Lee Chatfield
Lee Chatfield | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 76th Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives | |
| In office January 9, 2019 – January 1, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Leonard |
| Succeeded by | Jason Wentworth |
| Speaker pro tempore of the Michigan House of Representatives | |
| In office January 11, 2017 – January 9, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Leonard |
| Succeeded by | Jason Wentworth |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 107th district | |
| In office January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Foster |
| Succeeded by | John Damoose |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lee Roberson Chatfield May 25, 1988 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Stephanie Chatfield |
| Children | 5 |
| Education |
|
Lee Roberson Chatfield (born May 25, 1988) is a former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. Chatfield, a Republican from Levering, served three terms as state representative from the 107th House district.[1]
Education[]
He has a bachelor's degree from Northland International University, and master's degree in public policy from Liberty University.[2]
Career[]
Before his election to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014, Lee was a high school teacher, coach and athletic director at Northern Michigan Christian Academy.[3]
Chatfield was re-elected to the state Legislature in 2016 with 67 percent of the vote,[3] and in 2018, with over 58 percent of the vote.
Firearms security violation[]
On July 15, 2018, Chatfield attempted to bring a loaded, unregistered handgun onto a commercial flight at Pellston Regional Airport.[4] He was fined $250 for failure to register his handgun, which he had purchased in December 2015.[5] He also paid a $1,960 fine from the Transportation Security Administration.[6] Chatfield had previously introduced a bill in the Michigan House of Representatives to make handgun registration voluntary.[7]
[]
On October 10, 2020, in a series of tweets directed at Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Chatfield questioned why members of the state legislature were not informed of the kidnapping and assassination plot against the governor, saying that members of the legislature and others on the State Capitol grounds may have also been at risk from violent actions. Zack Pohl, communications director for Whitmer, countered that Chatfield's father had organized a rally against the governor on the same day that the plot was revealed.[8] Similar rallies against the governor's COVID-19 public health actions had included two of the accused conspirators involved in the kidnapping plot, as confirmed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel via photographic evidence from a rally on April 30.[9] It was later revealed in federal court documents that the plot included "Plans B and C" which involved 200 combatants seizing control of the state Capitol and burning it down while lawmakers were locked inside, “leaving no survivors."
Role in 2020 presidential election[]
The New York Times reported that Chatfield, along with state senator Mike Shirkey, agreed to meet with President Donald Trump on November 20, 2020, against a backdrop of attempts by Trump and his campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.[10] Paul Mitchell, the US Representative for Michigan's 10th congressional district, speculated that the purpose of the meeting may have been to discuss the appointment of pro-Trump electors to the U.S. Electoral College.[11] However, Chatfield later issued a statement refusing to interfere in the results of the state election.[12]
Business career[]
After being term-limited and unable to run for another term in the Michigan House of Representatives, it was announced that Chatfield would become the new CEO of Southwest Michigan First, an organization of privately funded economic development advisors who act as the catalyst for economic growth across the seven counties of Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren in southwest Michigan.[13]
After Chatfield's hiring was announced, various groups including the City of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Promise, announced they would be dis-investing or pulling support for Southwest Michigan First citing Chatfield's past stances on LGBTQ rights.[14]
Following the backlash from his hiring, Southwest Michigan First and Chatfield stated that they "will support expanding the state's civil rights act to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity."[15] Previously in 2017, the Southwest Michigan First board voted to support amending the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity. [16] However, during his tenure in the Michigan House of Representatives, Chatfield stated he would be "opposed [to] such a proposal without religious exemptions." Further, in 2019 while he was speaker, Chatfield said in a taping of “Off the Record” on WKAR-TV that he "didn’t plan to hold a vote during the term on any gay rights legislation."[17] Chatfield stated, "I do not believe we can pass this law while still protecting religious freedom. You’ve seen these laws passed in other states where what happens, in my opinion, is a reverse discrimination against those who have religious beliefs."[18]
On February 22, 2021, Chatfield announced that he would resign from his new position as CEO with Southwest Michigan First, citing the controversy he had caused. While Chatfield stated that he couldn't "truthfully apologize for various conservative beliefs I espoused while in office...", he stated that his "political opinions were causing an uproar" and he apologized for causing an "unfortunate controversy."[19]
Personal life[]
Lee married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie (Zondervan), and they have four sons and one daughter.
