By Staff
THREE OAKS - Cass County's state Sen. Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, today announced his bid for re-election to the 21st District Senate seat.
Jelinek, a native of Berrien County, was first elected to the Senate in November of 2002 and is seeking re-election to his second term in the Senate. 
He was first elected to the legislature in 1996 as a State Representative where he served six years before his election to the Senate.
Jelinek said, “I have been honored to serve as the 21st District Senator and have applied my common sense and experience as a farmer and former public school teacher in my everyday work in Lansing, as well as in the district.” 
The district is comprised of Berrien and Cass counties and all of Van Buren County except Paw Paw and Antwerp townships.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Jelinek chairs the School Aid and Community College Sub-Committees. 
He also is the Vice-Chair of the Agriculture Appropriations Sub-Committee and serves on the Department of Natural Resources Sub-Committee as well as on the Agriculture Policy Committee.
Some of the accomplishments Jelinek lists include:  the expansion of a local Renaissance Zone as well as the addition of new zones in the 21st District; the increased funding to K-12 school districts as well as increased funding for local “before” and “after” school programs and “school-based” health clinics for children; better control of methamphetamine labs; expanded opportunities for farmers and continued growth for the wine industries. 
He also said that one of his main goals has always been to serve his constituents needs and requests by finding solutions to their problems. 
Ron lives on the family farm in Three Oaks Township with his wife of 38 years, Diane. 
The primary election for the Senate seat is Aug. 8. The general election will be on Tuesday, Nov. 7.