Public servant Chris Glasser has launched a campaign seeking the Democratic nomination for Michigan’s 4th Congressional District in 2024, a West Michigan seat held by U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland).
Glasser, who works as a children services specialist for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, in July joined attorney Jessica Swartz from Kalamazoo and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Joseph Alfonso of Holland in seeking the Democratic nomination in 2024.
Glasser studied criminal justice at Western Michigan University and is a former EMT, firefighter and reserve sheriff’s deputy.
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) speaks at the Mackinac Policy Conference, June 1, 2022 | Laina G. Stebbins
“Politicians are supposed to be public servants, but we don’t hold them to that standard,” Glasser said in a statement.
“As a civil servant for the State of Michigan, I am expected to act with integrity, treat our citizens with respect, and to serve in the interest of the public. That is exactly what we should expect out of our politicians and elected representatives,” he said.
Huizenga was first elected to Congress in 2010. He previously served three terms in the Michigan House.
Michigan’s 4th Congressional District represents all of Allegan and Van Buren counties and parts of Berrien, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Ottawa counties. In its 2023 Partisan Voting Index Map and List, Cook Political Report gave Michigan’s 4th Congressional District a rating of R+5, signaling a Republican lean.
Glasser previously ran for the Democratic nomination in Michigan’s 4th Congressional district in 2022, but ended his campaign after failing to gather enough signatures in time for the ballot.
In a statement, Glasser said he is running a campaign based on social liberty and economic accountability.
“You should be free to live your life as you see fit, as long as you are not harming others,” Glasser said. “We need to recognize that the actions that companies take [affect] more than their profits. What they do affects their workers, consumers, the environment, and the community in which they reside. Our economy needs to reflect the needs of all its stakeholders, not just corporate profits,” Glasser said.
Glasser also listed the right to repair, addressing high health care costs, increasing transparency in government, supporting workers rights, defending civil rights and protecting those rights against government overreach as part of his campaign’s policies.
In an interview with the Advance, Glasser said his interest in national politics aligns with his policy interests including introducing a single-payer health care system.
“I like looking at the larger picture of things. There’s definitely some very useful and helpful things that occur on the state level, but there’s also a lot of big-picture systemic issues that need to be addressed on the federal level,” Glasser said.
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authored by Kyle Davidson
First published at https%3A%2F%2Fmichiganadvance.com%2F2023%2F08%2F07%2Fdemocrat-chris-glasser-joins-race-to-unseat-rep-huizenga%2F
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