Candidates for Michigan State Representative District 36 discuss data centers

MICHIGAN. -- Another race we will be keeping a close eye on is the republican primary for Michigan's 36th house district.

Tuesday’s election will feature republican incumbent Steve Carra defending his seat against challengers Max Coon and Luke Lori.

One central topic of discussion for this primary race revolves around the controversial data centers, which incumbent Steve Carra has been outspoken about.

“The fact that consumers' energy is spending up to a million dollars to try and take me out because they want to try and provide power to the data centers is a testament to the fact that they see me as their biggest threat in Lansing,” Carra said. “They want me done, so they can continue with politics as usual, without having the threat of me challenging the system that they want to have protected.”

Opposing republican primary candidate Max Coon shares similar feelings to Carra involving the threats data centers pose, but he wonders why no legislative action has been taken.

“Why aren’t we seeing any kind of action on the legislative side, when it comes to trying to postpone or not allow them to be built right now until we can see furthered studies of the effects of what these do when it comes to energy consumption, water consumption, and the overall effects on our communities, our land, and our area,” Coon said.

Luke Lori's concerns about data centers remain localized and involve the large sums of money being thrown at local landowners.

“Frankly, with the money they are throwing around to some of these agricultural folks, it would be hard for me to turn down as well,” Lori said. “Data centers, I think our biggest concern is, it’s going to be the exact same way. Somebody’s going to want to sell land. The data center wants to come in, and the township says no, then Lansing’s going to override that. Local control is the best type of control. Not finger pointing from Lansing or Washington DC.”

The winner of the August 4th republican primary will be challenging unopposed democratic nominee Cole Slaski for Michigan's State Representative seat in the 36th district come general election time on November 3rd.