Laurel Hess

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# Laurel Hess

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This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Laurel Hess

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1990

Personal

Birthplace

Detroit, MI

Religion

Presbyterian

Profession

Small business owner

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Laurel Hess (Republican Party) ran for election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 21. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Hess completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

## Contents

* 1 Biography
* 2 Elections
* 2.1 2020
* 2.1.1 Campaign finance
* 3 Campaign themes
* 3.1 2020
* 4 See also
* 5 External links
* 6 Footnotes

## Biography

Laurel Hess was born in Detroit, Michigan. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1990. Hess’s career experience includes working as a small business owner.[1]

## Elections

### 2020

See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

##### General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 21

Ranjeev Puri defeated Laurel Hess in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 21 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Ranjeev Puri (D) |

59.1

| 34,284

| Laurel Hess (R) |

40.9

| 23,682

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 57,966

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 21

Ranjeev Puri defeated Ethan Petzold in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 21 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Ranjeev Puri |

70.0

| 12,222

| Ethan Petzold |

30.0

| 5,243

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 17,465

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 21

Laurel Hess defeated James Chapman, James Nangle, Jessica Sohoza, and Harold Bullock in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 21 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Laurel Hess |

46.3

| 3,446

| James Chapman |

16.7

| 1,243

| James Nangle |

13.4

| 998

| Jessica Sohoza |

13.2

| 978

| Harold Bullock |

10.4

| 771

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 7,436

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Campaign finance

## Campaign themes

### 2020

#### Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Laurel Hess completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hess' responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a small business owner (I own Jungle Java in Canton) who has lived, worked, and raised two wonderful sons in my district over the past 20 years. Prior to building my business, I was a TV reporter at stations all across the state. I also went back to school last year to get my teaching certificate and taught high school last year. I am a fighter who wants to give all small business owners and their employees a voice.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

* I will fight hard to get small businesses back on their feet. I will also make overhauling our failed unemployment system a top priority.
* I will work hard to make college education in our state more affordable. I will provide a real, viable solution to the ever increasing cost of tuition.
* I will strive to make Lansing and all elected state officials more accountable and put transparency back in government.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1\. Economic 2. Education 3. Government Operations

I am a fiscal conservative who is very interested in economic affairs, especially regarding balancing the budget and lowering taxes. I am also passionate about education. I want to work hard to ensure every child in our state gets a high quality K-12 education. I will work hard to make higher education for accessible and affordable for all. Finally, I believe many parts of our state government are broken. Our elected officials need to be more accountable. Privatization needs to take place in many areas to help make programs run more efficiently and with less use of taxpayer dollars.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I have always considered Candice Miller to be an amazing female role model. I strive to be a lot like her. She is a conservative leader and a fighter for all she believes in. She has served with great integrity for most of her life. Her career is marked by actually getting her hands dirty and getting things done for people. She doesn't participate in partisan fights.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am honest and hold to very strict moral and ethical principals. I am a hard-worker who does not take no for an answer. I am also a peace-keeper and am confident I will be able to reach across the aisle while also convincing my Democratic legislator peers to do the same. I am a good listening who respects different views, analyzes problems, and identifies solutions based on what is the right thing to do.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I can vividly remember sitting in my high school English class and watching the launch of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. We then all sat in silent awe and disbelief when it exploded. I was 18 years old and a senior in high school at the time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was as a waitress at the Ram's Horn. I begged my boss at the time to let me wait tables even though I was only 15 years old. I saw the tips that could be made and was ready to work hard for them. My very first "real" job after graduating from college was as a television news reporter at WBKB in Alpena, MI. It's TV market #208, the smallest TV market in the country. The locals used to refer to it as "We Barely Know Broadcasting" and they weren't that far off!

What is your favorite book? Why?

