Jack for Michigan

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Jack on the Issues
Taxes

• I support making current tax cuts permanent. Taxes are too high.
• Corporate tax rates need to be lowered to provide more incentive for corporations at home and abroad to invest in the United States.
• I support the permanent elimination of the death tax.

National Debt and Deficit Spending

• Since taking office in 1978 Carl Levin has only contributed to the National Debt increasing from $800 billion to almost $10 trillion. This must stop. We need to pay down the National Debt until it reaches zero.
• I am opposed to deficit spending. The federal budget should be balanced every year. Carl Levin was the deciding NO vote in the Senate when the balanced budget amendment came up for a vote.

Public Education

• I am opposed to federal spending on public education. The Department of Education should be abolished. There is no evidence that the billions spent on public education at the federal level has resulted in any improvement in test scores of overall achievement by children in public schools.
• I am a supporter of local control over community schools. The best schools are those controlled by the parents and their designated board and administrators at each local district.
• I support the fundamental right of parents to direct the care and education of their children.

Human Life

• I believe that all humans have constitutionally guaranteed right to life. This right extends from the time of conception to the time of natural death.
• I am a proponent of stem cell research. But I draw a distinction between embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) and adult stem cell research. Embryonic is impractical because of problems with rejection and, to date, a failure to produce any cures. ESCR also requires the destruction of a human embryo, which is human life in its smallest form. Adult stem cell research, which would include the use of umbilical cord blood stem cells, has produce over 70 cures and continues to show great promise and progress. I oppose ESCR and strongly support Adult stem cell research.

Energy

• We should remove all subsidies for oil production and opening up domestic oil fields for drilling and further exploration in a way that protects the environment.
• We need to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil.
• I support expansion of nuclear energy.

Free Trade

• I support free trade that mirrors trade policy of other nations.
• I am opposed to any treaties that subordinate U.S. sovereignty to other nations.

Second Amendment

• I am rated “A” by the National Rifle Association and will continue to support the constitutional right to bear arms.

About Jack
Political

State Representative Jack Hoogendyk was elected to the Michigan House to represent residents of Kalamazoo County in 2002. He minority vice chair of Government Operations Committee and also serves on Education and Families and Children Services Committee.

Professional

Hoogendyk spent 15 years in sales and marketing, eventually working as a national manager with a Fortune 500 company. He joined Alternatives of Kalamazoo, Pregnancy Care Center as executive director in April 1996. Alternatives is a faith-based nonprofit organization that serves young women and families facing unplanned pregnancies with a variety of services including clothing and shelter. He left Alternatives to serve in the legislature.

Past Political Offices and AffiliationsS

In 2000, Hoogendyk was elected to the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. Prior to that, he was on the Portage Zoning Board of Appeals and the Kalamazoo County Public Health Advisory Board, and is chairman of SHALOM, a non-profit adult foster care agency.

Personal

Hoogendyk was born July 31, 1955. He and his, Erin, were married in 1976 and live in Texas Township. They have five children, Jacob, who is married to Jennifer; Isaiah, who is married to Elise; Maria, who is married to Philip Straatsma; Caitlin, who is married to Kevin Baker; Benjamin; and seven grandchildren.

Using the Past to Invest in the Future

Since January 2003, Jacob (Jack) Hoogendyk Jr. has been working in Lansing to protect the taxpayer, strengthen education and defend families. He is not willing to be defined by his surroundings, but he attempts to influence and inspire. He’s been following the steps of his father by investing in his family, community and state.

An immigrant’s son

Jacob Hoogendyk Sr., along with his wife, two sons and two daughters, left the Netherlands in 1949 to immigrate to the United States and begin a new life. Hoogendyk Sr. would not allow himself or his family be limited by their immigrant status. He immediately found work, began to teach himself English and make a life for himself and the family.

Born in 1955, Jack watched his father work hard to make a difference. In 1961, eleven years after his arrival in Michigan, Hoogendyk Sr. ran for the Kalamazoo City Commission. Although unsuccessful, he did not give up his desire to work on behalf of others.

In 1968, after the family had moved to Cooper Township, in the northern part of Kalamazoo County, Hoogendyk Sr. began to develop a relationship with Supervisor Jack Welborn.

