Former ABC 10 reporter kicks off state House campaign

A longtime Upper Peninsula journalist has thrown his hat into the ring for a state representative seat this fall.

Republican Pete Mackin of Chocolay Township kicked off his campaign for the 109th District House seat this morning in Marquette. Mackin has worked as a print and broadcast journalist for many different U.P. media outlets, including ABC 10 at one time.

“I’ve found that the solutions (to major issues) are out there if you ask the right questions,” he said. “The main reason I’m running is to take what I’ve learned from covering the Upper Peninsula as a reporter to Lansing to advocate for what our plans are.”

He’s challenging Democratic incumbent John Kivela of Marquette. Mackin has extensive experience with county-level advisory positions, and he believes he can use that experience to help the district.

“Many times, the state, I believe, directs local governments or they create unfunded mandates, which puts a burden on local governments to try to come up with money to provide services that they have no say in how they are done,” Mackin said.

Mackin ran for the same seat in 2009 but dropped out of the race more than a year before election day. He also ran for the state Senate in 2006 but lost to Democrat Mike Prusi.