Doug Murch
Doug Murch (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 45. He is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on August 6, 2024.[source]
Murch completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Doug Murch was born in Detroit, Michigan. Murch earned a high school diploma from Livonia Stevenson High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in 1991. His career experience includes working as an educator. He has been affiliated with the Greater Albion Area Chamber of Commerce, Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce, and Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
The primary will occur on August 6, 2024. The general election will occur on November 5, 2024. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 45
Doug Murch is running in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 on August 6, 2024.
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 | Doug Murch  | |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 45
Incumbent Sarah Lightner is running in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Sarah Lightner | |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Doug Murch completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Murch's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Doug Murch is a lifelong resident of Michigan and has called Marshall home for over 25 years. He is the father of two and the proud grandparent of twin grandsons. Doug graduated from Michigan State University, College of Education where he trained as a teacher. His education shapes the way he approaches problems. For 17 years, Doug viewed his work with the Jackson County Youth Center as a teacher, mentor, and role model. Working on our juvenile justice system's front lines, he went to work every day to keep his co-workers, the residents, and our community safe. Doug is proud of his service to the community. For 10 years Doug and his wife Claudia have been small business owners in Marshall. Owning and operating an independent retail business, they struggled through the pandemic without taking any government assistance and survived to continue on. When not helping at the store Doug is busy as a professional dog trainer. Doug and Claudia are tireless supporters of the community. Their businesses are known for providing a welcoming atmosphere with outstanding service. Doug has a long history of service: Member, Albion Chamber of Commerce Member, Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce Member, Marshall Chamber of Commerce Youth Specialist of the Year, Michigan Juvenile Detention Association. President, Board of Directors, Kinderhaus Marshall. Vice President, Marshall District Library Board Marshall Zoning Board of Appeals Chair, Board of the Jackson County Employee Retirement System.
- The State of Michigan has been doing a great job of rebuilding our freeways and state highways. Meanwhile, our townships and smaller communities do not have the tax base necessary to invest in their roads and they continue to deteriorate. Investment in our rural infrastructure has not kept up with the skyrocketing cost of construction. Most of Michigan’s road funding comes from two sources: motor fuel taxes and registration taxes. Our motor fuel tax is calculated per gallon sold - not as a percentage of cost. As our vehicles have become more efficient, and with an increase in electric vehicles, our funding for roads has greatly lagged behind use. If we are to sufficiently maintain our rural roads, we must find ways to diversify revenue.
- Working families need access to adequate childcare. Dual income is a necessity for most families. As such, parents need support so they can focus on putting food on the table. Access to daycare has a major impact on the Michigan economy. Inability to acquire childcare is the leading cause of underemployment in the State. Parents who are unable to access childcare experience undue challenges making ends meet. As a Board Member of Marshall Kinderhaus, Doug is fully aware of the challenges of providing quality education for children from birth to kindergarten. He will work to make safe, quality childcare available and affordable for working families.
- The voters of Michigan have spoken. Reproductive healthcare decisions should be left to you and your healthcare professionals. Politicians like my opponent would have us return to the 1930’s. Michigan’s 1931 law made all abortions illegal and subject to up to 4 years imprisonment for both the mother and medical personnel with few exceptions. My opponent voted against repealing this law that would force women to carry life-threatening, non-viable pregnancies to term. My opponent would make victims of rape and incest carry to term the results of that attack. My opponent is extreme and out of touch with the wishes of the voters of the State of Michigan.
Rural economic development.
Supporting working families.
Government Transparency.
It is critical that elected officials realize that they are elected to serve the people of their district and the State of Michigan and not their own personal interests. They must be humble enough to know that they alone do not have all the answers. To be an effective public servant you must be willing to listen to all points of view and recognize that everyone has something to contribute. Michigan Legislators must get out of the practice of voting the way their party tells them to instead of what they believe is the best decision. There will be disagreements and philosophical differences that are not easily solved, but that does not mean that the other person is your enemy or is ill-intentioned.
As a State Legislator, I believe that the most important duty is that of constituent services. The residents of a district look to their legislator to help them navigate the bureaucracy of State Agencies. Far too often legislators forget this responsibility and leave their constituents to fend for themselves.
That a Representative in my district is expected to represent everyone in the district regardless of political affiliation, financial resources, or political influence.
The assassination of Martin Luther King. I was just short of my 8th birthday. I remember my mom receiving a phone call from her sister and my mom starting to cry. I knew immediately what a sad event this was but having little knowledge of how important this event was.
Preparing chicken at a fast food takeout establishment. I worked there for about 6 months while I was in high school.
Into the Wild by John Krakauer. I am fascinated by the struggle between following one's own path and that of conforming to family and societal norms. Then when things go terribly wrong, should we feel sad, angry, or both about the decisions made and the consequences for oneself and others who are affected?
United States Senator Philip Hart.
A voter in my district recently shared her story of trying to meet with her representative. She is the sole care provider for her son who was permanently disabled in a car accident. She wanted to share with her representative how the changes to Michigan’s catastrophic auto insurance have negatively impacted the care that her son receives. Her representative will not meet with her and her son. I will remember this story to remind myself to always make time for my constituents who have concerns that they want to share with me.
Making the Governor's office and the Legislature subject to the same rules of the Freedom of Information Act that all other units of government are.
UAW Region 1D, Michigan AFL-CIO, AFSCME Michigan, Michigan Planned Parenthood, Equality Michigan Action Network, Bricklayers Local 1, Representative Jim Haadsma.
Labor, Education, Ethics and Oversight
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Michigan House of Representatives District 45 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 7, 2024