It was through the encouragement and influence of Welborn that Hoogendyk Sr. once again ran for public office. In 1968 he successfully ran for Kalamazoo County commissioner, where he served two terms.

“ I’ve always admired my father – what he stood for and what he’s accomplished,” Jack said. “I grew up with the desire to be in public service in some capacity. I just didn’t know where the path would take me.”

Finding his path

By the mid-1980s Jack was married, had a family, and had a job in sales and marketing which caused him to move a lot.

“Even though I was moving quite a bit, I always stayed involved and active in the political process – no matter where I lived.”

In the early ’90s, Jack and his family returned to Portage and he began to establish himself and began to explore local options for public service.

In 1998, Jack was appointed to the Portage City Zoning Board of Appeals. In 1999, he ran for mayor of Portage and lost in a close race where he nearly unseated a two-term incumbent. Not to be discouraged, in 2000, Jack ran for county commission and won the primary by 37 votes over a popular former mayor and county commissioner. He went on to win the general and fell in love with public service.

Jack began to explore the possibility of running for state representative and in February of 2002 announced his candidacy. Working hard during both the primary and the general election, he secured his spot as a member of the 2003 freshman class and took another step into his public service commitment.

“ Public service is in my blood. It is really quite amazing how similar my political path and philosophy are to my father’s,” Jack said. “He ran for office and lost the first time, so did I. He ended up on the county board and so did I. My father and Jack Welborn are the biggest political influences in my life.”

As a boy, Hoogendyk Jr. was beginning to understand the importance of individual responsibility. His father was a realtor and he recalls one Saturday afternoon when he was 12 that he and the neighborhood boys went to a house to work in the yard. The family had been renting the home from Hoogendyk Sr. and decided to purchase it. Jack remembers his father explaining the differences in attitude between that of the renter and the home owner. Now that this family was going to be responsible for the home through ownership, their investment was greater and the attitude they had toward the home was different. Suddenly, the condition and appearance of the home mattered to them.

“ I want to take the lessons that I learned from my father – hard work, integrity, not being defined by circumstances or surroundings – and put them to use here on behalf of the people in my district. My legislative passions are for smaller government, lower taxes and personal responsibility.”


