Michael "Huck" Huckleberry (born July 12, 1948) is a politician, restaurateur, and small business owner from Greenville, Michigan. In 2008, he was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the Michigan State House of Representatives. He represented the 70th House District, which includes all of

Montcalm County Montcalm County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 66,614. The county is geographically located in the West Michigan region of the Lower Peninsula. The county seat is Stanton, and the large ...

and a portion of North-west

Ionia County Ionia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 66,804. The county seat is Ionia. The Ionia County Courthouse was designed by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect. Ion ...

including the city of

Ionia Ionia () was an ancient region on the western coast of Anatolia, to the south of present-day Izmir. It consisted of the northernmost territories of the Ionian League of Greek settlements. Never a unified state, it was named after the Ionian ...

. In 2006 he unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Republican Congressman

Dave Camp David Lee Camp (born July 9, 1953) is a former American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2015. Camp represented since 1993, and previously served one term representing . A member of the ...

, who represents

Michigan's 4th congressional district Michigan's 4th congressional district is a United States congressional district that from 2003 to 2013 included portions of Northern and Central Michigan, consisting of all of Clare, Clinton, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, ...

, located in central Michigan. In 2010 he was defeated by Rick Outman, 55%-43%.

Biography

Mike Huckleberry was born on July 12, 1948, in

Cedar Springs, Michigan Cedar Springs is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,509 at the 2010 census. Cedar Springs is a northern city of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is about north of Grand Rapids. History The area wa ...

. He graduated from Cedar Springs High School in 1966. From 1967 to 1968, Huckleberry attended Grand Rapids Community College. In 1969, he attended Davenport University, located in Michigan], in business studies. He has owned and operated Huckleberry's Restaurant in Greenville, Michigan since 1991. He is married to Linda Huckleberry and they have five children and three grandchildren.

Political career

Huckleberry served on the Greenville Task Force to save the Electrolux refrigerator plant, as well as on the Greenville Chamber Board of Directors (unfortunately, the owners of Electrolux ultimately decided to move the plant to Mexico). He was elected as president of the Cedar Springs Chamber of Commerce twice. He has previously served as Chair of the Montcalm County Democratic Party. In 2006, Mike Huckleberry unsuccessfully challenged Republican Congressman

for his seat in Congress. Camp represents the Michigan's 4th congressional district, 4th Congressional District, located in the Central Lower Peninsula. He lost to Camp by a margin of 60%-38%. In 2008, Huckleberry ran for the 70th State House District of Michigan. The seat was vacated by Republican Judy Emmons, who retired due to term limits, which prevent a member for serving longer than three terms. Huckleberry was unopposed in the Democratic Primary and faced Republican Thomas Ginster in the General Election. He defeated Ginster by a 54%-46% margin. Huckleberry went on to lose his bid for reelection to that seat in 2010, and his bid to regain the seat in 2012. His opponent in both the 2010 and 2012 elections was Republican Rick Outman.

Electoral history

*2012 election for State House **Rick Outman (R), 54% **Mike Huckleberry (D), 46% *2010 election for State House **Rick Outman (R), 55% **Mike Huckleberry (D), 43% *2008 election for State House **Mike Huckleberry (D), 54% **Tom Ginster (R), 46% *2006 election for U.S. Congress **Dave Camp (R), 60% **Mike Huckleberry (D), 38%

External links

Official Website House Democrats Website Campaign Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Huckleberry, Mike 1948 births Living people People from Greenville, Michigan Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives Davenport University alumni People from Cedar Springs, Michigan 21st-century American politicians