Michigan 95th House primary: Meet the Democratic candidates
Two Democratic candidates for Michigan's 95th State House seat, AnnMarie Horseman and Gary VanBlaricum, shared their stances on various issues including data center development. Horseman supports a yearlong moratorium on data centers, strict legislation to protect resources, and ending tax exemptions. VanBlaricum also expressed concerns about data centers' environmental and economic impacts.
Ahead of Michigan's Aug. 4 primary, Democratic candidates AnnMarie Horseman and Gary VanBlaricum, vying for the 95th state House seat, outlined their positions on several key issues. The district encompasses all of Midland County and parts of Gladwin County.
Regarding data center development, both candidates expressed concerns. Horseman, a special education teacher and Homer Township homeowner, firmly supports enacting a yearlong moratorium on new data center approvals to allow lawmakers time to establish protective guardrails. She advocates for legislation to prevent data centers from over-consuming Michigan's water and driving up energy costs, and opposes continuing sales and use tax exemptions for these corporations unless strict accountability measures, such as covering infrastructure costs and protecting utility rates, are in place.
VanBlaricum, a Midland resident, echoed these sentiments, questioning the value of data centers if they lead to job losses, environmental destruction, strain the electric grid, and do not benefit local communities. He suggested that if data centers could operate without noise, water usage, pollution, or grid strain, and not displace jobs, then he would be amenable to their presence. Both candidates also discussed reforms for Michigan's education system, approaches to the state's housing crisis, and the role of the Michigan Public Service Commission in regulating clean energy projects, with Horseman partially disagreeing with Public Act 233 of 2023 for stripping local governments of zoning authority.