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| Jeff Oesterle (R) |
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| Jerry Ketchum (D) |
HOLT — Long-time township trustee Jerry Ketchum has announced he will run as a Democrat for a State House of Representative seat held by Republican Barb Byrum who is term limited.
Ketchum said he plans to file with the county clerk’s office this week. The deadline to file for the seat is May 15.
“I’m expecting at least four other Democrats to run for the seat,” Ketchum said. “I think my experiences at the state level will be a tremendous asset for the people of the district.”
Ketchum, 64, a trustee for the last 12 years, said he has always been interested in state politics, but as a state employee could not run for office without giving up his job with the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Ketchum retired a year ago and is now able to seek the 67th district seat. He is likely to face Mason’s Jeff Oesterle, a Republican, who has filed to run for the seat again. Oesterle lost to Byrum in 2010 in a close race.
“It seems as though this is the right time,” Ketchum said. “There have been recent issues in state government for which I feel I could be very helpful, including the taxing of state workers’ retirements and others on the horizon.”
Ketchum was a volunteer for the Retirement Coordinating Council, a group that worked to influence laws that affected union retirees. With the MDOT he designed specifications for storm sewers.
Ketchum, 64, said he said his religion four years ago inspired him to something for the community, and he decided public office would be the best way make that happen.
Ketchum has been a trustee for 12 of the last 16 years. He was born and raised in south Lansing. He served in the military during the Vietnam War. He then settled in Holt and has been married for 42 years with five children and 11 grandchildren.
“I’m going to file with the county clerk’s office and start knocking on doors soon to talk with residents about their concerns,” Ketchum said.
Meanwhile Oesterle said he is running again because he likes the momentum that his party has had recently.
“I like some of the things that are happening and I want to help that continue,” Oesterle said.
Oesterle was a Vevay Township trustee and then supervisor for 20 years. He has been an active member in the community as a member of the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce, local Future Farmer’s of America, vice-chair of the Ingham County Republican Party and member of the National Rifle Association.
Ketchum said he plans to file with the county clerk’s office this week. The deadline to file for the seat is May 15.
“I’m expecting at least four other Democrats to run for the seat,” Ketchum said. “I think my experiences at the state level will be a tremendous asset for the people of the district.”
Ketchum, 64, a trustee for the last 12 years, said he has always been interested in state politics, but as a state employee could not run for office without giving up his job with the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Ketchum retired a year ago and is now able to seek the 67th district seat. He is likely to face Mason’s Jeff Oesterle, a Republican, who has filed to run for the seat again. Oesterle lost to Byrum in 2010 in a close race.
“It seems as though this is the right time,” Ketchum said. “There have been recent issues in state government for which I feel I could be very helpful, including the taxing of state workers’ retirements and others on the horizon.”
Ketchum was a volunteer for the Retirement Coordinating Council, a group that worked to influence laws that affected union retirees. With the MDOT he designed specifications for storm sewers.
Ketchum, 64, said he said his religion four years ago inspired him to something for the community, and he decided public office would be the best way make that happen.
Ketchum has been a trustee for 12 of the last 16 years. He was born and raised in south Lansing. He served in the military during the Vietnam War. He then settled in Holt and has been married for 42 years with five children and 11 grandchildren.
“I’m going to file with the county clerk’s office and start knocking on doors soon to talk with residents about their concerns,” Ketchum said.
Meanwhile Oesterle said he is running again because he likes the momentum that his party has had recently.
“I like some of the things that are happening and I want to help that continue,” Oesterle said.
Oesterle was a Vevay Township trustee and then supervisor for 20 years. He has been an active member in the community as a member of the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce, local Future Farmer’s of America, vice-chair of the Ingham County Republican Party and member of the National Rifle Association.
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