I love all of Mitch Albom's books. My favorite was Tuesdays with Morrie as it really explored the meaning of life's most important lessons. It was such a great reminder to treasure life.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Nope! I think it may actually be more beneficial is they do not. Take myself, for example. I have 20 years experience in how to build and effectively run a small business. I also have real life teaching experience. Because of my "non-political" background, I can bring own very different life experience and knowledge to Lansing. I can help provide unique perspectives from a real world point of view.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Helping to get the people of my district back on their feet in the wake of this devastating pandemic will be my number one priority. And I do believe it may, sadly, take a decade. We need to look at what failed and why. For example, we must invest in the technology to update the UIA website and phone system. And what about our Secretary of State offices? I want to be the voice, not only for small business owners, but for all of their employees and for all of my constituents who are and will be in a financial mess for months/years to come now due to job loss, no access to UIA, and no real mortgage/rent relief. I am hungry for a solution. Most politicians in Lansing need to be educated about what's it's really like for us "small-potato" folks out here. Deferring my rent for 3 months does not solve anything! Even pre-pandemic, there were too many unnecessary rules and regulations that small businesses and their employees had to navigate. Power needs to be given back to the people. We need to work hard to get our vibrant economy back. Once Michigan residents are working and making enough money to support their families and also relax and enjoy their leisure time, the rest will fall into place.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Yes, I would love to be a part of the following committees:

Appropriations Tax Policy Education Commerce and Tourism

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Hess submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on June 28, 2020.

#### Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Laurel Hess completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hess' responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Detroit, raised by a single mother and was a 1st generation college student. My dad was a tool & dye guy. My husband and I moved to Canton 19 years ago and raised both of my boys here. I spent the 1st 10 years of my career as a television news reporter. I then became a freelance journalist and public relations professional, and started my own business consulting with corporations and non-profits, helping them better present themselves to the media. In 2003, my husband and I had entrepreneurial aspirations. We partnered with friends and opened a novel concept at the time, a children's play place/coffee shop called Jungle Java. We bought our business partners out 10 years ago and have been owner/operators of JJ ever since. Then COVID-19 hit and rocked my world. The small business that myself and my husband worked so hard to build and protect was ordered closed and, with zero revenues coming in, finances began to dry up. I tried hard to secure all of the promised sources of small business government support and came up empty. I found this to be true of most small business owners I knew. I am running for this seat now because I am motivated by my recent frustration with the government bureaucracy, lack of clear leadership from many of our elected officials, the inaction and lack of any meaningful results since the day the pandemic hit our area.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

* Jobs & The Economy Are Key - Right Now, Our Government Is Failing All Of Us In Our Biggest Hour Of Need
* Post-Secondary Education Is Broken - A College Education Should Be Affordable For All
* It's Not About Me, It's About You (My Constituents) - What Issues Do You Need Addressed?

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Fiscal Policy, Education, Affordable Healthcare

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I very much look up to current Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller. She is a no-nonsense, real person who cares about and works hard for those she serves. She has held numerous high offices and has done so with class, humor, and hard work.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Read Dead Center: How Political Polarization Divided American and What We Can Do About It.

Someone needs to start being the voice of reason and speaking up for real people with real lives who are not interested in hating 50% of the population who does not agree with them 100% of the time. We are all Americans. We are all Michiganders. We all have a lot in common and mostly want the same things: health, safety, good schools, etc. Why are we always fighting each other to get there?

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, Integrity, Equity, Responsiveness, Accountability, Transparency.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a go-getter who does not take no for an answer. I fight hard for what I know is right. At the same time, I am a peace-maker and find myself skilled and bringing people together to accomplish great things. I am a leader who fights hard for what I believe in.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To debate and create legislation in order to make new laws that are to the benefit of your constituents.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. I was a senior in high-school. My class was watching it live as it exploded.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a hostess at the Ram's Horn when I was 15. Had that job for 3 years until the restaurant was held up at gunpoint so my mom made me quit. Oh, you mean, first REAL job as an adult? My first job out of college was as a TV news reporter/anchor at the smallest TV market in the country, Alpena, MI. Station was WBKB. Viewers secretly called it, "We Barely Know Broadcasting."

