STEPHENS

MARQUETTE — Continuing on with our senatorial candidate series, today’s article covers a new candidate entering the political arena: T.J. Stephens.

Stephen was born and raised in Texas, working as a Roustabout on an oil rig in the Texas Gulf Coast immediately after graduating high school. He explored a variety of industries, such as manufacturing, call center work and medical billing before eventually landing and now serving as a Senior Executive in the medical software industry. Stephens and his husband launched a real estate investment firm together with the goal of improving housing conditions and strengthening communities, and the two of them moved to Michigan from Texas in 2019.

When making the decision to run for a U.S. Senate seat that represents Michigan, Stephens explained that he strives to be a candidate who works collaboratively with constituents to find meaningful solutions to problems and concerns. With his experience living in all types of areas – whether that be urban, suburban or rural – has led him to see that issues such as high prices for gas, groceries and utilities are affecting everyone regardless of where they live. Most importantly, Stephens has noticed the lack of effective communication within government, and wishes to remedy that problem by opening up more dialogue and taking more time to listen to one another.

“My entire life, I’ve been a helper…the state, I feel like we’ve got some good candidates as far as the state’s concerned. I’m more concerned about what’s happening on a federal level. The barometer of the country is super high, and I specifically am running (with) no party affiliation because I do not want to disenfranchise anybody…I feel like the Republican Party does a good job of demonizing and marginalizing people, and that’s worrisome to me. The Democratic Party, although there’s a lot of good intentions, we’re, what? 30, I think it’s up to 37 trillion dollars in debt? That’s scary, that’s also not good. We’ve maxed out everything. So, as much as (America) might want to help people and do nice things for people, first of all, I believe that we need to take care of us first. I’ve seen the U.S. sponsor different things in other countries, like creating porta potties in Africa(n countries) or something. I understand that that’s a humanitarian effort, but at the end of the day, we need humanitarian (efforts) here at home first,” said Stephens. “My husband, on January 1st of this year, he goes ‘Can you believe you’re going to be 40 this year?’ So then I think that start(ed) a bit of just, thinking about (my journey.) Honestly, I just kept thinking about it and asking the universe, God, whatever, praying about it, ‘Why am I here?’ I just kept asking ‘What’s my reason?’ and I got an answer back, and it was to help people, which is what I’ve been doing my entire life, but I need to help more people. I need to do more, be a champion for everyone and give everyone a voice, so that’s why I feel like (the) core of my life is giving people back their voice.”

As a first-time candidate, Stephens shared that he doesn’t have corporate donor money to fund his campaign, nor does he want it because it typically comes with strings attached. Right now, he says his campaign strategy is to get his name out there on social media and have conversations with people who are interested in speaking with him.

“I feel like I can use my little pennies wisely enough to be able to get my name out so that people (can) call and say ‘Hey, I’ve got a group of folks over here. We’d love to have a conversation with you.’ I’m a conversationalist, I mean, let’s talk it out. Let’s roundtable it. I’ve found (that) in business, the best way to resolve conflict between people is (to) put them in a room together, put them on a call together. It’s not going to be ‘he said, she said,’ (but) ‘let’s get together. Let’s have a conversation. Let’s define a resolution,” Stephens said.

If elected to serve as a senator for Michigan, Stephens wants to have constant lines of communication open to his constituents, and hopes for his office to be a place for people to contact, no matter how big or small they view their problems as.

“Communication doesn’t stop. That’s important…most people who are talking at you are still not hearing what you’re saying. I don’t want to run TV ads, I don’t want that jazz, right? Literally, I have a phone number and I will give it to you. It is a phone number that rings (my) phone and some others. Call. I want my office to be the go-to office for resources if you’re having problems,” Stephens elaborated. “If I (can) help, I want to help. If it’s something dealing with something on a federal level, let’s say your Global Entry has taken a year and a half to renew because the state department is backed up, call me, and I’m speaking from experience on that. No issue is too small. There is no small issue. If you’ve got an issue, you’ve got an issue, (so) let’s work on it, let’s figure it out.”

For voters who may be unfamiliar with Stephens and his platform, he wants them to know that he’s here to do the job he’s running for, and that he’s accessible to those who want to reach him.

“I don’t need a TV camera in my face. I don’t need to try and get quick little voice snippets. I’m not here for that. I’m here for a job. Especially as a senator, I’m here for not only the people of Michigan – that’s my priority – but the entire country as a whole…” said Stephens. “I’m not saying I’ve got all the answers, but let’s talk it through….if anyone wants to have a little gathering and get together (and) talk, call me. My number’s out there.”

More information about T.J.’s senatorial campaign can be found on his website at tjstephens.net. He can be reached by calling 810-328-3850 or via email at tj@tjstephens.net.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.