As some of you may have heard, I'm running for the 105th District seat in the state House of Representatives.

With the news that Kevin Elsenheimer is retiring to pursue other opportunities, I decided to run because it's important a conservative voice continues to represent the people of northern Michigan.

I grew up in Cheboygan County, I'm the local candidate -- I share our values, and I'm committed to standing up for our core conservative principles in Lansing. I want to give people more opportunity and power in their own lives, strengthen families and ensure government serves the people.

On Tuesday morning, I released my campaign's manifesto: defending our values, cutting taxes, stimulating the economy, reforming government and improving education.

I'm committed to winning this race and representing the hard-working people of Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Otsego counties.

I know and understand the challenges we face in Michigan, and I have the experience we need to provide conservative solutions.

When it comes to taxes, I know raising taxes never works, which is why I have signed Grover Norquist's pledge. I also believe last year's $1.4 billion tax increase on families and businesses must be repealed if we want to stimulate our economy.

These aren't the only things Lansing could do to make Michigan more competitive.

We need to rollback restrictive regulations and repeal our state's archaic labor laws. If right-to-work laws were adopted, the state's economy would instantly become competitive with more than 22 other states across the country.

I also support providing tax incentives for northern Michigan businesses who hire local graduates. This would create opportunity for the next generation by allowing graduates to remain in their local community and become a productive member of the workforce.

State government should also become transparent by posting checkbook expenditures on the internet -- making it easy for taxpayer scrutiny and review.

I'm also a firm believer in improving education.

I believe it's time to implement equitable, per student funding instead of unfair funding formulas that punish children in northern Michigan.

Additionally, parents, teachers and principals -- not bureaucrats in Lansing -- should be running local schools. We must reform school bureacracy so education focuses on student's real needs.

As the pro-life, pro-family, pro-Second Amendment  and pro-business candidate, I will be a strong advocate for northern Michigan in the Legislature.

I want to thank Nick for the opportunity to introduce myself, and I look forward to continuing the dialogue and discussion as the August 5 primary election approaches.

And don't forget to check out my website, including my blog -- which is updated daily.