HD108 Incumbent Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba)

by: matt

Fri Aug 26, 2005 at 01:00:00 AM EDT

Biography:

State Representative Tom Casperson was elected in November 2002 to his first term in the Michigan House to represent residents of Delta, Dickinson and Menominee counties. Casperson serves as vice chair of the House Transportation Committee and is a member of the Agriculture and Resource Management; Land Use and Environment; and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security committees.
EDUCATION
Casperson is a 1977 graduate of Escanaba High School.
PROFESSIONAL
Casperson has worked in his family’s log trucking business for the last 25 years, including the last 10 years as owner and operator of Casperson and Son Trucking. He represents the third generation in the business started by his grandfather.
PAST POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS
Casperson has served on the Michigan Association of Timbermen board of directors, as president of the Michigan Professional Log Truck Council, on the transportation committee of the Michigan Association of Timbermen and the legislative committee of the Timber Producers Association. He also has served on the Board of Escanaba New Life Assembly of God for nine years, where he oversees the ushers ministry. Casperson is a member of the National Rifle Association and the National Federation of Independent Business.
Casperson is the 1999 recipient of the Special Volunteer Award from the Michigan Association of Timbermen for his involvement on the Log Truck Safety Task Force, and is the 2001 regional and national recipient of the National Logging Safety and Innovations Award presented by the American Logging Council for his work to design, build and use a “state of the art” cribbed pup trailer to safely haul timber.
PERSONAL
Casperson was born July 20, 1959 in Escanaba. He and his wife Diane were married in 1982 and they have four children: Ashley, Tommy, Hillary, and Dane. (Republican Caucus)

HD108 District Profile

by: matt

Fri Aug 26, 2005 at 01:00:00 AM EDT

HD108 Former Candidate Judy Nerat (D-Menominee)

by: matt

Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 22:05:10 PM EST

Judy is an alumni of Stephenson High School, and a graduate of Milwaukee College of Beauty Culture. She's owned and operated her own business for over 30 years.

As a small-business owner and entrepreneur, Judy understands the need to grow Michigan's economy. She will work to fight the outsourcing of our good-paying jobs to other states and countries and will work to bring more jobs to the Upper Peninsula.

In 1998, Judy was elected to the Menominee County Road Commission and was re-elected in 2004. In 2000, she was appointed to the Commissioners' Committee for the County Road Association of Michigan, and in 2002 she was appointed chair of the Commissioners' Committee. Judy was elected to the County Road Association Self Insurance Fund in 2003, where she currently serves as one of nine directors. In 2004, the County Road Association of Michigan awarded Judy for her outstanding service as a commissioner.

In 2004, Judy became a certified nursing assistant and worked at a local nursing home. She knows firsthand the importance of quality care for our seniors. Judy is also a member of Holy Redeemer Church in Birch Creek, Michigan.

As a mother of two and grandmother of three, Judy is a strong advocate for education. She worked on a successful campaign to rebuild a condemned section of Stephenson High School, and will work to ensure every child in Michigan has access to high-quality education.

She also implemented an annual "Snowplow Safety" program in 2000 to teach children the dangers of snowplows and why it's important not to build snow forts along roadsides.

Judy is a hunter and avid outdoorswoman with deep roots in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

She will work to protect the Great Lakes from being bottled up and sold for profit to other states and countries.

Analysis

by: matt

Fri Aug 26, 2005 at 01:00:00 AM EDT