State Representative Mary Valentine (Norton Shores) represents the 91st House District in West Michigan, which covers Muskegon County, excluding the city of Muskegon, and the northwestern township of Chesterfield in Ottawa County.
Since beginning her first term, Valentine has become a real fighter for Michigan workers and their families. Valentine has fought to create the best-educated workforce possible by ensuring that Michigan schools have the money to hire additional teachers, reduce class sizes and distribute necessary resources for our schools. Valentine has also fought to stop companies from siphoning Great Lakes water and shipping it out of state for profit. And also to put a stop to trash from Canada and other states that threatens our land, air, water and quality of life.
Valentine has also worked to end the drug industry's free ride in Michigan and hold big drug companies accountable when their drugs harm or kill our residents. She also supported a plan to ensure that Michigan residents – not out-of-state workers or illegal immigrants – get the first crack at jobs created by companies benefiting from state economic development programs or tax breaks.
"It's no secret that Michigan needs help, but at the core of every challenge there is opportunity," Valentine said. "Investing in our residents is the key to turning our economy around. I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get Michigan moving in the right direction."
Before coming to the Michigan House, Valentine spent 30 years as a speech and language therapist in Michigan's public schools, retiring from Reeths-Puffer Schools in June 2006. She also served as a Sunday school teacher for past the 16 years and served as director of church youth education.
She continues to be an active member of her community, attending local events and holding numerous town hall meetings in the district. Valentine and her husband, Phil, are the proud parents of two grown children, Robin and Shawn.