Hoekstra Announces He Will Seek the Republican Nomination for Governor of Michigan

DETROIT, March 30, 2009 — U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra announced today that he will seek the Republican nomination for Governor of Michigan. Hoekstra announced his candidacy at Inland Pipe Rehabilitation in Detroit, a company to which he referred as “a Michigan success story and national leader in its industry.” In his opening remarks, Hoekstra stated, “Our revitalized Michigan begins with us thinking differently and acting differently.”

“We need to begin the process of rebuilding a strong Michigan: creating good jobs, promoting strong businesses and driving meaningful and measurable results,” said Hoekstra, who has represented Michigan’s Second Congressional District since 1993. He currently serves as the top Republican and former Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and is a senior member of the House Committee on Education and Labor.

“We will rebuild and reinvigorate this state, creating an environment for investment and job creation,” said Hoekstra. “We will deliver results with a transparent, effective and accountable state government. And, we will create new opportunities to not only keep our family members, friends, neighbors and our great businesses here at home in Michigan, but attract new companies and residents to our great state.”

An experienced business leader who understands the importance of innovation and job creation, Hoekstra served as vice president of marketing at Zeeland, Mich.-based Fortune 500 office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller, Inc. for 15 years prior to his election to Congress. With the recent news that Michigan’s unemployment rate increased to 12 percent in February, Hoekstra notes that the greatest challenge before him is creating job opportunities in the state.

In addition to visiting Wayne County for the announcement at Inland Pipe Rehabilitation, Hoekstra will also stop in Macomb County, speaking with students at Fraser High School; Oakland County; Ingham County, where he will officially file his paperwork at the Secretary of State’s office in Lansing; ending with an event at Herman Miller, Inc. in Ottawa County (Holland).  He will be touring the state in the weeks ahead.

Hoekstra holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Hope College in Holland and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.  Hoekstra has received numerous awards for his work in Congress, including repeatedly earning the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Spirit of Enterprise” award, the “Hero of the Taxpayer” award from Americans for Tax Reform, the “Taxpayer Superhero” Award from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, “Public Official of the Year” Award from Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, and the “Faith, Family and Freedom” and “True Blue” awards from the Family Research Council. He has also been recognized by the National Association of Manufacturers.

Hoekstra lives in Holland, Mich., with his wife, Diane, and has three children, Erin, Allison and son-in-law Mike, and Bryan.
To view and download a photo of Hoekstra, please click.

For more information on Pete Hoekstra for Governor, click here. Photos from his Michigan campaign can be downloaded at Flickr. You can also follow Congressman Hoekstra on Twitter or visit him on Facebook.

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Paid for by Pete Hoekstra for Governor
P.O. Box 1287
Holland, MI 49422