KALAMAZOO, MI — A second Kalamazoo County Commissioner is vying for a place on the ballot in November 2020 for a Michigan House of Representatives seat.

Commissioner Stephanie Moore announced Thursday, June 20, she is running to represent the people of Kalamazoo in Lansing.

Moore is seeking the 60th District seat currently held by State Rep. Jon Hoadley, a Democrat, who is term-limited in 2020. This district includes the city of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo Township.

Talking to a group of 50 friends, family and supporters Thursday at Arcadia Brewing in Kalamazoo, Moore punctuated each campaign promise by calling out an individual name in the crowd to emphasize her homegrown politics.

“I’ll never forget where I come from or what I’ve been through,” she said. “And what that means to all of us, not just in Kalamazoo County but in Lansing.”

After her speech, Moore asked for questions from the audience. One supporter asked how, if elected, she will elevate the voices of the district on a statewide level and stay true to Kalamazoo’s needs as a freshman representative.

“We always talk about when people get elected the sell out, they lose their focus or whatever, but that’s why you need a village,” Moore said. “Our campaign committee is the Friends of Stephanie Moore because your friends stay with you.”

Moore, a native of Kalamazoo’s Northside, is currently serving her third term as Kalamazoo County Commissioner representing the 1st District. Prior to that, Moore served on the Kalamazoo City Commission from 2007-2014.

Before becoming a public official, Moore worked as an advocate and consultant for non-profits including her mother’s organization Mothers of Hope.

In 2018, Moore made history by becoming Kalamazoo County’s first black chairperson to lead the Board of Commissioners.

In a rare case of a Democratic commissioner receiving full support from Republicans, Moore reached across the aisle to support Republican Dale Shugars for chairperson, on the condition she serve as vice-chairperson and learn under him for a year, then replace him with Republican support in 2018.

When Moore was elected chairperson, fellow Commissioner Tracy Hall earned all five votes from the remaining Democrats on the board. Moore said at the time that she planned to mentor Hall.

Hall, who currently serves as the board’s vice-chairperson, is also running for the 60th District seat being vacated by Hoadley. Should she win, she would become the first openly gay woman to serve in the Michigan Legislature, according to her campaign announcement statement.

In April, Hoadley said he plans to challenge Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, who has represented Southwest Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1986.

Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners Chairperson Julie Rogers said she is also considering running for the seat, and will likely announce her campaign later this year.