Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox is running to serve Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Otsego counties in the Michigan House of Representatives.

What they're saying about Dennis Lennox:

“Lennox gets our praise for displaying common sense.” — Jackson Citizen Patriot newspaper.

“Lt. Gov. John Cherry also should take up Lennox's suggestion as he leads an effort to streamline state government.” — The Muskegon Chronicle newspaper.

“Dennis does support a much smaller state government . . . he is well versed on how the state government operates in practice and would seek to actively reform it thereby taking Michigan in the right direction.” — Northern Michigan Liberty Alliance.

“Our members will interpret your 'AQ' rating as being a solid pro-gun/pro-hunting candidate who is an advocate for the right to keep and bear arms. We appreciate your enthusiasm for the Second Amendment and the attention to firearm-related issues during your candidacy.” — National Rifle Association.

“Dennis Lennox is committed to addressing Michigan’s profound challenges with innovative, outside the box solutions that focus on fixing Lansing and getting Michigan working again. He is a sensible voice committed to ensuring a brighter future for Michigan’s next generation.” — Republican Leadership Council co-chair Christine Todd Whitman, the former governor of New Jersey.

“Dennis Lennox is a strong voice for pro-life issues in this election. He will be a strong advocate for our traditional family values.” — The Rev. Jerry Zandstra, president of the Pro-Life Federation of Michigan and state chairman of Americans for Prosperity.

“Dennis Lennox is proving that outside the box thinking is possible in today’s political climate. He is proposing bold, innovative solutions that will help turnaround Michigan for the 21st century.” — Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.

“We are pleased . . . to give you the SBAM stamp of approval because of your strong support of the small business agenda. He would be an elected official who would support small business when it matters, and consequently, help Michigan to create the jobs it so desperately needs.” — Small Business Association of Michigan.

“Dennis Lennox's record of supporting traditional values is clear. He understands that strong families are vital to Michigan's future. As Northern Michigan's next voice in Lansing, he will be defend our most important values.” — Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice and former chairman of the Romney for President National Faith and Values Steering Committee.

“Commissioner Lennox understands the burden of illegal immigration on the cash-strapped pockets of taxpayers. He is committed to cracking down on illegal immigration in Michigan.” — Minuteman PAC chairman Chris Simcox, co-founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.

“Dennis Lennox may be the youngest of the challengers for this position, but he is neither a lightweight nor unseasoned in terms of qualifications for the office. I have heard him speak and have been quite impressed with his fiscal and social conservative position. I also know that he is unrivaled among the other hopefuls for state representative in his knowledge of how the legislative system in Michigan works." — Cheboygan County Republican Party Executive Committee member Scott Ingersoll, the 2008 Republican Party nominee for Cheboygan County prosecuting attorney.

Lennox is an active member of the Berean Bible Church, a non-denominational community church in Topinabee that his family helped found some 28 years ago. Besides being involved with numerous civic organizations, he is a member of Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association and the Cheboygan County Republican Party.

Growing up, Lennox learned the importance of faith, family and country from his late grandparents, who instilled in him the values he holds to this day. As members of the Greatest Generation, who lived through an economic depression unimaginable in contemporary times, they taught him the importance of fiscal prudence and standing up your beliefs.

While working as a professional hockey official in leagues across Canada and the United States, Lennox worked for President George W. Bush. Following the successful re-election of the president and vice president, he went on to take positions with Congressman David Camp and Republican caucus in the State Senate.

After gaining first-hand experience in Lansing, Lennox returned home to serve as chairman of Citizens Against New Taxes, a grassroots coalition that advocated taxpayer rights and fought unnecessary tax increases on working families and small businesses.

“My political ideology is best summed up in the words of Benjamin Disraeli, the famed 19th century British prime minister: 'I am a conservative to preserve all that is good in our constitution, a radical to remove all that is bad, I seek to preserve property and to respect order, and I equally decry the appeal to the passions of the many or the prejudices of the few.'” — Dennis Lennox.

He went on to the presidential campaign of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney; helping the Michigan native win the state's 2008 presidential primary.

A leader in Republican politics, he was elected by his peers across Northern and Upper Michigan to represent the 31-county 1st Congressional District at the 2008 Republican National Convention, which formally nominated U.S. Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin as the GOP presidential and vice presidential candidates and approved the party platform. At the convention, he was the youngest member of the Michigan delegation.

Lennox has also been a delegate to numerous Michigan Republican Party conventions. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Cheboygan County Republican Party and is the former Young Republicans chairman for the 1st Congressional District.

Lennox's record also includes a series of bipartisan amendments to the Michigan Constitution.

His proposals, introduced by Senator Michelle McManus as Senate Joint Resolution I in 2007, modernized government by removing obsolete and archaic provisions of the Constitution. Lennox's amendments overwhelmingly passed the Senate by a vote of 27-3.

In 2008 when Democrats were sweeping Republicans from office across the country, Lennox defeated a two-term Democratic incumbent on a platform of reforming local government to become drain commissioner of Cheboygan County. His victory was significant, as he was only one of two Republican challengers in all of Michigan to defeat an incumbent Democrat at the county-wide or higher level.

After taking office, Lennox fulfilled his campaign promise to abolish the office of county drain commissioner by working with county commissioners and legislators in Lansing to develop a bipartisan reform proposal that would allow Cheboygan County to do-away with the office. His proposal was introduced as House Bill 5216 and Senate Bill 758.

As drain commissioner, he reformed the little known office that historically operated away from the little scrutiny of taxpayers.

Lennox moved his office's operations back to the county courthouse to ensure greater access to constituents, who were used to interacting with their elected officials in a central location.

Whether it was preserving water resources in the Great Lakes, working with landowners to write an ordinance to ban phosphorus in lawn fertilizers, advocating for improvements to local infrastructure or stopping Lansing from banning recreational walleye fishing in Mullett Lake, Lennox has consistently stood up and been a voice for his constituents.