to protecting the right of every child and young adult to find and receive the world-class education they need to help make them the leaders of tomorrow.

Infrastructure

It’s no secret that Michigan’s roads and bridges are collapsing. The roads plan signed into law in 2015 will barely make a dent in the list of massive repairs needed, and will not even be fully funded until 2021. As we’ve also seen with the Flint water crisis, it is not merely our transportation infrastructure that is crumbling. It’s time for us to heavily invest in these projects, as they will not only create jobs today, but ensure the health and safety of Michigan residents tomorrow. As your state representative, I will make repairing and improving these vital infrastructure components a top priority.[6]