Local Man Announces Candidacy for 47th District

A Marion Township resident and local REALTOR is seeking the Democratic nomination for State Representative in the 47th District.

Jordan Genso filed his papers this week with the Michigan Bureau of Elections to form his Candidate Committee for the seat that encompasses the city of Howell and 11 townships in Livingston County.

 “’Learn the issues, vote accordingly’. It’s what I will do when serving in the Legislature, and it’s what I believe the voters in Michigan must do to improve our increasingly dysfunctional political system,” Genso said, explaining his campaign slogan. “My job as a candidate is to make it as easy as I can for the voters to know where I stand on the issues. It’s then incumbent on the voters to seek out that information to help them choose the candidate that best represents their positions.”

Genso, who has been active in politics since 2008, is disappointed with the way campaigns operate today, where candidates are rewarded for vagueness and obfuscation.

 “Political campaigns are often an exercise in avoidance," he said. "It’s common for candidates to do whatever they can to avoid answering questions about their policy preferences, and when they finally do give an answer, they avoid saying anything of substance.

"They will only make statements that are general in nature because they are afraid of turning off potential voters," Genso continued. "In a way, they try to ‘trick’ citizens into voting for them, and once they are in office they do things the voters never expected. For instance, how many residents that voted for Gov. Snyder knew that some of his first actions would be to raise taxes on seniors and the working poor, while decimating education funding? Few, if any, because his campaign hid his intentions.

 “I have no desire to ‘trick’ anyone into voting for me. I’m going to be as open as I can about what I will do as State Representative, and it’s up to the voters to decide if I’m their best choice to represent them and their views. If a voter agrees more often with the positions of any of my opponents, they should vote for them,” said Genso.

There are many issues Genso plans to campaign on.

Be it increasing our investment in education, establishing a more sustainable tax policy, marriage equality, or the legalization of recreational marijuana, Genso is willing to discuss any issue that the Legislature may face in the coming years.

 “I want to restore a little sanity to our irrational political culture, and I believe we need more politicians that exhibit intellectual honesty," he said. "I know that it is cliché, but I am trying to be the change that I want to see in the world.”

Genso graduated from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree. He has worked in the local real estate industry since 2004, and is currently a buyer’s agent at RE/MAX Platinum in Brighton. Genso serves on the FlexTech High School Board of Directors. He and his wife just celebrated the birth of their first child in August 2013.

People wishing more information about Genso’s campaign may contact him at gensoforstaterep@gmail.com.

The 47th House District is made up of the city of Howell and the townships of Conway, Cohoctah, Deerfield, Tyrone, Handy, Howell, Oceola, Hartland, Iosco, Marion, and Unadilla. The primary election will be held on August 5, 2014, and the general election will be on November 4, 2014.

Information provided in press release.