Two candidates are running to represent District 43, which includes the Clarkston area, in Lansing – Democrat Nicole Breadon and Republican Andrea Schroeder.
Nicole Breadon is a mom of two boys with special needs, small business owner and advocate for workers.
“I can be an inclusive voice representing all people,” Breadon said. “I moved to Clarkston in 1974 and have roots that run deep and I would be so proud to represent the community I grew up in.”
Her top priorities are equitable funding for public schools, proper investment for infrastructure including roads, bridges, water systems, and assurance that our drinking water stays safe.
Michigan legislature can properly fund public schools by eliminating the $100-plus million in School Aid Fund money being spent out of the state budget on a variety of non/school related projects. Also, keep School Aid Fund money in K-12 and restore the School Aid Fund to its intended constitutional purpose, she said.
“Michigan needs to hold businesses accountable that pollute and require those businesses to absorb the cost of clean ups opposed to it falling on taxpayers,” she said.
One of the challenges facing the district is being able to run a positive campaign based on ideas of how to make improvements without being attacked by the opposition, Breadon said.
“Lies and negativity do not belong in campaigns and I hope voters appreciate that hard work and truth can win elections,” she said. “Another challenge is the cost of healthcare. Although this is mostly a federal issue, Michigan can hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for price gouging and if elected, I will support efforts to reduce the costs of healthcare.”

Andrea Schroeder has served as an Independence Township trustee, president of the Clarkston Area Optimists Club, former teacher and 20-year parent volunteer in the schools.
Her top priorities include economic development, education reform, and infrastructure improvements.
“I will pursue policies that promote government working with the business community to create the proper business environment, and support workforce development for critical job needs: professional trades, technology, health care, and engineering,” she said.
For education reform, the state needs to develop a plan all stakeholders can adopt, and stick with it, she said.
For infrastructure improvements, she will work to develop a comprehensive infrastructure plan that balances critical repairs and long-term improvements for roads, bridges, and waterways.
“As a township trustee, I approved construction projects here that included these provisions, and we had substandard concrete replaced at no additional cost to our taxpayers. Moving forward, we need to look at operational efficiencies along with adjusting taxes and user fees that complement future mobility technologies,” she said.
Challenges facing the district include economic development, roads, and changing populations and lifestyles.
This was the first year that state funding approved a few years ago hit the surface of the roads, and we’ll continue to see construction cones in coming years, she said.
Making Michigan a top choice to live, work, and raise a family starts at the local community level and the changing demographics of communities in our district create challenges, Schroeder said.
“As our state representative, I will support state fiscal policies and programs that help provide local governments and service organizations options they need to set their community priorities,” she said.