Tonya Schuitmaker

Tonya Schuitmaker
President pro tempore of the Michigan Senate
Assumed office
January 12, 2011
Preceded by Randy Richardville
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 26th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2011
Preceded by Tom George
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 80th district
20th District (2011-2014)
In office
January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2010
Preceded by Mary Ann Middaugh
Succeeded by Aric Nesbitt
Personal details
Born (1968-03-10) March 10, 1968
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Steve Schuitmaker
Alma mater Michigan State University

Tonya Schuitmaker (born March 10, 1968) is the current President Pro Tempore of the Michigan State Senate. A member of the Republican party, she is the State Senator from Michigan's 20th State Senate District, serving since 2011. Prior to her election to the Senate, she served three terms in the Michigan State House of Representatives. She was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2004 and then again in 2006 and 2008 from the 80th House District, which included all of Van Buren County, the city of Otsego and the townships of Otsego and Watson in Allegan County.

Education

Schuitmaker graduated in 1986 from Mattawan High School. She earned a B.A. in business from Michigan State University in 1990 and a J.D. from the Detroit College of Law in 1993.

Professional career

Prior to her election to the Michigan House of Representatives, Schuitmaker unsuccessfully ran for an open Van Buren County Circuit Judge seat to replacing a retired judge,[1] she was 28 years old and had practiced law for 3 years. Schuitmaker was a partner in her family's law firm of Schuitmaker, Cooper and Schuitmaker.[1] At her family's firm, Schuitmaker focused on estate, family, business and governmental law. Schuitmaker is licensed to practice law in Michigan, Florida and Illinois.

Roles within State House of Representatives

Community involvement

Schuitmaker has served on the State of Michigan Board of Medicine, the Van Buren Community Mental Health Board, and the Intercare Community Health Network. She is also a member of the Van Buren County Community Corrections Advisory Board. Schuitmaker is involved with the Paw Paw Rotary, the Paw Paw Optimist Club, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Farm Bureau. She has also served as president of the Van Buren County Republican Women and as Vice Chair for Van Buren County Republicans. Schuitmaker served as the State Chairperson for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Schuitmaker was named a 2014 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow.[2]

Personal

Schuitmaker, her husband Steve, and their two children, Jordan and Savina, live in Lawton, Michigan.

Electoral history

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/07/post_67.html
  2. ↑ "About the Rodel Fellowship Program".
  3. ↑ http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/10GEN/07020000.html
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