Michigan’s 10th Congressional District: Tony Forlini
State Representative seeks Candice Miller’s seat.
Congresswoman Candice Miller is running for office in November, but not the one she holds now. After 14 years in the U.S. House, the Republican is returning to Macomb County to run for Public Works Commissioner. Since announcing her plans in 2015, five Republicans and one Democrat became candidates to represent Michigan’s 10th Congressional District [see map]. WDET’s Pat Batcheller spoke with each of the candidates, including State Representative Tony Forlini. Like Miller, Forlini is a former Harrison Township Supervisor. He says he ran for that office because he saw chaos in local government. He says it’s the same reason he ran for state house in 2010 and is running for Congress now. A certified financial planner by trade, Forlini calls himself a “reluctant politician.”
“I would prefer to be home and in my business and in the comforts without the public scrutiny, but we can’t allow our country to go down the path it’s been going,” Forlini says.
If he’s elected to Congress, Forlini says the first order of business will be getting the federal deficit under control and reducing the nation’s debt. He also says the United States must secure its borders and ensure people entering the country are thoroughly vetted before they’re allowed in. He opposes Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump‘s call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S. Forlini also opposes new gun control measures in response to the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida. Click on the audio player to hear the conversation.
Editor’s note: In response to a question about whether Donald Trump’s candidacy would have an effect on other Republicans on the ballot, Forlini mentioned a law recently passed by the Legislature to eliminate straight-ticket voting. This interview was recorded before U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain issued an injunction against the law, restoring the straight-ticket option, pending an appeal by the state.–PB
