Republican state Senate candidate Jason Tunney hosted a private roundtable event with law enforcement officials to discuss public safety policy as the Michigan Senate 35th district special election campaign intensifies ahead of May 5.
The gathering, held Wednesday at the Horizons Conference Center in Saginaw Township, brought together current and former police chiefs, prosecutors, and sheriffs from across the 35th district to meet with Tunney, who works as a Saginaw-based lawyer and businessman.
Among the attendees were former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, who is campaigning in this year's governor's race. Eaton County prosecutor Doug Lloyd, a 2026 Republican candidate for state attorney general, also planned to attend.
Other planned attendees included Bob Ruth, Saginaw police chief; Scott Malace, Saginaw Township police chief; Mike Kanuszewski, Bay County prosecutor; Troy Cunningham, Bay County sheriff; J. Dee Brooks, Midland County prosecutor; and representatives from the offices of Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel and Midland County Sheriff Scott Holzinger. Mike Thomas, who served as Saginaw County's prosecutor from 1989-2012, was also scheduled to engage in the discussion. Tunney worked as an assistant prosecutor under Thomas during his tenure.
Campaign officials said the group planned to meet with Tunney to discuss policy issues relating to public safety in Michigan.
"Jason is a former prosecutor, and he is interested in hearing what's going on, how is police department morale, and what kind of cases prosecutors are seeing," said Brian Szmytke, senior advisor for the Tunney campaign.
The special election will see Tunney face Democrat Chedrick Greene and Libertarian Ali Sledz for the open state Senate seat. The election could shake up the power balance for the rest of the year in Lansing, where Democrats currently outnumber Republicans in the state Senate 19-18.
The 35th district encompasses parts of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties. The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the term of Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet, who left the seat in January 2025 when voters sent her to Congress.
Tunney will also be the keynote speaker at the annual Midland County Republican Party Dave Camp Spring Breakfast on April 13 at the Great Hall Banquet and Convention Center in Midland. The breakfast is named after former U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, who served in Congress for 24 years.
Previous speakers at the event have included Florida governor Ron DeSantis and U.S. Representative Lisa McClain. U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar and State Rep. Bill G. Schuette, both from Midland, will also speak at the breakfast.
Registration for the event costs $65 per person with an April 10 deadline. Registration is required and walk-ins will not be accepted.
The race has already seen candidates engage in several forums and events. Tunney and Greene participated in a candidate forum hosted by Saginaw Valley State University on March 24. The forum covered topics including education, roads, minimum wage, jobs and unemployment.
During the SVSU forum, Tunney argued that Michigan needs to become more business and tax friendly. "We are not a business-friendly state; we are not a tax-friendly state," Tunney said. "The income tax in this state is 4 percent. Indiana's income tax is 2.95 percent. Next year it'll be 2.90 percent. What are we doing to encourage jobs here? We're playing favorites with the MEDC? The corrupt Michigan Economic Development Corporation?"
Greene, a 30-year U.S. Marine veteran and Saginaw Fire Department captain, focused on affordability and skilled trades. "We have to push more skilled trades into our high schools so those who aren't going to college can get an early start on their careers," Greene said. "We have to push more manufacturers to come up here. We have the ability to perform the task to have it created. Once again when companies continuously ship jobs overseas, ship jobs out of state, we are going to be hurting."
When asked about data centers, Tunney said "we need to act in our national defense" but added that he is against non-disclosure agreements that would prevent officials from being transparent with the community. Greene said only with the right guardrails in place, including environmental and rate protections, would he welcome data centers.
Absentee ballots for the special election began mailing on March 27 to registered voters who are on the Permanent Absent Ballot Mailing list and to voters who returned an absentee ballot application. Ballots will arrive by mail in a white envelope with a blue stripe on the left side labeled "Official Election Mail."
On the ballot are Republican Jason Tunney, a Saginaw lawyer and businessman; Democrat Chedrick Greene, a Saginaw firefighter and Marine Corps veteran; and Libertarian Ali Sledz, a Midland mom and Army spouse pursuing a master's degree in counseling.
Voters can track if their ballot has been mailed to them at www.Michigan.gov/vote. City of Midland voters can return their completed absentee ballot by mailing the signed and sealed postage-paid purple return envelope via United States Postal Service or by dropping it in any of the Official Ballot Drop Boxes available 24/7 at City Hall, Midland Civic Arena, or Jack Barstow Municipal Airport.
Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, May 5.