Representative Sue Allor (R-Wolverine) was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2016.  She represents the 106^th House District, which includes Alcona County, Alpena County, Iosco County, Presque Isle County, and a portion of Cheboygan County.

Representative Allor previously served three terms as a Cheboygan County Commissioner.  She has worked as a nurse in several hospital units including maternity, surgical, and cardiac step-down and was actively involved at her children’s schools, including volunteering as a coach and a mentor to students.  Today, she and her husband own and operate a small collision repair business.  Representative Allor earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Detroit-Mercy and a Master of Business Administration from Lawrence Technological University.  She’s been married for forty years to Pat, together they have three children and three grandchildren.

Representative Allor serves on the House Appropriations Committee.  In addition, she serves on the following Appropriations Subcommittees: Natural Resources (Chair), Health and Human Services (Majority Vice Chair), General Government, School Aid and Michigan Department of Education, and Military and Veterans Affairs.

1. What attracted you to running for the Legislature?

The decision to run for the Legislature was a process that began months before making my formal announcement. As a Cheboygan County Commissioner assigned to a variety of boards and committees, I realized how individuals, departments, and agencies were impacted by decisions made at upper levels of government – decisions that resulted in some type of impact – sometimes negative, sometimes positive. I wanted to play a larger role in that process by taking the knowledge I gained here at home to Lansing, and serving the people of my District.

2. When did you first realize you wanted to be a Dem/GOP? 

The realization that I aligned most closely with the GOP occurred in my mid-twenties, when I began working full- time, became involved in the small business my husband formed and became a parent. Conservative values that I had grown up with began to emerge and solidify as the responsibilities of adulthood became a reality. There was an “awakening” that hard work and determination were the drivers to achieving goals, the government bureaucracy of “rules, regulations, and taxation” placed burdens on the taxpayer and small business owners, and that children were the responsibility of the parent not the government.

a. What attributes of your party do you most identify with?

The attributes of the Republican Party that I most closely identify with are what most individuals in Northeast Michigan identify with – I am Conservative, Pro-Life, Pro-Business, and Pro-Second Amendment. I also believe that we need to reduce the size of government, and that we need fewer social welfare programs. We need to empower local communities and the people, and remove the burdens big government often places on them.

3. What individuals from your community have shaped and prepared you to be a legislator?

I can’t say that it’s been specific individuals from the community who have “shaped and prepared” me to be a legislator but rather, the people within the community, the people within the District, and life experiences. Many conversations with citizens who have expressed their concerns have brought to light the many issues impacting people in the District. These are the citizens who have entrusted me to represent them in Lansing – the people who have asked me to “Be Their Voice”.

4. What issues would you like to advocate for because of a personal life experience?

As a small business owner I know first-hand the hours an owner puts in, many of which are not to generate sales but rather to deal with paperwork, forms, regulations, etc. The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) increased costs significantly for both the employer and the employee, which cut into the net profit and net wage of each, respectively.  With reduced profit, the idea of increasing the minimum wage and/or increasing unemployment benefits is beyond comprehension, as these added costs would both have a severe financial impact on the business. One of my focal points will be ensuring the regulatory environment does not become more constraining and in fact, I would like to focus on reducing regulations in an attempt to reduce business overhead, improve business efficiencies, and grow employment opportunities for the citizens in the District.

5. What do you anticipate being the biggest difference serving as a legislator compared with your experience as a local official?

One of the biggest differences between serving as a legislator versus a local official is realizing the cross-section of people served is now much more expansive and that consideration must be given to both the district and the state. When decisions are necessary, information and opinions from many people and/or groups must be considered and thoroughly evaluated. While this occurred at the local level, it was a much smaller spectrum.

6. How has your previous career, political or private sector, shaped the legislator you will be?

My role as a State Representative will be shaped by the many life experiences I’ve had; experiences in health care, small business, local government, and raising a family. These experiences have provided a wealth of knowledge that will assist me when difficult decisions must be made.

My background has also made me realize that “listening” is essential – people are tired of elected officials who talk too much and listen too little. I’ve also learned that to truly understand an issue, one must perform due diligence through reading and research, not be hesitant to inquire, and be logical and methodical when evaluating. As a legislator, following these basic steps will assist me in understanding a bill, the implications of the bill, what the potential costs may be, and what the long-term impact will be. “Political Correctness” should NOT be the basis for supporting any position but rather decisions should be founded on good, solid evidence gathering and evaluation.

7. What one thing would you like to highlight that makes your district special?

Trying to identify one thing to highlight that makes this district special is difficult as there are so many potential answers. Weighing out this question and evaluating an answer made me think of the people in the district, the demographics, educational systems, the abundance of beauty found in our forests and shorelines of the Great Lakes, the wildlife, our agricultural community, etc. Bottom line, what makes this district so special is the beauty found in the hard-working people of the district who enjoy northern Michigan and the greatness of its natural resources.

8. What are some of your favorite activities to participate in on your free time?

Activities I enjoy in my very limited free time include reading, enjoying time with family – especially the grandkids, and discussing politics with friends. Kayaking on the Sturgeon River is another favorite activity that sadly was lacking this past summer (campaign season) but something that I’m looking forward to in 2017.

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