Two candidates will vie for the state Senate 1st District in the Nov. 8 general election.
Incumbent Democrat Erika Geiss takes on challenger, Republican Erik Soderquist, for a four-year term in the recently re-configured District 1. Geiss currently represents the 6th District.
The 1st District consists of southwest Detroit, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, Ecorse, River Rouge, and most of the cities of Allen Park and Taylor.
Each candidate was asked three questions with a 75- to 100-word limit for each response. Responses over the word limit were edited. Soderquist did not respond to the questionnaire by publication time.
Erika Geiss
1. List your education, and experience or skills you posses that make you a qualified candidate.
My qualifications include eight consecutive years in the legislature (four per chamber), strong research, communications and listening skills. Prior to serving, I taught in higher education and worked in the field of my masters’ degree doing museum curatorial work. I have participated in two competitive national legislative leadership fellowship programs, earned awards for my legislative work and advocacy, had three bills signed into law, and written content that led to departmental policy changes.
2. If (re)elected, what are three issues facing your constituents would you work to address and how?
There are many issues that I work on and will continue to work that are rooted in economic justice, educational equity, reproductive justice, and environmental justice. Three issues facing constituents that I have led on are paid family leave, improving funding to our public schools so that all of our students can have an equitable education pre-K through post-secondary years, and climate resiliency for households and local communities. None of these issues can be addressed without collaboration with the individuals and organizations that focus on the areas that such policy or legislative changes impact.
3. Why are you seeking (re)election? Why should people vote for you?
I am seeking re-election for a final term because I am focused on policies to help people thrive, not merely survive. I know the importance of constituent services, which at the individual level often have greater direct impact than writing and voting on bills. Every term that I have served, I have secured funding for my district, and I know that every policy and funding area is interconnected. I will always stand up for and amplify the voices and collective intersectional needs of the diverse, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multiracial, mixed income communities in the district that I serve.