	Home - Issues - Media - Contact - Signup - Donate
	Jack on the Issues Taxes • I support making current tax cuts permanent. Taxes are too high. • Corporate tax rates need to be lowered to provide more incentive for corporations at home and abroad to invest in the United States. • I support the permanent elimination of the death tax. National Debt and Deficit Spending • Since taking office in 1978 Carl Levin has only contributed to the National Debt increasing from $800 billion to almost $10 trillion. This must stop. We need to pay down the National Debt until it reaches zero. • I am opposed to deficit spending. The federal budget should be balanced every year. Carl Levin was the deciding NO vote in the Senate when the balanced budget amendment came up for a vote. Public Education • I am opposed to federal spending on public education. The Department of Education should be abolished. There is no evidence that the billions spent on public education at the federal level has resulted in any improvement in test scores of overall achievement by children in public schools. • I am a supporter of local control over community schools. The best schools are those controlled by the parents and their designated board and administrators at each local district. • I support the fundamental right of parents to direct the care and education of their children. Human Life • I believe that all humans have constitutionally guaranteed right to life. This right extends from the time of conception to the time of natural death. • I am a proponent of stem cell research. But I draw a distinction between embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) and adult stem cell research. Embryonic is impractical because of problems with rejection and, to date, a failure to produce any cures. ESCR also requires the destruction of a human embryo, which is human life in its smallest form. Adult stem cell research, which would include the use of umbilical cord blood stem cells, has produce over 70 cures and continues to show great promise and progress. I oppose ESCR and strongly support Adult stem cell research. Energy • We should remove all subsidies for oil production and opening up domestic oil fields for drilling and further exploration in a way that protects the environment. • We need to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil. • I support expansion of nuclear energy. Free Trade • I support free trade that mirrors trade policy of other nations. • I am opposed to any treaties that subordinate U.S. sovereignty to other nations. Second Amendment • I am rated “A” by the National Rifle Association and will continue to support the constitutional right to bear arms. About Jack Political State Representative Jack Hoogendyk was elected to the Michigan House to represent residents of Kalamazoo County in 2002. He minority vice chair of Government Operations Committee and also serves on Education and Families and Children Services Committee. Professional Hoogendyk spent 15 years in sales and marketing, eventually working as a national manager with a Fortune 500 company. He joined Alternatives of Kalamazoo, Pregnancy Care Center as executive director in April 1996. Alternatives is a faith-based nonprofit organization that serves young women and families facing unplanned pregnancies with a variety of services including clothing and shelter. He left Alternatives to serve in the legislature. Past Political Offices and AffiliationsS In 2000, Hoogendyk was elected to the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. Prior to that, he was on the Portage Zoning Board of Appeals and the Kalamazoo County Public Health Advisory Board, and is chairman of SHALOM, a non-profit adult foster care agency. Personal Hoogendyk was born July 31, 1955. He and his, Erin, were married in 1976 and live in Texas Township. They have five children, Jacob, who is married to Jennifer; Isaiah, who is married to Elise; Maria, who is married to Philip Straatsma; Caitlin, who is married to Kevin Baker; Benjamin; and seven grandchildren. Using the Past to Invest in the Future Since January 2003, Jacob (Jack) Hoogendyk Jr. has been working in Lansing to protect the taxpayer, strengthen education and defend families. He is not willing to be defined by his surroundings, but he attempts to influence and inspire. He’s been following the steps of his father by investing in his family, community and state. An immigrant’s son Jacob Hoogendyk Sr., along with his wife, two sons and two daughters, left the Netherlands in 1949 to immigrate to the United States and begin a new life. Hoogendyk Sr. would not allow himself or his family be limited by their immigrant status. He immediately found work, began to teach himself English and make a life for himself and the family. Born in 1955, Jack watched his father work hard to make a difference. In 1961, eleven years after his arrival in Michigan, Hoogendyk Sr. ran for the Kalamazoo City Commission. Although unsuccessful, he did not give up his desire to work on behalf of others. In 1968, after the family had moved to Cooper Township, in the northern part of Kalamazoo County, Hoogendyk Sr. began to develop a relationship with Supervisor Jack Welborn. It was through the encouragement and influence of Welborn that Hoogendyk Sr. once again ran for public office. In 1968 he successfully ran for Kalamazoo County commissioner, where he served two terms. “ I’ve always admired my father – what he stood for and what he’s accomplished,” Jack said. “I grew up with the desire to be in public service in some capacity. I just didn’t know where the path would take me.” Finding his path By the mid-1980s Jack was married, had a family, and had a job in sales and marketing which caused him to move a lot. “Even though I was moving quite a bit, I always stayed involved and active in the political process – no matter where I lived.” In the early ’90s, Jack and his family returned to Portage and he began to establish himself and began to explore local options for public service. In 1998, Jack was appointed to the Portage City Zoning Board of Appeals. In 1999, he ran for mayor of Portage and lost in a close race where he nearly unseated a two-term incumbent. Not to be discouraged, in 2000, Jack ran for county commission and won the primary by 37 votes over a popular former mayor and county commissioner. He went on to win the general and fell in love with public service. Jack began to explore the possibility of running for state representative and in February of 2002 announced his candidacy. Working hard during both the primary and the general election, he secured his spot as a member of the 2003 freshman class and took another step into his public service commitment. “ Public service is in my blood. It is really quite amazing how similar my political path and philosophy are to my father’s,” Jack said. “He ran for office and lost the first time, so did I. He ended up on the county board and so did I. My father and Jack Welborn are the biggest political influences in my life.” As a boy, Hoogendyk Jr. was beginning to understand the importance of individual responsibility. His father was a realtor and he recalls one Saturday afternoon when he was 12 that he and the neighborhood boys went to a house to work in the yard. The family had been renting the home from Hoogendyk Sr. and decided to purchase it. Jack remembers his father explaining the differences in attitude between that of the renter and the home owner. Now that this family was going to be responsible for the home through ownership, their investment was greater and the attitude they had toward the home was different. Suddenly, the condition and appearance of the home mattered to them. “ I want to take the lessons that I learned from my father – hard work, integrity, not being defined by circumstances or surroundings – and put them to use here on behalf of the people in my district. My legislative passions are for smaller government, lower taxes and personal responsibility.”