Ken Heuvelman

Ken Heuvelman was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from Linden High School. He attended Michigan State University, earned a graduate degree from Montana State University, Billings in 2016, and a graduate degree from Walden University in 2022. His career experience includes working as a counselor.[1]

Heuvelman has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]

Port Huron Odyssey House

St. Clair County Advisory Board of Health

St. Clair County Community Services

Ad Populum Consulting & Counseling

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Ken Heuvelman lives in Port Huron with his fiancée and their two sons. Professionally, he is a Limited License Professional Counselor, Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and Certified Clinical Supervisor. He works as the SUD Family Support Program Supervisor with Professional Counseling Center in Port Huron and as Coordinator for MORT, or Mobile Overdose Response Team, across St. Clair County with Port Huron Odyssey House. He has been working in the behavioral health field for over ten years including outpatient SUD services and inpatient psychiatric care. He has a Masters in Psychology from Montana State University-Billings and a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. In the community, Mr. Heuvelman works as an advocate for the expansion of access to behavioral health treatment and for innovative approaches to reduce the community impact of opioid overdose. Ken is also the Chair of the St. Clair County Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery workgroup, and is a member of the St. Clair County Health Department’s Advisory Board, is part of the PHPD’s Chief’s Community Resource Champions, and worked on three separate workgroups with MDHHS to redesign Child Protective Services

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 stand for social and fiscal responsibility in government by doing things that both benefits the people of Michigan while using financially sound decision making.Evidence based decision making is fundamental in making sure that legislation is useful and likely to have the intended impact.We must continue to protect our individual rights and work to keep the actions of small interest groups out of legislation. While doing this we need to respect the freedoms of those small groups, within the scope of the law, while not forcing those beliefs onto others.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally passionate about taking steps to repair our broken mental health system, developing high speed rail infrastructure, protecting reproductive rights, and making sure that the beauty of Michigan is conserved for our future generations.

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

Being named after both of my grandfather's is something that has led me to look up to both of them and realize that I have a responsibility to honor their names. My paternal grandfather Ken Heuvelman worked as a special education educator and advocate into his 70s and instilled a straightforward and responsible way of living. My middle name of Shine comes from my maternal grandfather Neal Shine who was a two-time publisher of the Detroit Free Press. He showed me the importance of looking beyond the surface to find the facts and the reason behind things, he also demonstrated the need for ethical standards, even if what you find out or have to report isn't the way that you wish it were. In the past the pressure from feeling like I have to live up to these two great men was difficult, but as I've found my way through life I have come to understand that pressure is often self imposed.

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

As a counseling professional I use an existential orientation based on Irvin Yalom's "Existential Psychotherapy". A film that resonated with me at an early age was The Big Lebowski, this movie showed me that the climb to the top of the corporate ladder was a choice, that one can simply exist at a more basic level and be content with their life that others may not understand or look down upon. Both of these helped me learn to not take life too seriously and to remember your own role in the outcomes of your life.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, and a desire to do the research necessary to make informed decisions.

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

The core responsibilities of an elected official include listening to their constituents. An elected official is not a special individual, they are a selected as a representative of a group of citizens. Losing sight of this means losing sight of the mission. Another core responsibility is to act in the best interest of the majority, not of those who are loudest, pushiest, or most like themselves.

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

The first historical event that I can recall would be the Waco siege/massacre on the Branch Davidians. It happened just two days before my 11th birthday and I can remember seeing it all over the news. I remember not understanding what was going on but just that it didn't seem right from either point of view and I was unable to understand how it could come to a conclusion the way it did.

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

My very first job was working at a family friend's farm stand over summer breaks while in middle school.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

As a young adult male in the early 2000s, I had multiple broken bones from skiing. This led to me being prescribed large amounts of opiates. I spent many years in an unhealthy state mentally due to continually making unwise choices and I began to use opiates as a way to escape my unpleasant feelings. This led to me seeking treatment in 2009. Today I am a person in long-term recovery. I am no longer ashamed of my past decisions and realize that they have provided me with more compassion, empathy, and a broader understanding of the world. I pull from these experiences both professionally and personally in order to continue to make a difference in both my life, and the life of others who also struggle with substance use disorders.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

I feel the next big challenges we face will involve the impact of climate change on our natural resources, our failing transportation infrastructure, and the likely negative consequences from legalized sports betting and online casino expansion.

Tell us your favorite joke.

I cannot think of a favorite joke, but can only recommend that you go find the comedy genius that was Mitch Hedberg

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

I don't support the use of emergency powers in the majority of situations. Could there be instances where it is necessary, possibly but only in extreme and rare circumstances. I feel that if these powers are used there needs to be an immediate plan for how they will be terminated and what the plan is to return to normal.

What committees interest you?

Committees: Health Policy; Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation; Transportation, Mobility, and Infrastructure

Subcommittees: Behavioral Health; Health and Human Services; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; Transportation

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe that financial transparency and government accountability are absolutely necessary. With the growing number of people mistrusting the government, the best way to help regain trust, and credibility, is to let the people see where their money is going and how it is being utilized. I also believe the recent enacting of financial disclosure for PACs and Candidates is a positive step towards helping voters know whether they're voting for a candidate or a lobbyist.