Dear Editor,

Sometimes, I feel the behavior of our legislators in Washington and in Lansing are such that we would be better off completely removing the word “bi-partisan” from our vocabulary.
There are, however, glimmers of encouragement in the behavior of some of our legislators that a “bi-partisan” approach to representing all of the people they are elected to serve (political party preference aside) that still gives me hope.
One example of this positive behavior and true representation of the voice and needs of all people served is in House District #43, through State Representative Ms. Andrea Schroeder and her staff.
Shortly after moving to Clarkston, I met Ms. Schroeder when she served as an Independence Township Board Trustee. Then and since being elected to her current position, I have had the need to reach out to Representative Schroeder several times as a Clarkston resident on matters involving my ongoing advocacy on policy issues related to behavioral health, and more recently on an issue regarding unemployment benefits for our two sons.
At least in my experience, and I doubt that my positive experience with Andrea Schroeder’s representation and willingness to help is an anomaly, other legislators in Lansing and in Washington might want to take a lead from Representative Schroeder’s example.
Not sure if my comments will get further exposure but I hope they do as during a time when it seems like all that we hear and read is negative, I think we need to take the time for positive recognition when deserved.
Thanks to Representative Schroeder and her staff for their dedicated and ongoing “bi-partisan” representation.

Sincerely,
Robert White
Clarkston