Ezekiel for Michigan House

Ezekiel Chojnacki is running for the Michigan House of Representatives to bring change to Lansing.

"This campaign is about building a Michigan that is bold enough to meet the moment and young enough to believe change is still possible"

Who is Ezekiel?

Ezekiel Chojnacki is a civil servant and seminarian running for the Michigan House of Representatives. He was born and raised in West Michigan, where he was given the opportunity to serve abroad with Rotary International. That experience led Ezekiel to realize the importance of good governance and the dangerous path the United States was on. Ezekiel went on to get degrees in economics and public policy, which he has used to serve multiple local governments in the region. Time and again, the issues faced by residents could not be solved at the local level; they stemmed from state inaction. Ezekiel will tackle these problems head-on by combating the greedy utility companies, addressing the flight of young Michiganders, and sticking up for working families.

Ezekiel connected with Rotary International

Ezekiel serving local government in the Lansing area

The Platform

Western Livonia, Northville, and Plymouth are strong communities built by working people across many income levels and professions. Yet even in stable suburban districts, rising costs are outpacing wages and creating quiet financial pressure. Ezekiel will lower essential costs and strengthen the foundations that keep families in the 22nd District secure over the long term.

Public utilities.

Residents across the district have experienced unreliable service and rising bills from DTE, including new credit card processing fees layered on top of already high rates. Whether someone works in an office, runs a small business, teaches in a classroom, or retires on a fixed income, electricity and gas are not optional expenses. We already treat water as a public utility because clean water is a shared necessity rather than a profit opportunity.

Ezekiel will move Michigan toward publicly owned electricity, natural gas, and high-speed internet that answer directly to ratepayers. Public utilities would reinvest revenue into grid reliability, storm resilience, and long-term rate stability instead of shareholder dividends. Essential services should operate in the public interest for every household in the 22nd District.

Stay to Repay.

Many families in our district worked hard to earn degrees and build careers, yet student debt still limits financial freedom. Young people often consider relocating out of state because other metropolitan areas offer broader opportunities and higher pay. Michigan loses neighbors and future community leaders when financial structures reward leaving instead of staying.

Ezekiel will implement Stay to Repay, repaying student loans for Michiganders or wannabe Michiganders who commit to staying for six years. Each year someone builds their career here, the state will make payments on their behalf, and at the end of the period, any remainder will be paid off. This policy strengthens local opportunity while rewarding those who invest their talent in our communities.

Twenty weeks paid family leave.

Families across western Livonia, Northville, and Plymouth face financial strain when welcoming a new child. Starting a family should not require sacrificing income or long-term stability during critical early months. Even households with steady employment can feel significant pressure when leave is unpaid or insufficient.

Ezekiel will establish twenty weeks of paid family leave funded through the general state budget, with four weeks reserved for each parent. Strong wage replacement will allow families to maintain stability while caring for a newborn. Supporting parents strengthens neighborhoods, schools, and the long-term vitality of the entire district.

Right to repair.

Families, farmers, and small business owners should be able to fix the products they buy without being blocked by manufacturer lockouts, software restrictions, or limited access to parts and manuals. When repairs are restricted to expensive authorized channels, routine breakdowns become major financial setbacks. That burden falls hardest on working households and independent shops that keep local economies running.

Ezekiel will champion a Michigan right-to-repair law requiring manufacturers to provide the tools, parts, diagnostics, and documentation needed for independent repair at fair terms. Restoring repair rights will reduce waste, lower costs for consumers, and support local technicians who provide trusted service across the 22nd District.

CEO-to-worker pay ratio tax.

Corporate profits have grown while many workers still struggle to keep up with housing, childcare, and healthcare costs. When executive compensation rises dramatically compared with frontline pay, it signals that growth is not being shared fairly with the people creating value every day. Extreme pay gaps undermine trust and weaken long-term economic stability in our communities.

Ezekiel will pursue a state corporate tax structure tied to CEO-to-worker pay ratios, with higher rates for companies that maintain the widest compensation gaps. This approach rewards businesses that invest in their workforce and helps fund public priorities when they do not. Michigan should encourage prosperity that reaches workers and families, not just executive suites.

Endorsements

James 5 Ministries