West Bloomfield Attorney Enters the Race for State House Seat

The race for the 40th District seat in the Michigan House of Representatives keeps getting more crowded, as West Bloomfield resident and attorney David Wolkinson officially launched his campaign to run for the soon-to-be-empty seat in the House this fall. Wolkinson will be running as a Republican.

Before he can run for the seat now occupied by Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham), Wolkinson will have to face and in the August primary as all three vie for a spot on the Republican ticket.

Wolkinson is to officially announce his candidacy at a special campaign kick-off event March 12 at the .

Due to term limits, Moss must give up his seat at the end of this year, leaving the race wide open for challengers. The 40th District is composed of Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake and Orchard Lake Village.

A West Bloomfield Township native and attorney, Wolkinson attended the Akiva Hebrew Day School in Southfield before attending the University of Michigan for his undergraduate and master's degrees in economics.

Wolkinson graduated from the U-M law school in 2005 and has been practicing law since 2006. In 2010, Wolkinson served as Gov. Rick Snyder's policy director for his gubernatorial campaign.

This year's campaign isn't Wolkinson's first attempt at a seat in the Michigan House or Senate. In 2002, Wolkinson ran for the state Senate and in 2008, ran for a seat in the House representing the 39th District. Both campaigns were unsuccessful.

"We need a leader who has both the energy and experience to get things accomplished now," said Sarah Ledford, youth chair of the Michigan Republican Party. "Oakland County has been a bright star in Michigan because they have embraced new visions and bold leadership in the past, and now is the time to do that again and David Wolkinson is the man to do it."

Joe Green, vice president for the Greater West Bloomfield Republicans, said he's confident Wolkinson will make them proud in Lansing.

"David Wolkinson is a principled conservative who is pragmatic enough to bring real results to the citizens of Oakland County," he said.

Wolkinson said he considers himself a proud member of the original "nerd herd" and is eager to get to work.

"I am excited to get to work on this campaign, but even more excited to go to Lansing to begin working on the fundamental transformations that our state needs," he said.

The kick-off event, which is scheduled for 7-8 p.m. , is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available.