WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - The WRFH Interview: State Rep. Jennifer Wortz, 04/22/26

Episode Date: April 22, 2026

Michigan State Rep. Jennifer Wortz joins WRFH's Sophia Mandt to discuss finding candidates to run for public office, the recent Michigan Democrat convention, and the state House's version of the federal SAVE Act. From 04/22/26.

You're listening to Sophia Mant interview Michigan State Representative Jennifer Warts on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. She represents the 35th District in Lansing, covering most of Hillsdale and Branch counties. A recent article by the Detroit Free Press says that rural Michigan counties, such as Fayette Township in Hillsdale County, are struggling to find clerks after both major political parties declined to submit nominees. Why might Fiat and other rural counties be struggling to find anyone interested in filling this position? Yeah, this is becoming an ongoing problem within the state. And what has happened is with early voting expansion and some of the other duties that have been placed upon clerks, it's a job that has gone from being part-time to at times full-time and then some. and additional reporting requirements to the state,

and then in particular in VAT township that you highlighted, when you have a contentious issue as they are facing right now, there's not a lot of people that want to sign up to be in the crossfires of something like that that they're going to have to take a hard vote on. And, you know, townships have limited resources in rural communities. And so these people don't get paid a whole lot of money. And so it's just one of those things. I think it's hard to find people willing to do that job.

Do you think these problems reflect broader concerns about civic involvement in smaller communities, potentially as well? I think it's not just small communities. I think there's a broader conversation that, yeah, we could have about civic involvement. I mean, talk to most organizations. You have lions, Kowanas, Rotary. A lot of those civic organizations have closed and shut down over the years because it's just a lack of membership. Unfortunately, I think modern day technology, social media has unfortunately taken away some of that community desire for involvement and connection in person.

And we've replaced it with tech and thinking that, you know, if we're connected on social media, that's sufficient. it's really not, and it's oftentimes lacking for really that human connection and also service that we need. And so churches, you could have conversations in all of these kind of service and ministry organizations that will tell you that they're struggling. And in fact, to the others, I would say, is an aging population of baby boomers, and there's not as many of us coming up. behind them to fill those positions.

The Fayette Township Board recently adopted an ordinance to restrict the Heartward 2 solar project. The Township's new ordinance allows the board to limit the installation of renewable energy projects. However, the state can still override the township's request via a law signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Do you think the state will try to override the ordinance? Well, I'm hopeful. There was actually a court case on this last week on April 15th. that was heard in the Michigan Court of Appeals on this or Michigan Court of Claims. And so we're waiting for hearing that court case was filed

by multiple townships throughout the state, the Township Association, the County Association, and on behalf of the Michigan House of Representatives as well, because we all feel that Michigan Public Service Commission is actually overstepping the boundaries of that law. And that, in fact, as long as a local entity has a CREO, a certified renewable energy ordinance, and they are within the guidelines of the law, then it is not in the law or the power of Michigan Public Service Commission to override local control. So hopefully the courts will rule in our favor.

We should know that here in the next several weeks their decision. But, you know, I think townships need to proceed with having their own creos. I would encourage, and I have encouraged townships to make sure they work with an attorney and get those set up locally. And, you know, this case, however, its rules will probably be appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court. and they'll make a final decision on it. Why is the governor so dead set on putting new solar projects in the state, even if it goes against landowner wishes? Because it goes along with her policy and the Democrat trifecta that they pass through.

And even though you look at the data, you look at the facts of the matter is that there's no way that green energy is going to be able to produce the amount of power that we need for grid reliance and sustainability. You know, sometimes my dad used to say you can be right and you can be dead right. And I think this is a legacy she wants to stand on as she's leaving office. And so even though the data and the evidence is showing that this is not sustainable, She's just tunkering down on the fact that she's going to be right on this, even though logically it doesn't make sense.

You're listening to Sophia Mant interview Michigan State Representative Jennifer Warts on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. She represents the 35th District in Lansing, covering most of Hillsdale and Branch counties. At their convention over the weekend, Democrats selected Amir MacLeod as their nominee for a seat on the University of Michigan Board of Regents. Buclid represented pro-Hamas student demonstrators and has reposted X items, referring to Hezbollah leader Hassam Nasrallah as a martyr after he was killed in an Israeli strike. Does it appear that Jews no longer have a place in the Democratic Party?

Yeah, I think that's a question that several of them are asking. And I find it ironic that the Democrat Party breaks itself on the fact that they're supposed to, to be the party for everyone, yet the reality is they're quite the opposite of that. And if you don't go along with their current viewpoint or agenda, then you're villainized. And it seems like that's the case of what they're doing with their Jewish members. And all I would say is that, you know, on the conservative side of things, and we have said this for years, that the Republican party is for really the party of the people, for the people, by the people, that we have a lot of diversity within the Republican Party and things that we don't all agree on, but we can

respect each other in those differences and have civil conversations and ultimately. develop policy and directives that really is for the good of all Americans. And so I've talked to some of the Democrat colleagues who are Jewish on the other side of the aisle and have said, you should come over, you should join our side. You would be welcome. You recently hosted a group of students from Hillsdale College. What do you tell them about how the government really worked? and what surprises them about the visit?

Yeah, that was actually a really great, great visit. They had a lot of good questions afterwards. And ultimately, I just encourage them to get involved at the local level or even within the college. Again, going back to the question you asked earlier, you know, if we want to change and affect the community in which we live in, the best way to do that is to get involved at the local level, whether that's volunteering through your church, a civic organization,

or filing to run for local government. We need people. We need people who are, have good morals and values, work hard, and will be ethical while they're in office. And so that was really my great. challenge to them. You voted, along with House Republicans recently, to pass a bill that

perils the Federal Save Act, requiring proof of United States citizenship when registering to vote and identification when voting. It's not going to get to the governor's desk more than likely with the Democrat-controlled Senate in the way. What problems is this trying to solve? Well, we really want to follow, one, what we believe the Constitution says, that voting is for legal citizens of the United States. And secondly, it mirrors the SAVE Act that's being proposed in Congress at the federal level. And so this would make Michigan in line with that legislation as well and showing ID when you vote. that we want people to vote. We encourage people to vote, but you do need to be a U.S. citizen to vote.

And we saw in the last election in several instances here in Michigan where non-citizens voted, particularly over in the Ann Arbor and Detroit area. And so this is an effort to prevent that. Thank you. This has been Sophia Mant, interviewing Michigan State Representative Jennifer Warts. She represents the 35th District in Lansing, covering most of Hillsdale and branch counties. This is Radio Free Hillsdale, 101.7 FM.