State Rep. Mary Whitef
ord might be getting tired of running for her job as legislator from the 80th District.
Abigail Nobel of Salem Township has filed to run in the Aug. 2 Republican primary for the post, making it the fourth time Whiteford has been in an election in less than two years. Whiteford ran in the August 2014 primary, lost to Cindy Gamrat, but then returned and won a special primary after Gamrat was expelled. She then defeated Democrat David Gernant in a March special election.
Now comes Nobel, a 48-year-old health policy nurse who insists that Lansing is just not listening to Allegan County residents.
“Lansing, we have a problem,” said Nobel, who who has traveled all over Michigan to challenge the practices of the Affordable Care Act, most often referred to as Obamacare.
Nobel has added, “Gender confusion in schools, higher road taxes, Detroit Public School bailouts, laws that promote special interests, and skyrocketing health care costs—this is not why we elected Republicans to government. We must do a lot better.”
Nobel holds a master’s degree in politics from Hillsdale College’s Graduate School of Statesmanship.
She has asserted, “People (of Allegan County) are generous, but they’re frugal, too, and they resent having to bail out corruption on the east side of the state over and over again. Passing the road tax increases over our vote doesn’t sit very well either, especially when the roads haven’t improved and the money appears to be going directly to Flint and an over-extended Medicaid.”
Nobel’s first full-time job was nurse’s aide at Sandy Creek Nursing Center in Wayland. Since earning her bachelor science in nursing degree from Calvin College, she has worked at Holland Hospital, Borgess-Pipp Community Hospital and Spectrum Health, earning specialty certifications in medical/surgical nursing and ambulatory care.
A third generation resident of Allegan County, she credits her upbringing on an Allegan farm with giving her a good start in life and in health care.
Abigail is the oldest of nine siblings. Her home schooling family made news in the 1970s when the Wayland School District charged them with truancy.
“My parents wanted different options for educating us. Back then home schooling was unheard of. So they were arrested and then arraigned in Allegan County Circuit Court. We children found it intimidating, but inspiring, because my parents stood resolutely upon their biblical beliefs about God-given parental duties.
“Ultimately, the case was won on religious grounds and the right of conscience. It was a very personal education in civil rights for me.”
Nobel refers to herself as a longtime advocate of Right to Life, Right to Work, the Second Amendment and term limits.
The 80th Legislative District includes all of Allegan County except Leighton, Wayland and Dorr Townships and the City of Wayland. The only Democrat on the primary ballot, who will face the GOP primary winner in November, is John Andrysiak of Watson Township.
Mary, congratulations on entering the race. We need more younger people such as yourself – people who’ve worked in the real world and are not groomed politicians.
Good luck in your quest!