Through the primary election on August 2, on every Tuesday and Thursday on the MLC Blog we will be highlighting races for which the primary is the key race due to the voter base.  Candidate’s website and professional information is listed when available.

District Overview

The 89^th House District is located in Ottawa County.  The district includes Blendon Township, Crockery Township, Ferrysburg, Grand Haven, Grand Haven Township, Olive Township, Park Township, Port Sheldon Township, Robinson Township, and Spring Lake Township.  The 66% Republican district will remain in GOP control with whoever emerges victorious from the Republican primary election.

Commentary

Current State Representative Amanda Price (R-Park Township) can’t run for re-election in the fall due to term limits.  Republican candidate Jim Lilly has racked up a number of important endorsements from local officials and key associations, plus he is said to have the support of political leaders in the district.  Additionally, he quit his job in January in order to campaign fulltime.  Fellow Republican candidate Tracy Stille-Mulligan was elected as the Robinson Township Supervisor in 2008 after garnering 65% of the general election vote.  Additionally, she is the daughter of former state Senator Leon Stille.  The third candidate in the Republican primary, Brandon Hall, previously ran for the seat in 2010, but received only 337 votes in the primary.

Democratic Candidates:

• Tim Meyer – Small business owner.
  • Endorsement – Robert Monetza, Grand Haven City Council.

Republican Candidates:

• Brandon Hall – Political writer and consultant.
• Jim Lilly – Commercial banker.
  • Endorsements – Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Freedom Network, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Realtors, Right to Life of Michigan PAC, and the Ottawa County Sheriff, Undersheriff, Prosecutor, and Treasurer, Small Business Association of Michigan (stamp of approval).
• Tracy Stille-Mulligan – Robinson Township Supervisor.
  • Endorsement – Park Township Supervisor, Small Business Association of Michigan (stamp of approval).

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