About Bill Huizenga…
PERSONAL
I was born Jan. 31, 1969 in Zeeland, Michigan, where I also grew up. My father taught me his strong work ethic, and from an early age, he instilled in me the true spirit of American patriotism and also gave me the tools I would need to have success in the business world. In 1987, I graduated from Holland Christian High School, and from there, went on to receive my bachelors from Calvin College. While in college, I met my beautiful wife Natalie. Natalie and I have five children, and we belong to Haven Christian Reformed Church in Zeeland.
PROFESSIONAL
During college I invested in my first real estate development and began making my mark in the private sector. Becoming a Realtor taught me the fundamentals of the business world, and it allowed me to exercise my entrepreneurial side in West Michigan. I was on track to make partner at my agency. However, in 1994 I was offered a job in Washington DC to work for Congressman Pete Hoekstra. However, I turned down the offer because I was enjoying my work in the private sector, and I didn’t want to leave beautiful West Michigan. However, in 1996 Congressman Hoekstra asked me to work for him again, and this time he had a job for me in West Michigan. I was still reluctant to leave real estate, but I also realized that I would probably never have another opportunity to serve my country in this manner.
Therefore, in 1997 I took the job and became Congressman Pete Hoekstra’s Director of Public Policy. For the next six years I traveled West Michigan representing the Congressman whenever he was in DC and learning about all of the unique issues in the various towns and cities of West Michigan. This position and the relationships that came from it gave me a truly deep understanding of the needs of West Michigan and the direction our country must take at both the federal and the state levels.
I could never quite leave behind the private sector however. In 1999, just as I was wrapping up my time with the Congressman, I purchased part of a small business in Jenison—Huizenga Gravel Inc.. I am still a co-owner of this business, and it has allowed me to not just appreciate the issues small business owners deal with from the outside, like some politicians claim to do, but actually experience these issues as a business owner myself right along with them.
In 2002 I decided that working for Hoekstra was still not enough and that I needed to be doing more for my country. Therefore, I decided to run for the Michigan House of Representatives and was elected to serve the southern portion of Ottawa County, Michigan’s 90th District. I came to Lansing with the zeal and passion to get the job done. Unfortunately, my time in Lansing was one of the most frustrating chapters of my life. Anytime we had a bill worth voting for, it was vetoed after it passed the house and the senate, and many of the votes that should never even have been proposed were challenged by only myself and a handful of colleagues. But even though I’ve now been out of Lansing for years, I have continued to work against those in the Michigan government who persistently harass our time tested conservative values.
In 2009, I was out of the Michigan House of Representatives, and I watched most of the financial crisis not as a legislator, but as a small business owner. However, when I saw the manner in which our government was dealing with the situation, attempting to borrow its way out of debt, I realized that once again I could do more for my country by getting involved and running for office. But unlike my six years in Lansing, where we were unable to solve Michigan’s problems, this time I saw a conservative movement beginning and an opportunity to begin steering this nation in the right direction as part of a new Republican team that is open to working together to begin the healing of America. It won’t just take one freshman legislator from West Michigan, and it will take decades to get us out of where we are, but I want to be part of the era that begins moving our country in the right direction.
It’s time to stop spending, create a suitable atmosphere where businesses can flourish and jobs can be created, and as always, protect the sanctity of life!
RESUME
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- I am a former licensed realtor and developer.
- I am the Co-owner of Huizenga Gravel, Inc., a third generation family business in Jenison.
- Zeeland Christian School Administrator.
HONORS AND AFFILIATIONS
- I have been my church’s representative to Michigan Right to Life for the past 9 years.
- I am an NRA member, Macatawa Bay Waterfowlers Member, and long time duck hunter.
- I am a member of Haven Christian Reformed Church.
- While in the Legislature, I was chosen as the Michigan Manufacturers Association 2005 Legislator of the Year, the Michigan Hotel and Motel Association 2007 Tourism Legislator of the Year, the DADS and MOMS of Michigan 2007 Legislator of the Year, and the Michigan Aggregates Association 2007 Legislator of the Year.
POLITICAL
- Served as Congressman Pete Hoekstra’s District Director from 1996 - 2002
- Served the 90th District in Michigan’s House of Representatives from 2003 - 2008
- 2nd Congressional District Republican Party Chairman 2007 – 2008
