Profile: Winnie Brinks

Name:  Winnie Brinks

Office you are Seeking:  State House of Representatives, 76th District

Current Profession: Caseworker

Age: (optional): 44

Where Do you Live: Grand Rapids

Marital Status and Children: Married with three daughters
 
 
Questionnaire:
Why did you choose to run for this office?

I am running for state representative in the 76th House District because it’s time for an honest voice in Lansing. Recent events show us that some of our elected officials are putting their self-interest ahead the people they were elected to represent. I’m running to put the needs of Grand Rapids families, students, senior citizens and businesses first again.

What is the most pressing problem facing the State of Michigan?

Jobs and education are tied together as the number one pressing problem Michigan faces.  We need good jobs for our workers and for our young people who are finishing school and entering the job market. In order to draw good jobs to our communities, we have to have a well-educated workforce.

Our workers must have jobs that will allow them to support their families. Our businesses are looking for a good climate so that they can grow and invest here.

Fully supporting our public schools means we need to restore the funding that was taken from our schools over the past two years. Lansing is shortchanging our students, and our state’s future, when they cut school funding and force our school districts to eliminate programs and teachers and increase class-sizes. Good teachers, textbooks, technology and classroom resources will prepare our students so they can win the best jobs when it’s time for them to join the workforce.

Under the current administration in Michigan there have been both more revenues (taxes), and cuts in the budget.  Do you prefer a more balanced combination of the two to continue balancing the budget or would you prefer more taxes or more cuts?

Michigan residents have every right to expect that their state government should work efficiently and spend their tax dollars wisely. Spending money wisely does not mean, however, that we cut programs and services that are essential to our residents, or that we pay for state services by increasing the tax burden on those who can least afford it: middle-class families and senior citizens. Everyone benefits from a strong infrastructure, public safety, education, and other essential services the state offers. We need to ensure that businesses receiving tax credits are actually creating jobs.  The tax burden should not fall too heavily on the middle class and senior citizens. Our tax structure should be simple and fair, with everyone contributing to generate the necessary revenue for essential services.

What do you bring to this race, and potentially to the office you seek, that would make a difference for the people of Michigan?

I’m a mother, a caseworker and an education advocate. From my work in our schools, and as the parent of three school-age daughters, I know first-hand the effects of funding cuts in our classrooms. As a caseworker, I have worked with businesses to retain employees, which improves companies’ bottom-lines.  The techniques that we use in Grand Rapids can be a model for businesses across our state. I will work together with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get Lansing’s focus back on the important issues that will help move our state forward: educating our children, keeping police officers and firefighters on the job, supporting businesses, and protecting the natural environment.

Given the political polarization in Lansing and Washington, D.C., is there something you would do to try and change that culture or do you believe that highly partisan politics is simply "the way it is" in today's legislative environment.

I am not a career-politician. I am not interested in playing political games in Lansing. To do what is right for Michigan families, we have to put extreme partisan politics aside and work together. I will work with anyone who puts Michigan families first and is ready to work hard for what is best for them. I will build solid personal relationships with the Republican and Democratic legislators from West Michigan. By working together to solve our region’s problems, we can show the rest of the state how bipartisanship works. I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and from across the state: I will listen to what they have to say, have civil conversations about the issues we face, and work hard to solve Michigan’s problems.