Biographical Information
Born: November 3, 1961 in Grand Rapids
Marital Status: Married
Spouse/Partner: Diane VanderWall
Children: Nick and his wife Holly. Alyssa and her husband Aris. and Hunter
Education: Completed high school at East Kentwood; Some College at Grand Rapids Community College Job training for the grocery industry
Employment/Military Record: 20 years in the grocery business first for Eberhards Foods and then for Prevo's Family Market. Store director/supervisor for both. Currently, owner of Turf Care Mole Man, a Ludington-based fertilization/weed control/pest control company.
Community Activities: Currently, hunter safety instructor, snowmobile safety instructor, a volunteer on several United Way boards, and Chair of the Women's Jericho House.
Religion: Christian
Governmental Leadership (Elected or Appointed)
House (1/1/2025 - 12/31/2026)
House Associate Speaker Pro Tempore (1/1/2025 - 12/31/2026)
House (1/1/2023 - 12/31/2024)
Senate (1/1/2019 - 12/31/2022)
Senate Majority Caucus Chair (1/1/2019 - 12/31/2022)
House (1/1/2017 - 12/31/2018)
Other Offices: Past county commissioner since and board chair.
Elections and Political Participation
Michigan House 102nd District 2024
General Vote:
34,218 of 53,639 (63%)
Primary Vote:
10,113 of 10,113 (100%)
Campaign Finance Reports
Endorsements:
ABC of Michigan PAC (general);
County Road Association of Michigan Roads+ PAC;
Detroit Regional Chamber PAC (general);
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce PAC (general);
Great Lakes Education Project;
Michigan Chamber of Commerce;
Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPAC (general);
Michigan Freedom Network;
Michigan Manufacturers Association (general);
Michigan Realtors (primary);
Michigan Retailers Association (general);
National Federation of Independent Business-Michigan;
Right to Life of Michigan PAC;
Small Business Association of Michigan (general)
Michigan House 102nd District 2022
General Vote:
26,690 of 43,700 (61%)
Primary Vote:
8,455 of 14,441 (58%)
Campaign Finance Reports
Endorsements:
ABC of Michigan PAC;
County Road Association of Michigan Roads+ PAC (primary);
Detroit Regional Chamber PAC (primary);
Great Lakes Education Project;
Michigan Association for Justice;
Michigan Chamber of Commerce;
Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPAC;
Michigan Freedom Network;
Michigan Manufacturers Association;
Michigan Realtors;
Michigan Retailers Association;
National Federation of Independent Business-Michigan (primary);
Property Management Association of Michigan PAC (primary);
Right to Life of Michigan PAC;
Small Business Association of Michigan
Michigan Senate 35th District 2018
General Vote:
73,688 of 116,642 (63%)
Primary Vote:
19,713 of 40,276 (48%)
Endorsements:
Right to Life of Michigan (blanket endorsement), County Road Association of Michigan, Detroit Regional Chamber PAC
Michigan House 101st District 2016
General Vote:
27,852 of 51,571 (54%)
Primary Vote:
7,100 of 12,121 (58%)
Campaign Finance Reports
Endorsements:
Michigan Freedom Network, Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPac Committee, Right to Life of Michigan (joint endorsement with one other candidate in Republican primary), Builders and Contractors of Michigan PAC; Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Association of Michigan, National Rifle Association, Michigan Manufacturers Association, Michigan Agri-Business Association AGRI-BIZ PAC, Michigan Realtors RPAC, MiBank PAC, the County Road Association of Michigan RUSH-PAC
