Candidate Profile: Paul Wojno, MI Senate; Warren, Detroit

DETROIT — Democrat Paul Wojno is re-election to the Michigan State Senate to represent District 10, which includes portions of Detroit and Warren. He currently serves in the state senate representing Warren.

He is running unopposed in the Democratic primary on Aug. 2. Here's how he filled out his candidate profile:

Name

Paul Wojno

Campaign website

https://wojnoforsenate.com

City or town of residence

Warren

Office sought

Michigan State Senate

District, if applicable

10th State Senate District

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

Attended Macomb Community College, University of Michigan Ann Arbor and BA Wayne State University.

Occupation

State Senator, 2018 - present: in the current 9th district.

Family

Married to Lisa Wojno, 3 children ages 24, 22 and 20.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Age

66

Previous public office, appointive or elective

Yes. State Representative 28th District 1997-2002. Warren City Clerk 2007-2018.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking re-election because I believe that our Democratic caucus has the opportunity to take back the senate and move many of our legislative packages forward that have been ignored in Republican controlled committees; i.e. Rights of Women and girls, gun violence prevention, strong and fair justice, improving health access, protecting the environment and much more.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Excellent Resume of Experience: I have 10 years of legislative work in Lansing. Outside of the legislature, I have worked in the private business sector, our public school system, healthcare and as a mayoral appointee for the City of Warren. Both of the candidates in the Republican primary have no legislative experience or any record of public service achievements.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

NA

Do you think the federal government can or should do more to curb inflation, which has led to an increase in prices for food, gas and other goods?

I believe that the federal reserve should have acted sooner in addressing the issue of rising inflation. Additionally, they need to be more proactive in addressing the needs and concerns of our nations agricultural community during this difficult time.

Do you support changing the state’s constitution to ensure that women have to right to get an abortion?

Yes. I support the Michigan Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative that will be on the November ballot. In 2018 and now in my re-election for state senator, I have been endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Every woman has the right to make decisions regarding their bodies. Michigan's 1931 law is devastating to women, girls, and all who need access to reproductive care and services.

Do you support the Raise the Wage ballot initiative, which would increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027 and provide cost-of-living increases in later years?

Yes. I support this initiative and I have co-sponsored a similar state resolution in Lansing advocating for this increase.

Would you support an election initiative to require another audit of the 2020 presidential election, to transfer authority over the audit from the Secretary of State to a newly created auditing panel, and to change how elections are reviewed in the future?

No. Last June, the republican controlled senate oversight committee competed its investigation of the 2020 election in Michigan that included 30 hours of public hearings, 87 eyewitness/concerned citizens, 400 pages of testimony and the committee subpoenaed key election documents. Their findings were that "the 2020 General Election in Michigan was accurately represented by the certified auditing results."

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Quality education for our children, preventing flooding, fixing our infrastructure, support amending the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include LGBTQ individuals, protecting seniors & veterans, funding for security cameras on our tri-county freeway system, improving access to mental health care, climate change, rights of women and girls and gun violence prevention.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Named 2019 Legislator of the Year by the Michigan Library Association. Leadership Award for Animal Welfare and Safety. My office served nearly 4000 constituents with direct resource services during the pandemic. I've sponsored/co-sponsored 47 bills that have been signed into law dealing with the opioid crisis, wrongful imprisonment, mental health, education, healthcare and domestic violence. Committees: Regulatory Reform, Health Policy and Elections. Member of the task forces on Elder Abuse and Human Trafficking. Member Gun Violence Prevention Caucus and Assistant Senate Democratic Caucus Chair.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

In everything you do always listen more and talk less.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I deeply appreciate the exceptional opportunity that voters have given me in serving them at both the local and state level. I hope to have the good fortune to represent the newly created 10th senate district that includes part of the communities of Sterling Heights, Warren, Detroit and all of the City of Center Line.