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MiMfg Magazine
January 2020
Tristan Cole
Keynote
Conversation
State Representative
Michigan House of Representatives
us about your background
Q: Tell
and how that helps you to be
an effective voice for your
constituents, including the
manufacturing employers in
your district?
Representative Cole: I have
always enjoyed serving others and
representing my community. I
served on the board of the Antrim
County Farm Bureau for 12 years, two of
those years as president. I also served two years
on the Michigan Farm Bureau’s State Policy
Development Committee and Antrim County
Republican Party chairman. I have nearly 20 years
of executive experience as a member of many
diverse boards and committees at the local, regional
and state level. Today, I serve as the Majority Floor
Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives
and Representative of the 105th House District.
These various positions have enabled me to connect
with significant manufacturers and witness the
important role they play throughout the district.
The manufacturing industry provides a great deal
of careers and essential resources to the community.
are the priority issues and challenges
Q: What
the Legislature should work on in 2020
and why?
Representative Cole: If I had to select my top
three, they would be:
1. Clarify the role of the Administrative Rules
process and ensure adequate checks and
balances are properly placed in the democratic
process. These checks and balances also
provide the public with greater transparency
for its elected officials.
2. Ensure there are proper and efficient methods
of drug testing. With the legalization of
marijuana and an increase in alcohol and
opioid dependency in recent years, citizens
and businesses deserve to have adequate
resources to protect employees from potential
1 1 First elected to serve the 105th District in
the Michigan House of Representatives
in November 2014.
1 1 Serves as vice chair of the Government
Operations Committee and also serves on
the House Fiscal Governing Committee
and Transportation Committee.
1 1 Recognized in September 2019 as
an MMA Legislator of the Year.
abuse. This is particularly important in the
manufacturing field to make sure workers are
safe whether they are operating an electric
screwdriver or heavy machinery.
3. Provide increased access to aggregate materials.
Road repair and long-term infrastructure are
hot topic issues and increased access to road-
building materials can lower the cost and pave
the way for increased road repair at a decreased
cost to the state and its taxpayers.
has created a nation-leading
Q: Michigan
205,000 new manufacturing jobs since
June 2009. What needs to happen for
Michigan manufacturing to continue to be
an attractive career option for jobseekers?
Representative Cole: First, monitoring regulatory
control and keeping new rules to a minimum will
continue to allow more people to have a sustainable
career in manufacturing. Expand and strengthen
available routes for those interested in manufacturing
careers. Also, keeping parents informed about
these viable career options in manufacturing will lead
to more growth and sustainability in the industry.
What is your long-term vision for Michigan?
Q: Representative
Cole: For Michigan’s long-term,
I would like to see continued steady growth and
connectivity for our rural communities. We have
made some great progress in the past but still have
more work to do. It is also very important to work
towards keeping Michigan a top destination state
for recreation.
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