Right down to his family roots, Jack has a story worth telling.  Its about bootstrap upbringing, parents who gave up everything to take a chance on this country, and the personal responsibility attitude that made it work.

Jack is the son of immigrant parents who came to America from the Netherlands, in search of liberty and opportunity. They sold everything they owned to pay their passage across to Kenosha, Wisconsin. They later settled and raised six children in Southwest Michigan and found not only liberty and opportunity, but also prosperity. Starting from scratch, and not knowing the language, Jack's father pursued several business opportunities. He eventually became a successful realtor, served in public office, and retired comfortably to Florida with his wife, Maria.

The American dream. Check.

Then there are values that matter.

Jack resides in Texas Township (Kalamazoo) with Erin, his wife of 36 years, and their youngest son, Benjamin. He is active in his community and church.  Jack and Erin also have four married children, Jacob (Jennifer), Isaiah (Elise), Maria (Phil Straatsma), and Caitlin (Kevin Baker) and 10 grandchildren.

Family.  Check.

Jack serves as the President of the Citizens' Alliance for Life and Liberty, a 501-c-4 non-profit with a goal to defend and protect the God-given right to life, liberty and property.

Traditional constitutional values.  Check

He also helped in the formation of the Michigan Freedom to Work Coalition, working to pass legislation to make Michigan a Right to Work state.  Under his directorship, MI-Freedom to Work built a web site, blog, newsletter, grass roots list of members which reaches into the thousands, and a donor base. He also worked with legislators to draft bill language for a state Right to Work law.

I was there.  Its true. In the face of very tough odds, Jack has helped facilitate this very important movement, offered great advice to the organizational development, and has put his own resources into it.  He is a fearless advocate for workers rights.

Check.

Aside from his marketing background in the private sector for a fortune 500 company, Jack Hoogendyk has put in his time first as a county commissioner, then as a state representative, and during the most horrifying years of the Granholm administration stayed true to conservative principles.  During six years as a state Representative, Jack never voted for a tax increase and was twice named "most conservative" lawmaker in Michigan.  He  introduced TABOR (taxpayer bill of rights), right-to-work legislation, implementation of a part-time legislature, making English the official state language, and government transparency legislation, (requiring all government agencies to post their budgets and spending online.) And out of 148 lawmakers, he was one of only four to vote against a $1.4 billion spending increase following a $1.5 billion tax increase. (as we were all blown away)

Tea Party before tea party was cool.  Check.

In fact, as the Tea started flowing in this country, it was Jack who reached out to activists, and helped us become more effective through insight into government, and speaking engagements with 912 and Tea groups throughout the state.  To this day, he still holds center right meetings which serve the conservative community well in this time of political upheaval.

No one has been more appropriate a candidate for the principled positions we hold.

I've broke bread with the family; Jack, Erin, and their son Ben.  Had them in my home as guests, enjoyed their company, and had opportunities to compare notes and ideas.  They are always welcome and I value their company.

He is his own man, and what you see, is indeed what to expect.

His opponent? He outlawed your choice in light bulbs.  And he doesn't know Jack about conservatism.