Margaret Will Run

Portage's O'Brien to make official her bid for state House

PORTAGE — Portage City Councilwoman Margaret O’Brien is making it official — she will run in August’s Republican primary for the 61st District State House seat.

O’Brien told the Kalamazoo Gazette in November that there was a good chance she’d run as a Republican for the seat now held by Larry DeShazor. She planned to make the formal announcement at an event in Portage this afternoon.

O’Brien, 36, a Realtor with RE/MAX Advantage, lost a close primary election in 2008 to DeShazor, who now plans to run for the 20th District state Senate.

“I have been approached by numerous community leaders and encouraged to run again for the 61st District House seat,” O’Brien said.

She said her campaign emphasis will be tax reform, common-sense spending and creating a new climate for Michigan business growth and job creation.

“Chaos, poor policy and budget woes are coming out of Lansing every day,” she said. “It is time to put the residents and businesses in our state first.”

O’Brien was first elected to the Portage City Council in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007. She is graduate of Mattawan High School, has a bachelor of arts degree in international relations from Michigan State University and is a graduate of the Michigan Political Leadership Program Fellow and Michigan in Excellence Public Service Series.