(Source: MIRS.news, Published 04/09/2024) Randy LeVasseur, a real estate broker and attorney has filed to primary Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) in the 66th House District, saying that individuals came to him after Schriver’s controversial social media posts and their feeling that they don’t have a representative in Lansing.
LeVasseur, who calls himself a fiscal conservative, said he’s inspired by such political influences as former President Ronald Reagan. He said besides Schriver’s tweets, the incumbent is not working with local officials or constituents in his work in Lansing.
LeVasseur said he met Schriver prior to his first campaign after moving to the district and told him he wished he could do what he was doing, but since his relocation was so fresh, he felt he hadn’t yet earned the right to represent the community. LeVasseur said he later found out Schriver also recently located to the district, three weeks after he did.
“He’s embarrassing the district through these radical tweets that he’s putting out,” LeVasseur said, adding that he’s a believer in a secure border by cutting down on fentanyl flow and combating human trafficking, but that race is not an appropriate reason to be concerned about the border.
“It’s not about race. It should never be about race. Josh should not have made it about race. And I’m not saying he’s racist. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but that graphic that was used in that tweet was definitely racist. No question,” he said, later adding that making immigration into a racial issue is the antithesis of being a conservative because it pushes identity politics.
LeVasseur said he takes issue with Schriver’s belief that he’s in Lansing to serve God rather than his constituents, and that the two are not mutually exclusive.
“I admire his faith, I’m a Christian, as well,” LeVasseur said. “You can serve God and serve your constituents at the same time.”
MIRS asked LeVasseur what his ideal campaign, term and political career would look like.
LeVasseur said his campaign is about being accessible to people, and it’s not possible to represent them if there isn’t an understanding of their concerns.
“We have two ears and one mouth for a reason,” he said.
He ran in the former 26th House district in 2016 but lost in the primary to former Rep. Jim Ellison and was elected twice to the Royal Oak City Commission.
In office, he said even though Republicans are in the minority, a representative can still help constituents with problems they have with the government or advancing certain causes. His legislative priorities align with protecting seniors, public safety, fighting high prices, and roads and infrastructure.
As regards politics, he said he’s already had a long career and that making any plans beyond the election at this point would be premature.
“I’m 60 years old. I’ve had a career. I guess given the state of the current candidates for the White House I could still have a very long career, but that’s not the way I look at it,” he said.
LeVasseur said he has financial commitments for $30,000 for his campaign so far, though not all the funds have been received yet.
He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan after he grew up as the second oldest of six children in a blue-collar household. He and his wife, Joan, live in Oxford Township.
Schriver did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publishing.