References[]
- ^ http://gophouse.org. "Lee Chatfield, District 107 - Michigan House Republicans". Michigan House Republicans. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- ^ "Lee Chatfield for State Representative". Lee Chatfield for State Representative. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Lee Chatfield for State Representative". Lee Chatfield for State Representative. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- ^ szucker@petoskeynews.com, Steve Zucker (231) 439-9346. "Chatfield detained at airport after loaded gun found in carry-on". Petoskey News-Review.
- ^ szucker@petoskeynews.com, Steve Zucker (231) 439-9346-. "State rep pays one fine, another to be determined". Petoskey News-Review.
- ^ Oosting, Jonathan. "Michigan House speaker pays $1,960 fine for gun incident at airport". Detroit News.
- ^ "Rep. Chatfield introduces bill to eliminate pistol registration mandate". Michigan House Republicans. April 27, 2017.
- ^ "Chatfield calls out Whitmer for not informing lawmakers of alleged plot". The Detroit News. 10 October 2020. Archived from the original on October 11, 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ Rambaran, Vandana (9 October 2020). "Suspects in Whitmer plot photographed with long guns at Michigan Capitol". Fox News. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ Haberman, Maggie; Rutenberg, Jim; Corasaniti, Nick; Epstein, Reid J. (November 20, 2020). "Trump Targets Michigan in His Ploy to Subvert the Election". The New York Times.
- ^ Burke, Craig Mauger and Melissa Nann. "Top GOP state lawmakers set to visit White House amid election fight". The Detroit News.
- ^ "GOP leader Chatfield says state's Electoral College must vote for Biden or 'we would lose our country forever'".
- ^ "Southwest Michigan First Announces Lee Chatfield as New CEO". 14 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Former Michigan House speaker's new job spurs backlash". Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Chatfield will support expanding civil rights protections in new post". Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ Mauger, Craig. "Chatfield will support expanding civil rights protections in new post". The Detroit News. The Detroit News. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Mauger, Craig. "Chatfield will support expanding civil rights protections in new post". The Detroit News. The Detroit News. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Mauger, Craig. "Chatfield will support expanding civil rights protections in new post". The Detroit News. The Detroit News. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Boucher, Dave. "Lee Chatfield resigns from new job after pushback on LGBTQ policy positions". Detroit Free Press. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
External links[]
- Official website
(Michigan House Republicans) - Early Literacy, Teacher Evaluations Bills Clear State House (Michigan Radio)
- State Rep. Chatfield Co-sponsors Bill to Address Dark Store Issue (UPMatters.org)
- Bill Proposes Regulations for Textile Donation Bins (Lansing State Journal)
- Rep. Chatfield Climbs the 'Mighty Mac' (Sault Ste. Marie Evening News)
- Chatfield bill Would Shift Existing Revenues to Roads (Petoskey News)
- Chatfield Maple Syrup Bill Could Boost Industry (UpNorthLIve.com)
- Michigan's Growing Maple Syrup Industry Remains Largely Untapped (Channel4News)
- Gov. Rick Snyder Christens Shepler's 'Miss Margy' Ferry (MLive)
- "Jig is Up on Tax Credits" (Detroit Free Press)
- Michigan House Tries To Ward Off Budget-Busting MEGA Extension (MLive)
- Cut River Bridge Renamed in Honor of Fallen Navy SEAL (Petoskey News)
- First of series of Meetings Held Regarding O'Neal Lake Dam Fix (Petoskey News)
- Cheboygan Resident Proposes I-75 Loop in Indian River (Cheboygan Daily Tribune)
- Twelve Bill Package for Road Fixes Introduced in House (Detroit Free Press)
- What You Need to Know Before Voting on Proposal One (UpNorthLive.com)
- Proposal 1 Opponents Rally at Michigan Capitol (MLive)
- The Great Bake Sale Debate Nears an End (MLive)
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- 1988 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- Liberty University alumni
- Living people
- Members of the Michigan House of Representatives
- Michigan Republicans
- People from Emmet County, Michigan
- Speakers of the Michigan House of Representatives