CANCELLED – Panel Discussion with Sen. Bumstead, Rep. Sabo and Rep. VanWoerkom

Muskegon Community College is hosting a panel discussion with State Senator Jon Bumstead and State Representatives Terry Sabo and Greg VanWoerkom on Friday, Jan. 25, at 2:30 p.m. in the Sturrus Technology Center, 388 W. Clay.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be moderated by MCC President Dale K. Nesbary, who will ask each legislator to share his vision and top priorities.

“We are pleased to have our state senator and representatives on campus to share their perspectives on the upcoming legislative session,” said Nesbary. “Our students and the community will benefit from the diverse perspectives shared.”

State Sen. Jon Bumstead

A lifelong resident of the 34th Senate District, Bumstead was born in Fremont and is a graduate of Newaygo High School and the Newaygo County Career Tech Educational Center Building Trades Program. He began his own construction firm 39 years ago and over the years, Bumstead Construction has built and remodeled many homes.

In 2010, Bumstead was elected to represent the 100th District in the Michigan House of Representatives. He served three terms in the state House and was term limited in 2016. In that time, he served as vice chair for the House Committee on Appropriations, and was a member on several appropriations subcommittees.

In 2018, he was elected to represent the 34th state Senate District, which includes the counties of Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana. Bumstead currently chairs the Natural Resources and Environmental Quality Appropriations subcommittee.

An avid sportsman, Bumstead is a member of the National Rifle Association, Michigan United Conservation Corps and is the former president of the Safari Club International’s Michigan chapter. He has hunted in Canada, the Artic, in northern Australia and in Africa. He’s also hunted in Alaska and all 48 states in the continental United States.

Bumstead is also active in his community. He is a member of several Chambers of Commerce throughout the district, the Michigan Home Builders Association, among many other local groups. He also served as a volunteer firefighter with the Newaygo Area Fire and Rescue Command.

State Rep. Terry J. Sabo

Sabo is serving his second term representing Michigan’s 92nd House District, which includes the cities of Muskegon, Muskegon Heights and North Muskegon along with the townships of Muskegon, Laketon, Fruitland and Whitehall.

In his first term, he served as Democratic vice chair of the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee and on the Agriculture, Workforce & Talent Development, Local Government and Transportation & Infrastructure committees.

Sabo has always put his community first. As a lifelong resident of Muskegon County, he has dedicated his time to developing a safer and prosperous Muskegon. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force as a security policeman before his more than 25 years of employment as a Muskegon Heights firefighter and police officer. During his career, he has also worked part-time for the North Muskegon Police Department and the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Department.

From 2011-2012, he served as a Muskegon County Road Commissioner before being elected to the Muskegon County Board of Commissioners in 2012. His colleagues elected him chair in 2015 and 2016.

Sabo strongly believes in civic service and is a member of several service organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post #8846, American Legion Post #9, Muskegon Northside Lions Club, Muskegon Heights Optimist Club, and many others.

State Rep. Greg VanWoerkom

VanWoerkom was elected in 2018 as state representative of the 91st District in the Michigan House of Representatives. The 91st District encompasses part of Muskegon County including the cities of Montague, Norton Shores, Roosevelt Park, Whitehall, and the townships of Blue Lake, Casnovia, Cedar Creek, Dalton, Egleston, Fruitport, Holton, Montague, Moorland, Ravenna, Sullivan and White River.

VanWoerkom has a bachelor’s degree from Calvin College and a master’s degree in political leadership from George Washington University.

He was the district director for U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga and previously served as the senior policy advisor to U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra. He serves on the board of the United Way of the Lakeshore and board president for Western Michigan Christian High and Middle School. He is also a member of the Muskegon Rotary Club and Covenant Life Church.