Watershed Voice sent out questionnaires to over 30 candidates in contested local, state, and national races in St. Joseph County and the surrounding area for the November 3 General Election. In the days leading up to Election Day, Watershed will publish the answers it has received. Marcia Squier, a Green Party candidate for Michigan’s open seat in the United States Senate, filled out our questionnaire. These are her answers.
Name: Marcia Squier
Age: 45
Address: 5599 15 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48310
Party affiliation: Green
Are you an incumbent? No
Family (optional): Divorced, Single Mom with 3 Daughters (18, 12, & 11 years old)
Background/Bio:
Lifelong Michigander, born and raised in Metro Detroit. 4th of 5 kids growing up, in a police/military household. I myself am a lifelong civilian, working in the private sector since the age of 9. All of my jobs I’ve held are centered around customer service/working with the public in a positive manner. I am currently a valet supervisor, with prior management experience.
Have you previously held public office, or have you served in a public leadership role? If so, what is your experience, and what are some of your accomplishments?
I have served 2 terms on a local park association Board of Directors (Chairman & 2nd Vice-president) and 1 term on a local middle school PTA (secretary). I have been a Nominee for US Senate twice (2018&20) and US House once (2016). I was also a National Delegate in both 2016 & 2020, and am a Presidential Elector for 2020.
In your opinion, what are the three most important issues to the area you are seeking to represent and its constituents, and why?
- Healthcare & Education for All
- Comprehensive Jobs program (#HIRE), centered around healthcare, infrastructure, renewables and education
- Ending the endless wars & putting that money to better use
What measures will you pursue to address those issues?
- G.I. Bill for All with a community service option
- Tax breaks and incentives for small companies as well as educational funding for skilled trades, teaching and medical industry professionals.
- Reduce current executive branch spending from 50+% down to ⅓ of our total budget, since it’s ⅓ of our government. Reduce Executive & Judicial Branch spending by ending the failed War on Drugs and reallocate those funds towards health and education instead of death and destruction.
What are the three most important national issues in your opinion? What is your position on those issues?
Healthcare, Education, and livable wages. I support this for everyone. We need a GI Bill for All with a community service option, and a jobs program centered around Healthcare, Infrastructure, Renewables and Education.
Do you agree that the American electorate is divided right now? If your answer is yes, what measures do you think elected officials can take to bring Americans together?
I sadly agree that the American electorate is divided right now. I am the only candidate running for U.S. Senate who is openly trying to stop both World War Three AND Civil War Two. Elected officials should actually do their job of checks and balances with the Executive Branch.
Instead, our current legislators write blank checks for the largest military budget in the history of the world, and continually let presidents violate the constitution and commit international crimes against humanity by bombing countries that never attacked us and pose no real threat to us.
Our elected officials should also refuse all donations from the military industrial complex. I am the only candidate in my race doing just that.
How long have you lived in the area you are seeking to represent?
I am a lifelong Michigander – all 45 years in the Greater Metro Detroit Area.
Why did you choose to run for the position that you did?
I chose to run for US Senate because Michigan deserves a pro-peace, noncorporate option on the ballot to represent them in Washington DC.
In your view, what role should the person in the office you are seeking serve?
The role of a US Senator is to represent the will of the people of their state—not the corporations.
Over the past several months, pandemic has required virtual meetings for many public bodies. Some are returning to in-person meetings, while others are not. Where do you stand on this both with respect to safety and to public access?
I support the measures that have been taken. As humans, we need to be able to adapt to an ever-changing environment and circumstances.
What other comments do you have regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?
My heart goes out to those who have been suffering the most because of this. Those who have lost loved ones, those who have passed, those still struggling to breathe, those first responders and essential workers are all in my thoughts as this pandemic wages on.
Is there anything else your prospective constituents should know about you, your platform, your views, or your background?
I have a deep and abiding loyalty to my home state and its people. I would be humbly honored to have the opportunity to serve the Great Lakes State in a truly non-corporate way.
