By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Tonya Schuitmaker, formerly of the Cass County Prosecutor's Office, on Thursday announced her intent to run as a Republican candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives 80th District seat held by Rep. Mary Ann Middaugh, R-Paw Paw.
Schuitmaker is president of Van Buren County Republican Women, vice chair for the 6th Congressional Republican District and vice chair of the Van Buren County Republican Party.
She has served on numerous occasions as a precinct delegate and, in 2002, was U.S. Rep. Fred Upton's Van Buren County re-election chair.
Schuitmaker was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan and the American Bar Association in 1993. She was also admitted to the State Bar of Florida in 1994 and to the State Bar of Illinois in 1996.
Prior to starting private practice, she worked in the Cass County Prosecutor's Office under former prosecutor and current U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Margaret Chiara.
She also interned for former Michigan State Supreme Court Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley.
As a result of term limits, 80th District residents will have to elect a new state representative.
Schuitmaker said she has a great deal of experience in dealing with a range of Michigan's laws and regulations.
She is a partner in the law firm of Schuitmaker, Cooper and Schuitmaker. She has been practicing law since 1993 and concentrates in family, estate, business and governmental law.
She currently serves on the State of Michigan Board of Medicine and Intercare Community Health Network, where she formerly held the position as president. She previously served on the board of Van Buren Community Mental Health.
In addition to her involvement in promoting health care causes, Schuitmaker serves as a member of the Van Buren County Community Corrections Advisory Board and previously on the State Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons, where she was vice chair.
She is past president of the Van Buren County Bar Association and currently a member to the Representative Assembly of the State Bar of Michigan.
She is also involved in a variety of community and civic organizations that include Paw Paw Rotary -- Paul Harris Fellow, Paw Paw Optimist Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, South Haven Association of University Women, Farm Bureau, Friends of the Library, Michigan Flywheelers, Fraternal Order of Police, Mattawan Alumni Association and the Maritime Museum.
In the past she has been involved with the Van Buren County Historical Museum and Habitat for Humanity.
Raised in Antwerp Township, Schuitmaker graduated from Mattawan Consolidated Schools in 1986.
She earned her bachelor of arts degree, with a major in business administration, from Michigan State University in 1990.
After graduating from MSU, she attended Detroit College of Law, where she graduated cum laude in 1993.
Tonya lives in Lawton with her husband, Steve, and their two children, Jordan and Savina. She enjoys coaching AYSO soccer. Her family is also active in their church in Paw Paw.
www.votetonya.com