On Tuesday, special general elections were held in three House Districts to fill vacant seats.  It is anticipated that the new members will officially be sworn into office next week, once the election results have been certified.

Winning the election for the 75^th House District was Democratic candidate David LaGrand.  Representative-elect LaGrand resides in Grand Rapids with his wife and four children.  He is a private practice attorney, concentrating on family and criminal law. LaGrand graduated from Calvin College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and earned his law degree from the University of Chicago.

In the 80^th House District, Mary Whiteford won the special general election.  Representative-elect Whiteford owns and operates a financial planning firm with her husband, Kevin.  Prior to that, she was a pediatric emergency nurse. Whiteford resides in Casco Township with her husband and has three adult children.

Republican Gary Howell won the open 82^nd House District. Representative-elect Howell resides in North Branch with his wife.  Together, they have three adult children and four grandchildren.  He’s in a farm partnership with his son, John and served as the Township, City, and Village attorney from 1974-2014.  He’s served in several community roles, including past president of the Lapeer County Bar Association, township trustee, school board trustee and president, and chairman of the county road commission.  He is a graduate of Michigan State University and the University of Michigan Law School.

Following Tuesday’s election, there remains one vacant House seat due to the resignation of former-Representative Derek Miller from the 28^th seat after being appointed Macomb County treasurer.  Governor Rick Snyder announced a special primary election will be held on August 2, 2016 and a special general election will be held on November 8, 2016.  The 28^th House District is comprised of a portion of Macomb County, including the city of Center Line and a portion of the city of Warren.  The seat is solidly Democratic, and it’s likely whoever wins the Democratic primary in August will be the next Representative for the district.

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