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and Educated by Tara Westover. They were both stories of young women who grew up with a hard life but didn't let it stop them. Despite crazy upbringings, they went on to do great things simply by working hard and believing they could.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. Not necessarily. Real people, who have been leaders in their community or successful in starting/running businesses have the necessary skills to represent the "real people" of their district. They can often bring refreshing new ways to actually negotiate and get things done.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Creating jobs and improving Michigan's economy. Recovering from the devastating effects of the COVID will take years. We need a real leader who understands exactly how we were all effective differently and what needs to be done to get and keep our great state back on track to economic success.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

They need to work together and put partisanship aside for the good of the people of Michigan. We did not see this happen when the pandemic hit and it's ended up hurting the people who elected them. There needs to be more compromise and a voice of reason needs to prevail.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes! The more brainpower the better. A good leader is only as good as the great people they surround themselves with and collaborate with on a daily basis.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Yes. I am very interested in being a part of the following committees:

Economic and Small Business Development Education and Career Readiness

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

Not right away. I would like to learn from others first and get the "lay-of-the-land" before ultimately deciding where my skills would best fit.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Candice Miller - smart, tough, real.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No. I am not a career politician. I believe I have been called now to serve in this position at this particular time.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Many recent stories from small business owners declaring bankruptcy and suicidal over having worked hard their entire lives only to lose everything overnight. Single moms who are standing in line at local food banks in order to feed their toddlers because their place of work was ordered closed. The stories are real and devastating and haunting.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Hess submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on May 7, 2020.

## See also

2020 Elections

Who is on my ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislature State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

Coronavirus Weekly Updates Documenting America's Path to Recovery The Daily Brew The Tap Daily Presidential News Briefing The Heart of the Primaries The Ballot Bulletin Bold Justice Union Station Checks and Balances

## External links

* Search Google News for this topic

## Footnotes

1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 7, 2020

[show]

Current members of the Michigan House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Jason Wentworth

Representatives

District 1

Tenisha Yancey (D)

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Joseph Tate (D)

District 3

Shri Thanedar (D)

District 4

Abraham Aiyash (D)

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Mary Cavanagh (D)

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Jewell Jones (D)

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Alex Garza (D)

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Tullio Liberati (D)

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Cara Clemente (D)

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Abdullah Hammoud (D)

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Kevin Coleman (D)

District 17

Joseph Bellino (R)

District 18

Kevin Hertel (D)

District 19

Laurie Pohutsky (D)

District 20

Matt Koleszar (D)

District 21

Ranjeev Puri (D)

District 22

Richard Steenland (D)

District 23

Darrin Camilleri (D)

District 24

Steve Marino (R)

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Nate Shannon (D)

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Jim Ellison (D)

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Regina Weiss (D)

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Lori Stone (D)

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Brenda Carter (D)

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Diana Farrington (R)

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William Sowerby (D)

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Pamela Hornberger (R)

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Jeff Yaroch (R)

District 34

Cynthia Neeley (D)

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Kyra Harris Bolden (D)

District 36

Vacant

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Samantha Steckloff (D)

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Kelly Breen (D)

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Ryan Berman (R)

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Mari Manoogian (D)

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Padma Kuppa (D)

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Ann Bollin (R)

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Matt Maddock (R)

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Mike Mueller (R)

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Donna Lasinski (D)

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Ronnie Peterson (D)

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Felicia Brabec (D)

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T. Clements (R)

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Steve Carra (R)

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Christine Morse (D)

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Sarah Lightner (R)

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Pat Outman (R)

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District 74

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David LaGrand (D)

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Tommy Brann (R)

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Brad Paquette (R)

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Pauline Wendzel (R)

District 80

Mary Whiteford (R)

District 81

Gary Eisen (R)

District 82

Gary Howell (R)

District 83

Andrew Beeler (R)

District 84

Phil Green (R)

District 85

Ben Frederick (R)

District 86

Thomas Albert (R)

District 87

Julie Calley (R)

District 88

Luke Meerman (R)

District 89

Jim Lilly (R)

District 90

Bradley Slagh (R)

District 91

Greg VanWoerkom (R)

District 92

Terry Sabo (D)

District 93

Graham Filler (R)

District 94

Rodney Wakeman (R)

District 95

Amos O'Neal (D)

District 96

Timothy Beson (R)

District 97

Jason Wentworth (R)

District 98

Annette Glenn (R)

District 99

Roger Hauck (R)

District 100

Scott VanSingel (R)

District 101

Jack O'Malley (R)

District 102

Michele Hoitenga (R)

District 103

Daire Rendon (R)

District 104

John Roth (R)

District 105

Ken Borton (R)

District 106

Sue Allor (R)

District 107

John Damoose (R)

District 108

Beau LaFave (R)

District 109

Sara Cambensy (D)

District 110

Gregory Markkanen (R)

Republican Party (55)

Democratic Party (52)

Vacancies (3)

v • e

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