By Ralph Echtinaw

Roger Hauck, 60, announced his candidacy for a newly drawn state senate district that encompasses Gratiot County and six other counties at the St. Louis City Council meeting Tuesday.

The new 34^th district also covers Isabella, Mecosta, Gladwin, Clare and Osceola counties and parts of Midland, Saginaw, Lake, Clay and Clinton counties.

State Sen. Rick Outman will be St. Louis’ man in Lansing through the end of 2022, as the new senate districts won’t go into effect until 2023. Outman’s new district (if he’s reelected in November) will be west of Gratiot County and terminate at Lumberjack Road.

The new district of state Rep. Pat Outman (if he’s reelected) will likewise not include Gratiot County, though he will continue to represent the old district this year. 

The new 92nd state house district encompasses Isabella County and part of Gratiot County, including Alma, St. Louis and Ithaca. No incumbent state representative lives in the new district (except Hauck). Mt. Pleasant resident Erin Zimmer, 45, attended the January meeting of the Gratiot County Republican Party and said she will be a candidate for the Republican nomination.

Hauck, a Republican, currently serves his third term as state representative for Isabella County and 10 townships in Midland County. He can’t run for state house again because he’s term limited after six years.

Before being elected state representative, Hauck was a Union Township trustee for four years. Before that he worked 24 years at The Delfield Company, a manufacturer of commercial food service equipment. Hauck also refereed high school basketball for 15 years.

The candidate told city council about a package of safe drinking water legislation currently being worked on in Lansing. “Most likely it will be a grant system where municipalities or townships can apply to have cost for water infrastructure upgrades covered,” he said via email. “However, we are still working through the details on this, and there should be more specifics coming out soon.”

Have a look at Hauck’s Facebook page here.