Mary Whiteford is trying again to represent the 80th state House District, this time in a special election to fill a vacancy left by the expulsion of Cindy Gamrat.
Whiteford ran for the Republican nomination last year, but lost to Gamrat in the GOP Primary. Whiteford says as he travels the district she finds that many people respect her because she "hung in there" and for continuing to serve on boards in the community and run again for state House.
Asked about road funding, Whiteford says Allegan County has a high poverty rate with no public transportation. She would not support vehicle registration fees on people who need a car to get around. Whiteford says she could not support an increase in the gas tax.
Whiteford says Gamrat did not serve her district well. She says there was talk of a recall effort before the scandal broke. Whiteford says the state should revisit the rules that govern recall laws to ensure that they are not too restrictive.
Asked if she would vote to seat Todd Courser in the state House if he is elected, Whiteford says "no." She says the use of state resources to conceal an affair is "reprehensible."