CRC Members Elected to Michigan Legislature

Roger Victory’s family has owned a farm near Hudsonville, Mich. for more than a century. At age 13, he got into the farming business by growing and selling his own pumpkins.

Now, Victory wants to help influence public policy, particularly in agriculture, as a newly-elected member of the Michigan House of Representatives.

“As a business person and as a person in agriculture, good things are happening and I wanted to continue to facilitate that momentum,” said Victory, a Republican who captured 86 percent of the vote in the Nov. 6 election. “(Agriculture) is one of the fastest growing areas of the economy in the state of Michigan.”

Victory owns a 1,200-acre farm that produces pumpkins, squash, rutabagas, parsnips, and other root-based vegetables and fruits. He employs 35 year-round employees plus another 100 seasonal workers. He also formerly co-owned a trucking firm.

Victory, who has been an elder and deacon at First Christian Reformed Church in Hudsonville, says his faith is central to his political views.

“That’s your road map, that’s your compass,” he said. “If you don’t start your journey there, you’ll be walking aimlessly.”

Victory survived a hard-fought Republican primary election in August in which he defeated his opponent by just 88 votes out of more than 12,000 ballots that were cast.

He is already getting to meet some of his fellow House members who will join him in the state Legislature in January.

“We’re all getting along at this point,” he said. “We know we’re going to have our struggles, our differences … but at least we can start with smiles on our faces.”

Democrat Winnie Brinks, a member of Sherman Street Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, was also elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, defeating Bing Goei, member of East Leonard CRC. See Banner story.