Mike Bouchard, not the sheriff but paratrooper son, runs for Congress

Mike Bouchard — not the longtime sheriff of Oakland County, however his son — is working for an open seat within the U.S. Home of Representatives in Michigan.

An Military Nationwide Guard captain and graduate of Michigan State College, Bouchard introduced his choice on Thursday, Nov. 6, to run as a Republican within the tenth Congressional District, for a seat presently held by U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township.

James is working for governor subsequent 12 months. Bouchard — whose marketing campaign assertion refers to him as “Captain Bouchard” to differentiate him from his father — stated he made his announcement after serving 9 months with the Guard in Iraq. It’s his first run for political workplace.

“My household taught me that service isn’t a slogan, it is a responsibility,” stated Bouchard, 31, who lives in Rochester Hills. “I’ve worn the uniform of our nation and confronted America’s enemies overseas. Now I’m able to combat for our folks right here at dwelling – to maintain our households secure, our jobs native and to assist make our nation robust once more.”

In line with Bouchard’s marketing campaign, he was a paratrooper, had served in each the 82nd and one hundred and first Airborne Divisions and had been deployed to the U.S. southern border and in Iraq. It says he has acquired a Bronze Star for management and has served as chief operations officer for an infantry battalion of 1,200 troopers within the Michigan Military Nationwide Guard and as a member of a joint job pressure towards ISIS within the Center East.

Bouchard’s marketing campaign emphasised his Michigan roots and pointed to his father’s profession in legislation enforcement; the elder is Bouchard, a former member of the Michigan Legislature sheriff in Oakland County since 1999 — and the truth that his grandfather labored for Basic Motors and retired from a GM plant in Warren within the tenth District.

The district consists largely of southern Macomb County, with solely a sliver of Oakland County that features Rochester and Rochester Hills. A number of different Republicans have filed for the seat, together with Marine Corps veteran Steven Elliott; Casey Armitage, a former workplace administrator who works with a gun rights group; and, most importantly, Robert Lulgjuraj, a Macomb County prosecutor who raised greater than $650,000 for his run over the last reporting interval on September 30.

A possible tossup district. Democrats working for the seat embody Pontiac Mayor and former state lawmaker Tim Greimel, former prosecutor Christina Hines, legal professional Brian Jaye and former Commerce Division legal professional Eric Chung.

A group of Bouchard’s supporters had labored for months to lift cash and embody Bouchard within the race, with some Republicans apprehensive that with out James within the seat, it could possibly be misplaced to Democrats.

In his marketing campaign announcement, Bouchard stated he plans to focus his candidacy on “restoring security and safety, rebuilding manufacturing in Michigan and defending those that serve.”

“Michigan constructed the instruments that received wars, now we’ll rebuild the financial system that wins the longer term,” Bouchard stated. “President Trump is placing America first, and our financial system will reap the advantages. Michigan’s tenth District deserves nothing much less, and that’s my promise.”

Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Comply with him on Twitter@tsspangler.