NOVEMBER 3 • 2022 | 17

history, we’ve had dark moments before,
and we’ve always come out the other side
thanks to two things: engaged citizens and
principled leaders. Engaged citizens are
normal people standing up and saying,
“I’m not a political person, I’m not an
activist, but I’m not going to accept what’s
going on.” When they do, they’re met by
principled leaders who listen to them and
do the right thing, even when it isn’t easy.
The people of this district are engaged
citizens, and I’m going to do my best to be
the principled leader they deserve.

HOW MIGHT YOU WORK TO
ENHANCE THE LONG AND RICH
HISTORY BETWEEN THE STATE
OF MICHIGAN AND THE STATE OF
ISRAEL?
My work with Israel started long
before my time in Congress. It first began
when I worked at an Israel non-profit
organization in Haifa a few years after
college. Later on, during my time serving
as acting Assistant Secretary of Defense
for International Security Affairs, I worked
closely with Israeli officials at the Ministry
of Defense and in the Israeli Defense
Forces (IDF) on regional security issues
that would impact both our countries.
My work involved protecting Israel’s
Qualitative Military Edge (QME) in the
region, as well as expanding joint military
exercises and bilateral security assistance
between our two countries. In addition, I
led teams that advocated for U.S. funding
to support Israel’s research, development,
and procurement of the Iron Dome
missile defense system in 2014, as well as
negotiations of a U.S.-Israel Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) in 2016 that will
provide $38 billion in missile defense and
security assistance funding to Israel over
10 years. I will continue to support that
aid and the relationship between Israel,
our country, and our state in Congress.

Tom Barrett

TOM BARRETT
DESCRIBE YOUR TOP
THREE PRIORITIES IF
ELECTED?
Lowering the Cost of
Gas and Groceries —
Inflation is now so high
that it robs every working

American of an entire month’s pay
over the course of a year. Gas is still
unaffordable for working families.
I oppose the endless spending that
fuels inflation, and I will fight to
make America energy-independent
once again to bring down the cost of
fuel for your car and the gas to heat
your home.
Border security — This district is over
1,500 miles from the Southern border, but
we are now a border community under
Joe Biden and Elissa Slotkin. Fentanyl
is pouring over the border and now
represents the leading cause of death in
Americans age 18-45. I will vote to give
agencies the tools they need to enforce our
immigration laws and will also work to
finally secure the border.
Crime — Lansing, the central hub of
the 7th District, was recently named the
9th most dangerous city in the country
according to FBI statistics. We need to
fully fund our police officers so they
have the tools needed to enforce the law,
and we need to hold rogue prosecutors
accountable who let violent criminals back
on the streets.

WHAT ARE MICHIGAN’S GREATEST
CHALLENGES AND BEST
OPPORTUNITIES?
Michigan’s greatest challenges are
similar to the challenges we are seeing
across the country. The reckless spending
policies are driving inflation to historic
highs and decimating working-class
families. An unsecured southern
border has led to fentanyl pouring into
communities across the district. Crime
has also exploded in communities across
our district and state. Soft on crime
prosecutors who refuse to enforce laws
caused a direct spike in violent crime. In
fact, Michigan is home to 4 of the most
violent cities in America.
Michigan’s greatest opportunities are
our people and our resources. We are
home to the best workers in the country,
and we need Washington to get out of
the way so Michiganders can have the
freedom to provide for their families and
compete on a level playing field. We are
also home to an abundance of natural
resources. Unfortunately, Michigan

residents
are about to enter a cold winter with
record high home heating costs thanks
to Joe Biden and Elissa Slotkin’s war on
American energy. I will fight to make
America energy independent once again
without putting our natural resources at
risk.

HOW WILL YOU WORK TO CLOSE
THE POLITICAL DIVIDE THAT SEEMS
TO DOMINATE MUCH OF THE
POLITICAL AGENDA?
I have been an independent voice
during my legislative career in Lansing
and have voted against my own party 292
times. I have also had over 30 bipartisan
pieces of legislation signed into law by
both Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and
Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. I am
a conservative and I don’t hide my beliefs,
but I am willing to work with anyone who
wants to put the people of Michigan, and
America first.

HOW MIGHT YOU WORK TO
ENHANCE THE LONG AND RICH
HISTORY BETWEEN THE STATE
OF MICHIGAN AND THE STATE OF
ISRAEL?
I will work with my friends in the
Jewish community and other Jewish
leaders in Michigan to build the
relationships between Michigan and Israel
while I am a member of Congress. Israel
is one of our largest allies in the world.

11th District
Democratic incumbent Haley Stevens is
facing Republican challenger Mark Ambrose
in Michigan’s 11th District. The newly
drawn 11th District unites portions of three

continued on page 18