After seeing his family’s 40 year business forced out of state due to taxes and regulation, Rochester Hills native Copper Rizzo (R) decided to run for state Sen. Mike Bishop’s seat.
‘Almost my whole family now has been forced to leave this state to seek employment, that’s been painful to watch and to be honest it’s ticked me off,? Rizzo told the Clarkston News. ‘That was really my passion to get involved in government and with Senator Mike Bishop.?
For the past five years Rizzo has worked with Bishop in a variety of capacities, including working in the legislative office to ‘help guide legislature through the process,? constituent relations, and also ran Bishop’s district office.
‘He (Bishop) has served our community, our county, our state, I think with honor and integrity by always showing up for work, being a man of his word, standing up for his core values and beliefs,? he said. ‘I think he’s someone we all can look up to, I’m certainly proud to call him a mentor.?
At age 25, Rizzo said he is not looking to be a ‘career politician,? but he is looking to make some changes because he is tired of the ‘Lansing insider? games among politicians and lobbyist, as well as the sense of ‘entitlement,? that politicians use to jump from one seat to the next.
Coming from a small business family, as well as owning a small business of his own, he said fiscal responsibility and community involvement was ‘drilled? into him at a young age. Spending is one of the major issues he sees facing the state.
‘We have more money going out then coming in, that doesn’t make sense,? he said. ‘First thing we need to do is take a good long look at the way we spend just like everyone’s done in our (personal) budgets and our businesses.?
With Michigan having the second highest paid legislature next to California, Rizzo noted he is an advocate for part-time legislature.
‘They basically work part-time hours now and get paid full-time dollars,? he said.