HOLLAND (WHTC) — Republican Mary Whiteford won the 80th District election — replacing ousted Cindy Gamrat — for the Michigan House of Representatives with a clear margin of victory.
She expects to be sworn in on Tuesday morning and start working Tuesday afternoon. Her priorities include mental health, education and veterans, she told WHTC.
“Our county is Number 1 in the state for agriculture, so I would love to be on the agriculture committee,” Whiteford said. (Audio of complete interview.)
The Casco Township resident will have to work fast; her term of office ends on Dec. 31, as she is filling time remaining in Gamrat’s term.
Whiteford is eligible to run in the August primary for the November election, which could extend her time in office by two years. Campaigning has become something of a way of life, she acknowledged, since she’s spent much of the last two years running for office, she said.
In November’s 8-person Republican primary, Whiteford landed 51 percent of the vote, beating Gamrat and Allegan County Commissioner Jim Storey.
With 32 of 39 precincts reporting just before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Whiteford had nearly 64 percent of the votes, with 12,734 casting ballots for her and 6,082 voting for Democrat David Gernant and 1,256 voting for Libertarian Arnie Davidsons.
Whiteford picked up nearly 69 percent of votes in the five Ottawa County precincts served by the 80th District.
Whiteford’s professional life includes running a financial planning business with her husband, Kevin, and working as a pediatric emergency nurse. She’s be active as a volunteer and served on many community boards. She is mom to three grown children and grandmother of one.
