About

Raised on a family farm in Antwerp Township, Tonya has been a lifelong resident in Southwest Michigan. She is married to Steve and together they are raising their two children, Jordan and Savina, on the same family farm.

Tonya learned at an early age the value of hard work, the determination to do what is right, and the importance of helping others. While growing up, her family also took care of foster children. The lessons Tonya learned have given her a strong foundation and a desire to give back through public service.

In 1986, Tonya Schuitmaker graduated from Mattawan Consolidated High School. She holds a B.A. in business from Michigan State University and in 1993 Tonya earned her Juris Doctor and graduated Cum Laude from the Detroit College of Law.

After earning her law degree, Tonya became a practicing attorney and partner of the law firm of Schuitmaker, Cooper and Schuitmaker. Tonya started practicing law in 1993 where she concentrated in family, estate, business, and municipal law. She was admitted to the State Bar of Illinois (1996), Florida (1994), Michigan (1993), and the American Bar Association (1993). From 1997 to 1998 Tonya was President of the Van Buren County Bar Association. She is also a member of the Representative Assembly of the Michigan Bar.

Taking her interest in public service, Tonya ran for the State House where she successfully won by strong majorities in 2004, 2006 and 2008. During her terms of office Tonya has held a number of leadership roles and following the 2008 Election, she was appointed by her Republican colleagues to serve as Assistant Minority Floor Leader.

She currently serves as Minority Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Appropriations Committee. As a member of the House Energy and Technology Committee, Tonya also is the Minority Vice Chair of its Subcommittee on Consumer Protection. In addition to these assignments, Tonya is a member of the Michigan Law Revision Commission.

As a leader, Tonya has fought for the people of Southwest Michigan. Her priorities include:

• Working to repeal the SBT surcharge
• Creating a better environment for job creation and retention
• Improving the state's economy
• Getting government spending under control
• Protecting the vulnerable such as children and seniors
• Maintaining public safety

Tonya has worked on a number of initiatives such as:

• Legislation that prevents courts from dropping charges of assault or domestic violence if the accused had been previously convicted of an assaultive crime.
• Provision that requires child care providers to follow the background check regulations that apply to school employees if the child care service is operated within a school.
• Retention of 100 jobs at DSM Pharma Chemicals with authorization of Single Business Tax credits.
• Legislation requiring the State Police to create and maintain a computerized database for compiling information regarding methamphetamine manufacture, use, possession, and distribution in Michigan.

In addition, Tonya has worked closely with MEDC on several job creating measures throughout Southwest Michigan. When MPI Research was expanding and hiring, she worked with the company and MEDC to allow them to create the largest single company job increase in Michigan history. During the past three years, Tonya has partnered with area leaders and businesses to host an Expo for Seniors and Veterans.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

A community activist, Tonya Schuitmaker has been or is currently involved in the following civic organizations:

• Member, NFIB - National Federation of Independent Business
• Member, SBAM - Small Business Association of Michigan
• Member, 2010 Boy Scouts of America Regional Committee
• Member, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
• Member, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy
• Farm Bureau
• Fraternal Order of Police
• Michigan Flywheelers
• Rotary, Paul Harris Fellow
• Paw Paw Optimist Club
• Friends of the Library
• Van Buren County Community Corrections Advisory Board
• Kalamazoo Nature Center
• Kalamazoo Ducks Unlimited
• Southwest Michigan Gun Club
• National Rifle Association
• Daughters of the American Revolution
• Mattawan Alumni Association
• Right to Life
• Kalamazoo Republican Party
• Van Buren Republican Party
• Past member, State Board of Medicine
• Past member, Intercare Community Health Network
• Past member, Van Buren County Community Mental Health Board of Directors
• Past Vice Chair, State Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons