Matthew DenOtter is running to represent Michigan’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He will challenge other Republicans, Justin Michal and incumbent Jack Bergman, in the August primary. (Photo courtesy of Matthew DenOtter)

HOUGHTON — Republican Congressional candidate Matthew DenOtter is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Michigan’s 1st Congressional District. He is hoping to unseat incumbent Jack Bergman. The 1st Congressional District contains the 15 counties of the Upper Peninsula and 20 counties in the Lower Peninsula.

“I grew up in Grand Rapids. I earned a bachelor’s degree from Calvin University in 1998.,” he said. “My first job that I took in the U.P. was in Harvey, where I served in health care 25 years ago, so I actually lived in the community. I love this community.”

As a former U.P. resident, DenOtter said he got to experience all the hardships they go through and he understands their concerns.

DenOtter said he does not consider himself a politician. He thinks of himself as a small business owner who wants to try politics differently. He wants to make the district smaller. He wants to work with officials on the local level to bring about change.

“Right now, we’re functioning in silos with state and federal,” he said. “They’re not really working on the same missions together,” he said, “and this is why we’re having all this impasse with not being able to cross red tape, getting started over with the DEQ, with EGLE and Line 5.”

That is, he said why he wants to approach politics from a businessman’s perspective; to help the community like a businessperson.

“We’re getting stuck in policy,” he said. “What business we do, we find work-arounds that the right way to do it, but we actually push that policy with out investors and our influence instead of just using it for ourselves.”

DenOtter said Michigan needs candidates who are going to be committed to the mission of integrity, and transparency. To achieve that, he will form stakeholder groups in the local communities to bring people together constantly to hear about local issues that will initiate discussion that will result in progress.

“There’s a lot things that are happening because of policy. What you want to do is focus on communications,” he said. “Start driving policy locally first, meaning talk to your county commissioners, figure out which – because we have 36 counties – it’s a vast difference. We’ve got to get out there and we’ve actually got to talk with local staff and how to drive policy up, not down.”

DenOtter said he will use his influence as a congressman to push for change.

“When you’re at the federal level, they need you for the things that the people around the nation feel are important,” he said. “So, we go back to the district. We go to those problems like the bridge, or the prison here in Houghton.”

DenOtter said he has ideas related to the issues facing the Porcupine Mountains that can result in changes everyone would be happy with.

“We can make part of it a national lakeshore, and if I get it classified as a national park, what will happen is it will increase those camping days from two to 14 days,” he said.

“If it’s done right with the trail system and with the people keeping the hunters happy – we can do that.”

Policy changes and fixes are needed in the Western U.P., said DenOtter, because they are needed to start bringing revenue to the region.