Two candidates will vie for the state House of Representatives 2nd District in the Nov. 8 general election.
Incumbent Democrat Tullio Liberati Jr. takes on challenger, Republican Michael Joseph D’Onofrio, for a two-year term in the recently re-configured District 2. Liberati currently represents the 13th District.
The 2nd District consists of Allen Park, Melvindale, Ecorse and the north half of Southgate.
Each candidate was asked three questions with a 75- to 100-word limit for each response. Responses over the word limit were edited. Liberati did not respond to the questionnaire by publication time.
Michael D’Onofrio
1. List your education, and experience or skills you posses that make you a qualified candidate.
Graduated from Allen Park High School. Obtained a degree in Electronic Engineering Technology. Have worked in the automotive industry for over 25 years with the newest technologies in the field. Proud to be a Downriver guy.
2. If (re)elected, what are three issues facing your constituents would you work to address and how?
High Inflation and the Michigan Economy: Bring back home oil and natural gas production. This not only will bring down the cost of filling up your tank, but also bring down the cost of everything that is shipped and driven to our businesses. It will energy security to our state and country. Education and Parental Rights: Taxpayer money should follow the children, our kids are the customer, not Lansing. Parents have the right to know what is being taught to their children, and have the final say in what their kids are being exposed to. Poverty: It has killed more people than cancer and Covid together.
3. Why are you seeking (re)election? Why should people vote for you?
Our communities are not being properly represented. Politicians from both sides of the aisle are more concerned about their party and not their people. I’m a moderate Republican of is sick of the same old talking points followed by nothing getting done. I am the son of Italian immigrants who came to America after WW2. I worked at my grandfather’s Italian import store in Southwest Detroit named Gonella’s. I have watch Southwest and the Downriver community slowly lose good paying jobs and businesses close down. I would like to change this. I believe we can do better than this.